Amsterdam.
What do you think of when you hear about Amsterdam?
No, not that…
Canals.
Did you know that Amsterdam has more than 100 km of canals, about 90 islands, and 1500 bridges?
Houseboats.
Located along some of these canals are houseboats. In fact, there are around 2,500 legally moored houseboats in Amsterdam, and it is unlikely that any more spaces will be added. Originally they were used as a way to deal with the housing shortage. In today’s world, they are in great demand.
After our trip to Amsterdam, the hubby thinks that it would be amazing to live on a houseboat in Amsterdam, even if it were for a brief amount of time. Since we are still raising teens, that possibility has been set somewhere in a distant future.
In the meantime, today is his birthday, so I thought I’d give him a visual of his dream and share a photo tour of some of the houseboats of Amsterdam.
If you’d like to see more doors, be sure to check out Thursday Doors… more windows, check out the weekly photo challenge.
Tour.
I hope that you enjoy coming along on this canal tour of Amsterdam.
Home is the nicest word there is. -Laura Ingalls Wilder
May your walls know joy, may each room hold laughter, and may every window open to great possibility. -Mary Ann Radmacher-Hershey
Home is any four walls that enclose the right person. -Helen Rowland
The home should be the treasure chest of the living. -Le Corbusier
Home is the most popular, and will be the most enduring of all earthly establishments. -Channing Pollack
I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself. -Maya Angelou
Travel Dream.
One of my future dreams is to be able to spend long enough in a new place to become immersed in its culture.
Amsterdam is one those cities in which I think I’d enjoy spending an extended amount of time living. However, I’m a little apprehensive about a houseboat. I’m concerned about the movement and if I’d be able to adapt.
An apartment in the city…absolutely.
Houseboat…?
What about you? Would you live in a houseboat?
Be sure to check out part 2 here.
Let your light shine!
Amy
So beautiful!! It’s always been my dream to visit (and perhaps live in!) Amsterdam. 🙂
Thank you!! Amsterdam is quite stunning. I hope that you make it there someday. 🙂
Beautiful pics, happy birthday to your hubby and live your dreams! Marcus
Thanks so much Marcus!! -Amy
Happy Birthday to Mr. Bedlam 😉
I’d be up for trying a houseboat for a week or two. I’m curious to know how it all works for things like electrical and water connections as well as sewage/wastewater disposal. And I imagine that renting one for a week of two is not exactly cheap but if possible I’d give it a try.
Thanks Norm! I’d definitely like to try it. Just not sure if I’d want to do it long term! 😉 I’m not sure if there are short term rentals (I suspect there are), but we found that while they weren’t cheap on a monthly basis, they were pretty on par for rental prices we’ve seen for average locations here and in Florida.
They did set up a process to be hooked up to a sewer system. I think this was to clean up the canals. I think most have been retrofitted to do this and the rest are in process. I’m not sure how the rest of it works, but it would definitely be interesting.
Oh yes I would live in a houseboat. In France or Paris its cheap to live in a houseboat. I can’t remember the $$ but roughly $1,300 a year…probably euros. that gives you all your water and electricity …and your right in the best part of town. Our tour guide said she would love to do that.
I bet France or Paris would be a beautiful place to spend on a houseboat!! It’s definitely something unique.
I think so too, or Amsterdam…. 🙂 I’m open to whatever happens
I would go for that – and even if it was not in a house boat. We regularly watch a TV series about finding a house (abroad), but the rent prices for an apartment at a canal are staggering! Had no idea they went for 3-5 thousand a month, so a boat must be cheaper:)
Amsterdam has that special atmosphere, that many cities don’t have.
The houseboats that we saw were cheaper than that, but I expect that prices are high for any big city. I’ve not lived in really large cities, but I’ve heard about the prices in New York City for places where there isn’t even enough room to completely open the oven door! I do love the atmosphere of Amsterdam. 🙂
I’d live in a houseboat for a short time, but I couldn’t always live there because I wouldn’t have any place for all my books. 🙂 We were able to spend a day on a houseboat/barge with friends a few years ago in France and it was really great. The boat was much bigger than I thought it would be.
janet
I’ve seen interior photos of some and worry about the fact that I’m used to lots of storage. I’d definitely try it out for a short time. 🙂 -Amy
I have the same dream. Keep a lookout for one for me too! 🙂 🙂
Will do! 🙂
Yes, I would live on a boat for a some time, just to have the experience. Have an excellent week-end.
Marianne
Thank you.
I would do it for the experience as well. I hope you have a wonderful weekend! -Amy
Yes to living on a houseboat! Lovely photos
Thank you! It does look like it would be fun. I’m just not sure I’d want to do it long term. 🙂
Great pictures and such an suitable point of view to shoot Amsterdam from! Also, I love any quotes from Maya Angelou…
https://2weekendwanderers.com/
Thank you! 🙂 Maya Angelou has some amazing quotes.
Freekin sweet