"A big splash of green in a hostile world" Schiphol Favorite Tip by aaaarrgh

Favorite thing: If you have any interest in 'green' or ecological building then Schiphol Airport is quite interesting. Above the concourse to the railway station is a massive, curved grass roof.

I wrote a dissertation at college on 'green roofs'. Germany, Switzerland, Austria and the Netherlands have lots of them. They help make the building blend in with the surroundings, create a home for wildlife, humidify the air, absorb rainwater, insulate and protect the building.

The large planted roof at Schiphol was created in 1998. It is actully not grass, but sedum (succulent plants) and moss, on a thin layer of special growing matter. It was installed by a German firm, Strodhoff & Behrens Begruennungs GmbH.

Of course, this roof does very little to combat the major problem of noise, carbon emissions and other pollution that the 1000's of aircraft create every week. In that sense, it is more a public relations exercise by the airport, than a serious contribution to saving our planet.

But all the same, I personally think it looks much nicer than a great expanse of metal roof!!

Fondest memory: Actually I found the best way to see the green roof is to walk out of the front doors of the airport to the drop-off point. It is quite difficult to see form above - you can look out of the first floor windows on the way to Departures. Also, you can get a fair view from the far south corner of the Panorama Terrace, near the triangular lift.