Like Venice, much of Amsterdam was built on reclaimed land. Poles were pounded into this ground which did a decent job of supporting the buildings that followed.
Over the decades and centuries, with settling and areas of decay of the wood, the ground and buildings shifted. I admired how the Dutch dealt with this problem, best seen in crooked windows and doorways. Rather than try to straighten and replumb their structures, the Dutch instead custom built crooked windows and doors that fit the current structure. I’m told that if floors are sloped, a new level floor is built over it.
There is ongoing demand for the services of the artisans who make these historic structures livable.
