A canal house is a house on the canal, and is generally old. Usually the houses are tall, narrow and deep because taxes were levied according to the width of the facade. Because of the danger of flooding, the front door is sometimes on the entrance level and the property is accessed by a landing. Canal houses usually had a basement and an attic where merchandise could be stored. The attic had a hoisting installation or a special beam attached to hoist goods.
Along Amsterdam's canals there are also double-wide canal houses, especially on the Herengracht. The first owner bought two building plots and had one house built on them. Especially if he also bought the plots behind and had a coach house built there, we can sometimes speak of a city palace. The width of a canal house and the depth of the garden can vary greatly.
Anyone who has ever been to Gouda knows: Gouda is one of the most beautiful historic cities in the Netherlands. With the Sint Janskerk, the old City Hall on the Markt and the historic waterworks it seems like you're walking in the Middle Ages. Gouda is a photogenic city,.. Read more…