Beginning Classes

I had a really great first week of classes. I absolutely love what I'm learning about. The Netherlands is a very unique country, as well as the city, Groningen. The first few classes were all about this city. We learned about the compact city policy that is implemented here and also the spatial planning that is incorporated into the city. It is very different than New Jersey, or most areas in the U.S for that matter. There is a great deal of thought given to the planning and development of the city. For example, most of the residential neighborhoods are high-density areas. Most people live in high-rise buildings on top of stores or offices. It amazes me that 90 percent of the Dutch population lives on 10 percent of the land, truly an example of the compact-city policy.  Everything is focused around the city-center, eliminating the amount of sprawl. I really like this because everything is accessible by either biking or walking. One of my favorite lectures was taught by Dr. Greg Ashworth, an expert in geography. He took us on a historical tour of Groningen and we learned a great deal about how the present day city came about. This weekend we are headed to Amsterdam and the surrounding areas. I am looking forward to this!

Groningen City Hall

- Victoria S.