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Earlier quoted context omitted.
The Van Dale dictionary seems to list another meaning of ‘stoep’ as steps to a house. Have I understood correctly? https://www.vandale.nl/gratis-woordenboek/nederlands/beteken...
Interesting. While “op de stoep staan” is a very common expression nobody knows it’s actually about those stairs in front of a house.
Pretty common in London as well
I wonder whether they came to London from The Netherlands as well. The Wikipedia page for stoop only mentions North America. Is there a different name used in England?
stoop has a totally different meaning
Stoops can have a dramatic impact on the culture of a given block. When you have stoops, people sit on them. This means more conversation outside in public, creating community. When I was young, it was normal for a group of kids to sit on any stoop if the front gate was open. (This has mostly gone away) Older people might spend hours sitting on their stoop, and basically end up being a neighborhood watch. Neighbors g…
The tradition as it's told is that anyone can also choose to spend the night there, and it's the house owners obligation now to provide them with a hearty meal and whatever else help they may need.
I like that idea, but doubt it can actually work in any large town or in these times.
What do you do to make stoops more accessible to people who can't climb stairs easily?
Stoops can have a dramatic impact on the culture of a given block. When you have stoops, people sit on them. This means more conversation outside in public, creating community. When I was young, it was normal for a group of kids to sit on any stoop if the front gate was open. (This has mostly gone away) Older people might spend hours sitting on their stoop, and basically end up being a neighborhood watch. Neighbors g…
A collage of examples: https://montrealstreetfrench.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/esc...
In the summer it's incredibly common to find people hanging out on the 2nd level landings, having morning coffee at a little table, playing music, or just soaking up some sun.
Because there's almost no shared interior space (since the staircases are all on the outside), it's more space-efficient, and also gives people a bit more privacy since everyone has their own entrance from the outside.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Came here to make a stoop ball comment. Played it (and wiffle ball) throughout my childhood at my grandma’s house in Brooklyn. Tried playing again about 10 years ago (in my twenties). The shoulder pain didn’t go away for a week. Can’t wait to blow out my shoulder again teaching it to my kids.
We also played stick ball in the middle of the street. That was a very different time.
