The Steep and Narrow

You know what it's like - you're out walking around and then you have to pee. There are no public restrooms and if there are, you don't want to use them. All the available facilities are reserved for customers. Fortunately, I can always count on Mark to be ready for a cup or tea, or a beer and we become customers.

Unfortunately, in many European locations, finding the loo, toilet, ladies room, (insert the term of your choice) involves a staircase. And if it involves a staircase in Amsterdam, it's probably steep and narrow. Very difficult for an old tart with a bad knee!

Understandably, the reason the staircases are so steep is because the buildings are so narrow. (It all has to do with geometry, so I won't be able to explain it.) But interestingly, the reason the buildings are so narrow is because the Dutch are so clever. When most of these houses were built (back in the 1600s) the government based the tax rate on the amount of frontage the building had rather than the square footage. The folks in Amsterdam just built their houses up rather than out.

The staircases in the canal houses are so narrow that they can't get furniture in and out using the stairs. So all the houses have hooks that enable them to lift furniture and bring it in through the windows.

It's all quite charming, but I'm glad I don't have to negotiate those stairs on a regular basis.