Amsterdam

Welcome to THE bike city.
Centraal Station has underground parking for 12,000 bike. There are 10’s of thousands of bikes on the move around the city at any time. Parking in squares, by canals, on modified barges and house frontages accommodate many, many thousands. The industry of the city is being done by bike, with only heavy delivery’s and services using trucks. Free ferries cross the IJmeer river every couple of minutes and all are loaded with cyclists and pedestrians.
How can we learn from the pace of Amsterdam (and many other Euro towns)? We didn’t make it to the more distant suburbs, but I hope life there is as functional.

For the engineers or potential real estate purchasers among us, have a look at the photo collage of some canal houses. The evidence of building on land that is sinking is clear. Builders of yore recognised the boggy ground issue and drove wooden pillars for footings. Of course they rotted away long ago. You better hope previous owners have already done some underpinning. I would dread the call to the insurance company when your neighbours place starts to slump into the canal.

So much to do here and just 4 days . Walking and riding the streets and canal edges is more than enough for us. Plus a museum and a ferry ride and sampling the cafes and bars.. and … andLeggi altro