Hacker News Reader

Funny thing is: the non-profit that created this map is De Waag Society, located in De Waag in Amsterdam - a building dating from the 1400s.

The funny thing about the Netherlands, (or at least 90% of it) is that there is no natural stone to build with. No rocks, no pebbles, no stones, nothing. Just sand, clay and peat. In most places, the bedrock is hundreds of feet below the surface. Constructions were made of wood and mud, because everything else had to be imported.

Despite popular perception, there's more to Netherland than just Amsterdam. Some towns are quite a bit older. Some date back to Roman settlements.

Still, building materials mean that buildings from before the 16th century are incredibly rare.