Year round in Amsterdam, the Dutch are busy improving or tearing down existing structures, or building new ones. Although building betterment is fun, safety is not always the number one priority. In the U.S., walking under scaffolding (such as that covering the lovely Westerkerk, pictured here) is not allowed at all or severely restricted. Here in the Netherlands, however, such precautions are minimal and residents and tourists alike are allowed to wander beneath such construction, oblivious to the fact that at any moment they may be hit in the head with falling debris.

Enjoy scaffolding for what it represents, for when it comes down, the building that it concealed is sure to be even more beautiful than before. But watch your head as you stroll along the sidewalk.