People have always lived in boats at Amsterdam, but after World War II when housing was at premium, it became extremely popular. In the 1970’s, it was recognised by authorities that some limits and regulations needed to be introduced. The number of houseboats that are residences are now limited, and they must be connected to services to ensure no impact on the waterways.

We noticed this houseboat had a sod roof. The layer of soil and vegetation on the roof provides additional insulation, helping to keep the cabin temperature more stable.