How were plumbing pipes laid into European streets? Yes, obviously, the places for them were dug out. But some European cities today (such as Amsterdam) seem to have the original cobble-stones dating back to maybe the 17th century. So how is this possible? btw - cobble stones are still beneath the pavement of my town incorporated in the 1600s and also in Philadelphia, NYC, and Boston. I know this question has nothing to do with language but I have wondered about this for some time and obviously Europeans will read this.