In Amsterdam, as in many parts of Europe, the buildings are very narrow. In Amsterdam, because the owners during the seventeenth century were taxed according to the amount of canal frontage the property occupied, the owners built as narrowly as possible to avoid heavy taxation. Lifts are a rarity, and most building have either very steep shallow stairs, or vertical spiral staircases. In order to move large pieces of furniture, hooks have been installed at the top of the buildings, and the furniture is moved through a window by rope or conveyor. I captured this image while traveling on a tour of the city. Image captured 09/27/07. Copyright 2007 Flicker Light Studio(tm).