Amsterdam is a heavily populated city that is constantly expanding. One of the most ambitious urban projects to appear in the Netherlands in a generation is IJburg. Located to the east of the city centre, IJburg rises out of the water on new artificial islands in IJssel Lake.

The first of these islands is Steigereiland, and it is here that the municipality of Amsterdam is experimenting with novel types of architecture on the water itself. There's an inlet on the island where the floating houses are moored.

Floating houses are basically concrete frames. They're built in a factory and then towed to IJburg. The owners lease a water plot for 50 years for about 120,000 euros.

The municipality plans to sell over 100 water plots to the private sector on one side of the inlet, while a local housing association plans to build a similar number on the opposite side. About a dozen families are already living in the floating houses.

Rik Uijlenhoet moved in to his floating house last October. His sleeping quarters are located below the surface of the water, and when he comes upstairs in the morning, he still marvels every day at the view he enjoys.