The Netherlands was mostly built on bodies of water. Because of many factors, most parts of the country began sinking. This includes Amsterdam. The city sinks an average of 8 millimeters every year. The country used to be mostly soft peatland. There were areas above sea level and were habitable at the time. But higher and habitable areas were few. It was around 500 B.C. when the residents started to construct artificial hills. These were for the population to inhabit. This made settlement in more areas a little bit more permanent. Aside from the artificial hills, there was a lot of Dutch engineering and ingenuity at play. We know these days that they built the Netherlands mostly on water. Parts of the sea were, at the time, reclaimed. These resulted in cities and neighborhoods built on artificial land. The artificial land was mainly built on top of bodies of water. But now, scientists see that most parts of the country are sinking. The sinking is primarily because of many factors. But the main factor that causes Amsterdam and some areas to sink is the movement of the plates. This is a natural occurrence, and this happens in most places. But aside from the plate movements, there are also other reasons. Human activity can also be one of the main factors why Amsterdam is sinking faster than expected. Aside from that, there is the added weight of the construction of buildings. There are also roads constructed. And they add more weight to the reclaimed land. Amsterdam and Climate Change Most studies show that Amsterdam will be underwater in about 80 years or so. The rising sea levels caused by climate change are a big threat. It can wipe major cities from the face of the earth in a few decades. Climate change caused the Antarctic sheet to melt. The uncontrolled melting results in the water levels rising. As you already know, the Netherlands is mostly built on top of bodies of water. While canals and walls may have kept the water at bay, they cannot do so for the years to come. The melting of the Antarctic sheets added a huge amount of water to the oceans. This increases the average sea level. This puts low-lying countries at risk of too much flooding. The rise, after many decades, would most likely amount to about 9 meters. Such a rise in water levels would submerge most of the homes in Amsterdam by the year 2100. Most governments ensure that temperatures do not go beyond the 2 degrees recommended. This is to take control of the negative impact of climate change. This is a goal most governments work for. Despite this, the earth is continuously seeing the adverse effects of climate change. Weather catastrophes are becoming more violent. The northern and southern tips of the earth are melting fast. The water levels are rising higher than expected. Having said such, it will not be a wonder that most cities will be underwater in a few decades. Unfortunately, Amsterdam is one of them. Unless, of course, the Dutch show their engineering genius once again. Because if they were able to do it in the past, they could perhaps do it again in the future. The Dutch, I am sure, will not give up Amsterdam and most of the Netherlands without putting up a good fight. — The narrow houses in Amsterdam had a different reason in the past. And it was practical at the time. Never did they know that such practicality could become Amsterdam’s unique character today.