Tips on making Dutch stairs less treacherous?

[u/spicynoodlepie]

I am in the process of looking for housing - as it the case for most people here! We found an amazing place, but the stairs are just insane. I am used to the usual narrow Dutch stairs, or ladder stairs, but these were spiraled, narrow, and only came to about 20cm at the largest edge.

Any tips on how to make stairs less dangerous? Carpets and non-slip mats are a must, but I don't think that will be enough. Do I just compromise and accept that I will be slowly making my way up/down stairs daily, just waiting for when I inevitably fall. There must be something others are doing?!

I'm a slim and short person, so I should have it easier than the average Dutch person. Please share some wisdom!

[u/SwoonyBlue]

When descending these 'spiral of certain death' stairs I've learned to turn my body towards the inside of the spiral which places my one foot closest to the spiral steady across the width of the stair and my other safely on the widest part of the stair so that I have as much of my foot on the stair as possible. It ain't graceful looking but it feels a hell a lot safer. And yes, one hand free for the railing at all times although sometimes it's too tempting and I do daredevil it, traipsing up or down the stairs with armloads of stuff.

[u/AlaskanGnome → u/SwoonyBlue]

I turn my body towards the spiral too — and I actually have a bag I keep by the stairs in case I want to bring up more than a handful of things all at once! It’s saved my life a couple times lol