Dodgy buildings

my first trip to Amsterdam and my first impresion was that Dutch builders must of been a bit dodgy .why were all the houses ornate but leaning all over the place . there is an explanation !
Houses were built on sturdy wood ( now concrete) pilings to assure a solid foundation. These foundations have sunk in the soft ground or even rotted , you will see many cockeyed canal houses, some held up by huge logs, most buildings have been where they are for centuries.