Trifter

When people think of Paris they think of turhe Eiffel Towel and when they think of New York City they think of the Statue of Liberty.  Amsterdam doesn’t have one iconic building or monument.  What makes Amsterdam memorable is the centuries old private homes.

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The buildings themselves are striking because they are both narrow and tall, stacked next to each other along the canals.  They lean out of necessity, since they tend to sink in the soft, soggy soil and a building standing by itself is like a man in quicksand.

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They tend to be skinny since a tax law based the amount of property tax on how wide a building was, not how big.  In the spirit of avoiding taxes that is the lowest common denominator among all cultures, people began building thin homes, but going all out as far as height, and length, going as far back as space will allow.

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The canals are as much a part of the city as the unique buildings, and boats are a common mode of transportation.

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Bikes, however, are the most popular way of getting around.  The flat streets make it easy and the narrow roads make it practical.

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Since buildings are tall and narrow, so are other things such as staircases.  These are typical of what you’ll find in Amsterdam.

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If you need to get out of the buildings because you’re feeling a little claustrophobic, you won’t get much relief in the lanes and allies outside.

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The inner city sits on 1729 acres.  The majority was built in the 17th century when Amsterdam was the center of economics and learning in Europe.

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Below are modern pilings keeping up housing buildings.

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Although houses are packed together and all have the same tall, thin style, most have unique facades, roofs, and windows to keep them individual.

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