Amsterdam and Venice

[Mosaic]

Why is Amsterdam not sinking like Venice? You can see in Amsterdam there has been some sibsidence of the old wooden piles but you don't hear tales of woe like those that concern Venice, about the whole lot going under. Anyone able to offer suggestions? And lollipops for all answers that avoid mentioning the uplifting qualities of cannabis.

[boxtops]

Amsterdam's on reclaimed land though, isn't it? - whereas Venice was just built in the sea, hundreds of years ago.

[Mosaic]

Not quite, Boxie. Venice was originally a series of small islands which were extended, like amsterdam, by building building up layers of brushwood and later wooden piles.

[jno]

the Dutch keep the sea at bay, the Italians do not.

[DTCwordfan]

The difference in the mud and silts....also many of the houses are not as heavy in construction......look at the size and height of the more opulent Venetian palaces...

[Mosaic]

I was told on a tour that the Amsterdam canals are flushed through daily - now whether that's with seawater or fresh water I forget - but surely with the movement of canal traffic there it's difficult to keep the water quality 'on or the other'?
DT I get your drift, and one of the thoughts that occurred to me was, will modern amsterdam buildings suffer similar subsidence over time? Some modern buildings are quite big, if not very high, eg the Stopera at Waterlooplein. Or have they got massive piles ;)