Anyone who’s visited a Dutch house before will recognise a few distinct traits: open curtains for everyone to see, birthday calendars in the toilets, and possibly the steepest, narrowest stairs in the world.
The Dutch are known for their engineering feats, especially with anything relating to the water, but did they really have to build stairs that felt like climbing Everest?
What is it?
Most people learn how to climb and descend stairs by the time they’re four or five years old but seeing these bad boys will make you rethink anything you’ve ever known about stair safety.
READ MORE | 5 things that will shock you when you arrive in the Netherlands
Good morning!
— 🌻 混沌的隊長 ➡️ NFC, FWH (@CaptainChaotika) August 30, 2015
The Netherlands might be flat, but they've got steep stairs… pic.twitter.com/seYPX4Frr5
These stairs are steep and narrow enough to get fully grown people to cling to the bannister in fear.
Why do they do it?
These notorious stairs have their history in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Most residential areas in the Netherlands are built upon softer soil and need very strong foundational structures to keep the buildings upright. 🏘
On top of that (literally), was the fact that the Dutch authorities started taxing people for the width of their home’s facade! The result? Very narrow houses.
the only thing I will not miss about The Netherlands is carrying three people’s luggage up these steep ass narrow ass beautiful ass stairs pic.twitter.com/sfM20xUBBB
— ⚡️tayzilla🏒 (@TayZillaMane) May 8, 2019
READ MORE | The Amsterdam canal houses: why are they so wonderfully weird?
This didn’t just come down to taxes either. There also wasn’t much space for residential areas, a lot of the land being reclaimed from the sea and all. So, if Dutchies couldn’t build out, they would build up.
Combine these two things together, and you have narrow and somewhat crooked houses overall and even more narrow and crooked stairs inside.
Why is it quirky?
Most people don’t realise it until they move into one of these houses, but there are actually quite a few drawbacks to this Dutch architectural phenomenon.
READ MORE | The narrowest house in Amsterdam: everything you need to know
It’s practically impossible to bring any big pieces of furniture up or down the stairs unless they’re flat-packed IKEA furniture. Otherwise, almost every Dutch house has a hoisting hook:
These hooks seem equally as dangerous as trying to bring furniture up the stairs. 😬
But speaking of dangerous, steep stairs are the enemy of a big night out — they’re likely to have you tumbling down to the first floor if you don’t watch your step.
Should you join in?
We suggest you at least get the chance to experience climbing up such a set of stairs, just to see how quickly you can get the chills. We recommend not attempting to climb while intoxicated if it is your first time, however.
trying to find a cheap apartment in the netherlands means every single option includes very steep stairs so once i move i’m going to either have really strong legs or broken bones and a concussion
— lieke🌱 (@cattsical) July 9, 2021
If you’re moving to the Netherlands, you might not really have a chance to choose what kind of stairs you get, but you’ll get the hang of it eventually. 😁
What do you think of this Dutch quirk? Have you experienced it? Tell us in the comments below!
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in January 2022, and was fully updated in March 2023 for your reading pleasure.