Amsterdam is the capital city of the Netherlands and as such is one of the most important historical sites in Europe, with origins stretching back to the 12 century when it was a major trading port for the North Sea and the Baltic Sea routes.

Today many people visit Amsterdam to enjoy the famously liberal approach to life, with both the red light district and the infamous 'coffee shops' being major tourist attractions. Of course, it isn't just these aspects of an 'alternative culture' that makes the Dutch capital such a busy international attractions for visitors. The iconic system of canals that run through the city make it a unique feature and The Amsterdam Stock Exchange, Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum, Hermitage Amsterdam and the Anne Frank House all contribute to the reasons why over 3.66 million visitors make the journey each year.

Renting Amsterdam apartments offers a wide range of choices, from a traditional canal side location to a city centre flat near the entertainment districts.

Here are five traits that make renting an apartment in Amsterdam special:

1. Bicycle-friendly

Due to the huge popularity in riding bicycles around Amsterdam, many flats come complete with indoor storage facilities for bikes. Today a modern machine can easily cost over a thousand pounds which is similar to a second hand car that is around ten years old. Not many people would want to take their car indoors but by the same token leaving a bike outside can be an invitation for theft or damage.

This is why many flats in Amsterdam feature specially fitted wall brackets, usually located in their entrance halls, which allow bicycles to be safely stored in a convenient manner.

2. Cheese box

Another quirky addition to many homes in Amsterdam and elsewhere in Holland is a dedicated 'cheese box' which is essentially a small cupboard or larder that was traditionally used to store cheeses at different stages of their ripening life span. Today many of these larders have been removed but in older style properties they are very much a valued feature.

3. Tall buildings

Due to many of the canal side buildings being quite narrow but several stories high, most of the older properties that line the waterways contain distinctive sets of staircases which to those unaccustomed to them can seem unusually steep. Often small roof spaces mean that loft rooms will be used to maximise space but can be unsuitable for particularly tall people.

4. Understated decor

The Dutch people have a reputation for saying what is on their minds and can sometimes be quick forthright in their views. This had the effect in the past of making the interior decoration of some Dutch dwellings to be a little on the bland side due to people trying not to draw undue attention to anything that might be deemed ostentatious.

5. Houseboats

Finally, one thing that is definitely unusual is perhaps not quite an apartment quirk, but is to do with living quarters. Due to the prevalence of waterways there is a great Dutch tradition of living on a houseboat moored in the canals. Perhaps one of the most traditional yet unusual ways to stay in the heart of the city, houseboats only really became a common feature after the end of the Second World War.