Stooping in Amsterdam

Stooping in Amsterdam

No garden? No problem!

Here in Amsterdam, there are flowers everywhere. There are few parks in the canal belt, where I live. (Okay, none.) But the dutch love their flowers and gardens so much, they make gardens wherever they can. Usually on the sidewalk. I find it enchanting. If the sun is shining, you can see the residents of the tiny dark apartments move entire tables outside to have drinks or dinner with friends in the precious sunlight. Often they will sit on little benches at the top of the stairs that lead to their front doors.

New York was first New Amsterdam and was settled by the dutch. Lots of dutch words stuck around. The dutch word for a small porch is “stoep”, which is pronounced “stoop”. That is where the american word “stoop” comes from.  Today in America,  when someone sits on their front steps just hanging out, it’s called “stooping” and the dutch are masters at the art of “stooping”. 

Notice the sitting bench? 

Spot the guy doing pushups on the bridge? People exercise outdoors everywhere now. This is "Corona times" exercise.

Murphy posing in front of a street "flower box" that has a bench built in. See it?

                      The canal houses were built leaning outward so that things being pulled up by the hooks and pulleys wouldn't smash into the front of the house. 

This house had

a lovely front "garden sidewalk".

Last but not least, another portrait of Murphy in front of a mural of flowers.

Because, why not?