Steigereiland, Artificial island in IJburg, Netherlands
Steigereiland is an artificial island in eastern Amsterdam made up of three residential neighborhoods, entirely surrounded by water. It is part of the IJburg development area and is connected to neighboring islands by several bridges.
The island was built up in the early 2000s as a response to Amsterdam's growing need for housing. It was part of a city plan to push the urban boundary eastward into the IJmeer lake.
On Steigereiland, many residents designed and built their own homes, which gives the streets a look where almost no two buildings are the same. Walking through the area, you notice wooden cladding next to colorful facades and very personal layouts side by side.
The island is easy to reach by tram, with a direct line to Amsterdam Central Station. Those on foot or by bike will find clear paths across the bridges to the neighboring islands.
The southern part of the island is home to a row of houses that float on the water rather than sitting on solid ground. These floating homes can be seen from the shore and look like ordinary houses that happen to be sitting on the lake.
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