5 ms·
Why didn't they just build railings and fences so that horses don't fall into canals?
by dheera 3mo ago
Why didn't they just build railings and fences so that horses don't fall into canals?
- exceptione 3mo agoCanals were used for transport by boats/ships. My guess would be that railings would be a hindrance for loading/unloading.
- vanderZwan 3mo agoYeah, and keep in mind most of those houses where merchant houses where trade happened at the time so there probably was a lot of loading and unloading going on everywhere. Although, given the current-day Dutch attitude to bike helmets I wouldn't be surprised if our ancestors were just being stubborn too, haha.
- jessekv 3mo agoMost likely the latter. Thousands of bikes, a hundred people, and more than thirty cars fall in to Amsterdam canals each year. "What to do if your car falls in the water" is part of driver's ed.
- vanderZwan 3mo agoI mean the last bit is a pretty important skill regardless of safety features, especially in a country like the Netherlands.
- jessekv 3mo agoWhen learning kayaking you have to practice a water escape, I wish there was something similar for driver's ed in the Netherlands. Thinking about it is terrifying.