Do Something That Means Something

How to make your energy footprint smaller

Our hotel has been Green Globe certified since 2023. We are doing our absolute best to make your stay and our operations as sustainable as possible. Would you like to contribute to our green operations as well? We will be forever thankful!

We are happy to provide you with some tips on how to reduce your footprint during your stay with us.

1. Taking shorter showers

Reduce the time spent in the shower to conserve water and energy. Did you know that

the average shower time in the Netherlands is 7.4 minutes? Try to beat it if you can! ;-)

2. Separate waste

Participate in the hotel's waste separation program to help reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.

• On the 4th floor, next to room #414, there is a garbage room where you can separate glass, paper, and rest.
• In your kitchen, you will find a plastic and rest bin.
• You can recycle Nespresso cups in the bin underneath the sink, they will be returned to Nespresso. All cups are fully recycled, and the coffee residue is converted into biofuel and compost.
• Leave your paper and glass waste on the counter for us to recycle in the appropriate stream. If you want us to take it out mid-stay, don’t hesitate to give us a call (or head up the 4th floor for the garbage room)

Fun fact: For our restaurant we have an extra stream for food waste. This is stored in a SWILL Tank in the basement, where a fermentation process will take place which is the basis for Bio-fuel.

3. Housekeeping / Cleaning

• Conscious housekeeping: Our cleaning frequency has been adjusted since February 2024 to reduce the use of linens, transport, chemicals, and water.
• Short stay (≤8 nights): You can choose whether you want cleaning by simply hanging a “touch-up my room” door hanger.
• Long stay (≥9 nights): Standard cleaning every 3 days, with guest preferences taken into account as much as possible.

4. Turn off lights and electronics

Don’t forget to remove your keycard from the electricity when leaving your room. This turns off lights, TV, and other electronics to save energy. The dishwasher will remain running.

5. Dishwasher

Did you know our dishwasher has an eco setting? Use this button to be the most energy-efficient hotel guest possible!

6. Take the stairs instead of the elevator

Next to our elevators, a stairway is available. Taking the stairs reduces energy use and has extra health benefits ;-)

7. Don’t adjust the room temperature

Our energy-efficient temperature management system perfectly adjusts the temperature in your room. You can increase or decrease the temperature by 3 degrees celsius. Leaving the settings as they are the most energy-efficient! Keeping the curtains closed also helps maintain a comfortable room temperature.

8. Choose one of our magical vegetarian dishes

In our restaurant VESSEL, we have many vegetarian dishes available. Did you know that eating vegetarian is much better for the environment and significantly decreases your footprint?

9. Drink tap water instead of bought plastic bottles

In the Netherlands, tap water is perfectly drinkable and tastes the same as bottled water. Drinking tap water reduces plastic use and waste!

10. Go to the city

• Take the bike or public transport instead of a car or taxi.
• Boat en Co is next to a busstop. The bus will take you to the city center or an other destination.
• Bikes are also available at the reception.
• You can request an all electric car if you do choose to go by taxi.

By following these tips, you can make a positive impact on the environment and be an energy-efficient hotel guest. Do you have any feedback for us? We are always open for improvement. Please contact our team at hello.boatandco@thejuly

Sustainability at The July – Boat & Co

At The July – Boat & Co, sustainability is built into every part of our design and operation. The building has a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating and was developed according to Cradle-to-Cradle principles, using sustainable materials that produce zero waste. Located in Houthaven, Amsterdam’s first climate-neutral district, Boat & Co truly is eco-friendly to its core.

Our ‘Think Forever’ Behaviours

1. Sustainable heating and cooling

Our building is connected to Houthaven’s innovative thermal energy storage system, providing eco-friendly heating and cooling throughout the year.

2. Solar-powered energy

With 424 solar panels on the roof, we generate our own clean and renewable energy. Sunshine not only makes our terrace inviting—it also powers our hotel! Solar energy reduces greenhouse gas emissions and our dependence on fossil fuels.

3. Smarter, greener cleaning cycles

Since February 2024, we’ve adjusted our housekeeping schedule to reduce water, chemicals, transport, and linen use.

• Guests staying up to 8 nights no longer receive daily touch-ups by default, but can request one by hanging the “Touch up my room” door hanger.
• Guests staying 9 nights or more receive cleaning every three days. We remain flexible to personal preferences while keeping the cycle as sustainable as possible.

4. Organic waste turned into energy

Our swill tank collects organic waste, which is later converted into compost, biodiesel, and biogas. Because it stores waste on-site, fewer transport trips are needed—reducing CO₂ emissions even further.

5. Space for local wildlife

Boat & Co was designed to welcome the smallest locals too! Our façades contain 40+ breeding and living spaces for animals, including bat and bird houses on the roof. On the terrace, you’ll also find insect hotels, ideal for bees, butterflies, and caterpillars.

6. Local and seasonal dining at Vessel

Our restaurant Vessel works with local suppliers and seasonal ingredients to reduce transport emissions and our overall footprint. The menu features shared dishes and delicious vegan options, encouraging guests to enjoy more plant-based meals.

7. Light when needed, dark when it should be

We minimize artificial lighting at night to help you sleep better and reduce energy use—so you can fall asleep under the stars.

8. Energy performance: less is more

With an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of just 0.041, Boat & Co achieves top-level efficiency (A+++). Lower energy consumption for heating, cooling, ventilation, and hot water means a smaller environmental impact.

9. Cooling from the IJ, heating from the city

Our location in Houthaven connects us to a combined sustainable cold/heat plant. Cold water from the IJ is stored in winter and used to cool the neighborhood in summer. Additionally, the district’s heat transport pipeline from the Amsterdam Waste Energy Company (AEB) provides environmentally friendly heat, cutting CO₂ emissions by up to 70% compared to standard boilers.

10. Our Green Partners

We believe in collaboration to reach our sustainability goals. That’s why we carefully choose partners who share our values:

• Roetz – Makes bicycles from recycled frames. Guests can borrow these bikes to explore the city sustainably.
• Nespresso – All cups are fully recycled; aluminium is infinitely reusable, and coffee grounds are converted into biofuel and compost.
• Marie Stella Maris – Our bathrooms feature refillable care products from this Amsterdam brand, which donates a fixed percentage of its turnover to sustainable water projects.
• The Good Roll – Provides sustainable toilet paper made from recycled European paper, free from chlorine, dyes, or fragrances. 50% of profits go toward building toilets in Africa.
• Print Shop De Bij – Prints using organic ink and recycled paper, powered by solar panels and its own windmill. Fun fact: our menus are printed on paper made from tomato plant waste!
• Blycolin – Our linen supplier, certified with the Oeko-Tex label, ensuring no harmful substances were used. Their local washing processes use less water and emit less CO₂.
• Made Blue Foundation (Vessel) – For every bottle of water sold at Vessel, we donate €1 to Made Blue, supporting clean drinking water projects. In just nine months, we’ve contributed over €10,000! Guests can choose which project to support via a QR code on the bottle.