Much of Amsterdam's charm is due to the well preserved old buildings in the city center. Most of these date from Amsterdam's Golden Age when the city was the hub of world commerce. As beautiful as these buildings appear on the outside, unless they've been completely remodeled inside they are likely to suffer from the typical drawbacks of Dutch architecture of the period. Most buildings are deep and narrow. This was a result of city taxes that were measured by frontage. Of course the thrifty Dutch decided to keep their buildings narrow and thus avoid paying too much tax. Amsterdam, Holland. Photo Copyright © LukeTravels.com™

	Another drawback to living in Amsterdam is the fact that the city is about 15 feet below sea level. This creates a sink for moist air from the North Sea to blanket the city most days. This incredibly humid air mass is responsible for high mold counts and little sunshine. In fact the narrow streets, multistory buildings and high density of Amsterdam allow only brief periods of sun to grace the streets. These moments are relished by the residents. The saving grace is that good breezes keep the air moving. The numerous canals channel the wind and water (feng shui) making up for the lack of open space in the city. Amsterdam, Holland. Photo Copyright © LukeTravels.com™

	At the beach. Holland's coastal area. Copyright © LukeTravels.com™