Amsterdam... Houseboats or city’s second signature.
I already told here about Amsterdam’s first “signature”- bikers. The second “signature of the city” is houseboats which you can see everywhere near embarkments of the canals.
It’s over 10.000 houseboats in Netherlands. Around 2500 lies flat in the canals
or outskirts of Amsterdam. There are real barges, turned into real homes and
modern houseboats. The policy of the Amsterdam city council is to stimulate the boat owners to keep
historical ships (barges) in the canals of the city centre and not replace them for
new houseboats built on concrete. That leads sometimes to discussions,
because the boats are privately owned and it is very expensive to keep the boats
in capital condition. But houseboats, even not in good condition, make the image of this city unique and full of charm and beauty.
The first barges, moored permanently in Amsterdam, were privately owned by
retired shippers. Now a lot of artists and young people were attract by this way of living, it was
a perfect alternative for the citizens, who didn't want to confirm themselves to
basic homes, all the same, in the outskirts of Amsterdam. Houseboats have one
thing in common: they are never the same! Today, living on the water becomes a yuppie culture.
Much better viewed large View On Black
Amsterdam... Houseboats or city’s second signature.
I already told here about Amsterdam’s first “signature”- bikers. The second “signature of the city” is houseboats which you can see everywhere near embarkments of the canals.
It’s over 10.000 houseboats in Netherlands. Around 2500 lies flat in the canals
or outskirts of Amsterdam. There are real barges, turned into real homes and
modern houseboats. The policy of the Amsterdam city council is to stimulate the boat owners to keep
historical ships (barges) in the canals of the city centre and not replace them for
new houseboats built on concrete. That leads sometimes to discussions,
because the boats are privately owned and it is very expensive to keep the boats
in capital condition. But houseboats, even not in good condition, make the image of this city unique and full of charm and beauty.
The first barges, moored permanently in Amsterdam, were privately owned by
retired shippers. Now a lot of artists and young people were attract by this way of living, it was
a perfect alternative for the citizens, who didn't want to confirm themselves to
basic homes, all the same, in the outskirts of Amsterdam. Houseboats have one
thing in common: they are never the same! Today, living on the water becomes a yuppie culture.
Much better viewed large View On Black