Photography by Marilyn Price

Holland and Belgium

Former warehouse, now fancy apartments, seen on the canal cruise, Amsterdam, Netherlands

This photo shows some of the old warehouses that front onto Prinzengracht, one of the three major canals that circle through the heart of the city. Way back when, this canal was the commercial district and the warehouses built on the canal accommodated bulk storage. Most were built so that they leaned slightly over the canal fronting street below and have a large beam extending above the rows of windows. This beam has a hook on it that can have a block and tackle assembly attached to it so that cargo could be lifted up to the higher windows, which are vary large, especially for that time period. These buildings are no longer used as warehouses as the property is too valuable. Most have been converted into very expensive living quarters. Most are divided into exclusive flats.

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