I always hate to leave Italy, but an adventure in Amsterdam called. We flew over the Alps on a gorgeous sunny morning.
Take a closer look at that peak.
Holland looks very neat and very green from above.
We hit the ground running and headed straight for the centre of Amsterdam. There are some absolutely gorgeous buildings in the city and I will show you these soon, but the things that fascinated me the most are the hooks at the top of many of the houses.
I’m guessing they were used to haul things up from the footpath. I would hate to think they were used as a form of torture where wrong doers were suspended by the nostrils ( or other bits ).
You are correct, the hooks are used for hauling things in and out of the house. One visit to Amsterdam a few years ago I witnessed a few guys moving into their new pad. It was quite the show!
By: Jennifer Avventura on May 15, 2012
at 5:40 am
I hope we get to see those hooks in action.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 15, 2012
at 6:16 am
Yes, the hooks were the first things we noticed about the houses in Amsterdam. We were fortunate to see someone haul up a large bed into the top window by using the pulleys attached to the hooks. It was fascinating to watch. Amsterdam is a marvellous place to explore. Do hire bikes to ride over the canals – good fun! I recommend a visit to Alkmaar on a Friday for the cheese-carrying competitions.
By: Sandra H on May 15, 2012
at 5:43 am
Yesterday was sunny and blue, today we have rain….a good day for the museums and galleries.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 15, 2012
at 6:17 am
Most of the Dutch furniture delivery vans these days have lifts on the back, so the hooks are seldom used, unfortunately. The lifts aren’t nearly as much fun.
Also occupational health and safety regulations ban the delivery guys from carrying stuff up your stairs, as I discovered when our lift was out of action.
A friend and I hoisted the sofas up ourselves, though one of the delivery men was big as the two of us together.
By: Richard Tulloch on May 15, 2012
at 6:27 am
We will keep our eyes peeled just in case one is put into action.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 15, 2012
at 8:03 pm
Skyhooks perhaps? Look at that sky!!! Just to think you had to go to Holland for the sun… Super interesting and beautiful as ever Debra. Thanks. Can’t wait for the next chapter… xx
By: janinevasta on May 15, 2012
at 6:55 am
Today it rained on and off, but we got some blue sky.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 15, 2012
at 8:04 pm
very nice picture…Amsterdam it’s very beautiful…
By: ribana12 on May 15, 2012
at 7:12 am
Amsterdam is a gorgeous city, with lots to see and do. We will be busy this week.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 15, 2012
at 8:05 pm
Have a great time in Amsterdam.
By: From a Tuscan Villa on May 15, 2012
at 8:36 am
Thank you, it is all good so far.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 15, 2012
at 8:05 pm
Something for me to notice if/when I ever get there! Enjoy your visit.
By: aFrankAngle on May 15, 2012
at 1:03 pm
Amsterdam is a great city, you should visit.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 15, 2012
at 8:06 pm
Wonderful pictures of all those hooks Debra. My husband & I had Christmas 1966 in Amsterdam with a family with 16 children. What an experience. That together with a visit to the Rijksmuseum made Amsterdam one of our favorite cities of the world.
By: dianneqld on May 15, 2012
at 1:34 pm
We went to the museum today….it’s great
By: Debra Kolkka on May 15, 2012
at 8:07 pm
How interesting Debra. Some of the houses look fascinating too. Shame the sun’s disappeared but have fun and enjoy the visit!
By: jenny@atasteoftravel on May 15, 2012
at 2:30 pm
We had some sun on and off….nothing much you can do about the weather.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 15, 2012
at 8:08 pm
And here I was thinking that they were the perfect solution to hanging baskets of flowers!
By: composerinthegarden on May 15, 2012
at 5:13 pm
Deb, what interesting angles to view Amsterdam from! Overhead and looking up! What a puzzle – I hope you figure out what the hooks were used for and let us know! 🙂
By: Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial on May 15, 2012
at 8:08 pm
Those are, indeed intriguing looking. And the sky looks so intensely blue.
Hope you enjoy your stay.
Hugs,
Kathy
By: Kathryn McCullough on May 15, 2012
at 9:16 pm
The sky is very blue…sometimes.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 16, 2012
at 6:21 am
Wonderful pictures Deb! I love Amsterdam too yet it has been a long time since I was last there. You are so lucky to spend so much time in Europe as everything is so close!
By: thirdeyemom on May 15, 2012
at 9:23 pm
I know! It only took 2 hours to fly here from Pisa and we love it.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 16, 2012
at 6:21 am
The reason for the hooks is for moving furniture into the houses as the staircases in old Dutch houses are very steep and narrow and you would not be able to get your furniture in. The lack of space I guess in Holland being such a small country with so many people. There is an old museum house in Amsterdam which you can visit and is left they way it was back in the 1600’s It belonged to a trader in the old days and has secret strair cases for the servants to move about without being seen by the owners.
By: paul on May 16, 2012
at 12:19 am
The hooks are a great idea. We are hoping to see one being used, but I guess it doesn’t happen much now.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 16, 2012
at 6:22 am
Amsterdam is such a wonderful city. Have a good trip Debra.
By: cityhippyfarmgirl on May 16, 2012
at 12:53 am
Amsterdam is gorgeous. I din’t know why I haven’t been here before.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 16, 2012
at 6:22 am
Weeee. Hope you have a great time there. I consider it to have the most fascinating city center because of the bikes, tilted houses, the MJ’s and of course, the RLD.
By: rommel on May 16, 2012
at 1:48 am
The bikes are a bit crazy. It seems wherever I stand, I am in the wrong place.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 16, 2012
at 6:23 am
Looks fantastic. A great city. We are now back in Bagni di Lucca after our trip to the Cinque terre which was fantastic. And yes the pesto was excellent.
By: Sue & Alan on May 16, 2012
at 3:18 pm
Amsterdam is lovely, but it is a bit cold and very windy.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 16, 2012
at 4:31 pm
I haven’t been in Amsterdam for quite a long time, but I do remember the hooks. They must have been very handy and I wish we had one in the mill when we had to get our bed into our bedroom!!! Well, then, we would have had to get through the windows… Old buildings are lovely, but they do have their problems.
By: Mulino Dominillo on May 16, 2012
at 6:27 pm
There are some wonderful, crooked old buildings here, quite different from those in Italy.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 17, 2012
at 4:39 am
We love to see our Holland through your eyes!!!
By: eponato on May 19, 2012
at 3:35 pm
We love Amsterdam!
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at 4:14 pm
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