Dutch stairs, also known as house TRAPS

When I found the Dutch word for stairs is "TRAP", suddenly it all began to make sense. I could now understand why they are so steep and narrow, so they can act as house traps for visitors or thiefs -- at least this is my theory :))

Dutch house traps

I also come to the conclusion that Dutch try to fitt in as many staircases as possible in one house. While back home most of the 2-3 room apartments have no stairs, here they managed to fit 2 staircases in less than 60 square meters. I can sincerely undertand the staircare from the living and kitchen to the bedroom level, but why they needed to have the appartment entrance and an almost inexisting hall (seriously, it's like half square meter) on one level and then the living room on a different level is still a mistery.

Make the trap double

After intense studying of the issue, it seems that there is actually an explanation for this. In the past, people had to pay tax depending on the width of their house, so in order to avoid high charges they just build "tall" and narrow houses, connecting the levels by (what else than?) narrow stairs.

Now that I know the rational behind, I seem to enjoy my stairs more :) I realised I can exercise a lot without even leaving the house, who wouldn't want that? On top of it, I am becoming more effective, planing in advance the "trips" upstairs and "downstairs" and making sure I don't forget anything I have to take with me from one level to the other. But still, when it comes to suitcaises carrying up or down, I cannot help but wonder: "Dutch narrow stairs, are they a curse or blessing?"