Amsterdamse Architecture

Amsterdam , like all of Nederland, is built on layers of silt/mud, sand, and water.
The mural above right shows Amsterdam with dark layers of mud, whiter layers of sand, canals that carry away surface water, and silvery groundwater visible at bottom right.
Old buildings had short piles to the upper sand layer for stability;
Newer, tall buildings are set on piles into a second deeper sand layer.

Below is the handsome city archive building, in a building in the style of the 1920s Amsterdam School. Note the cyclist whose sweater matches the block pattern.


Many buildings have Art Deco touches that are quite over the top. See door below and frieze above at the top right:



Even new Dutch building, seen below at their World Trade Center, has humorous touches.
This is a statue of a dog in the middle of a business plaza.
The mother cycles by with her child on the bike, next to a roof top garden over parking.