Canal Houses

These slightly squiggly dancing houses were built in the seventeenth century along the mesmerizing canal rings of Amsterdam. Their construction played an important role in the city’s civic layout, and they have since become an iconic feature of the town.

In the 1600s, Amsterdam experienced a golden age and a massive economic boom. This led to the creation of its canal belt, which encouraged water traffic and allowed goods to be rapidly transported throughout the city. Both the boom and its clever new design mechanism lured an abundance of wealthy traders to central Amsterdam, creating a demand for housing that far exceeded the space for them all. The municipality’s solution? Come one, come all! Absurdly narrow plots of land were allotted to fit as many houses as possible onto the banks of the canal rings. More or less concurrently, citizens began to be taxed based on—among other things—the width of their homes, which gave prospective buyers a bit of extra incentive to purchase a house measuring somewhere in the range of 2 meters wide.

Distinct to these alleyway houses was a pulley system or hoisting beam, known as a hijsbalk, located at the top. They were once used to efficiently lift goods and furniture in and out of the house without risking the climb and likely the damage of hauling anything other than oneself up the steep, narrow staircases. But this would only really work if the houses were built with a slight lean forward…which they were! Some have retained their hoists—not for the original function but as decorative reminders of Amsterdam’s unique architectural heritage.

Over time, many houses have sunk from their original foundations, adding to the appearance of wobbliness, like sailors yet to get their sea legs. This effect gave them their “dancing houses” nickname. But with leans of this variety, it’s safe to presume these lofty dancers are not respecting their partners’ personal space. And inevitably, all escapes have been narrow.

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