Worldwide there are many cities which have a water exposure since commerce via ship was always important. Thus, we have cities, such as Paris, St Louis, London, Bangkok, and Vienna,  which can be found on rivers; we have a large number of cities, such as New York, Hong Kong, San Francisco, and Rio de Janeiro which lie on coastlines. However there a few cities which carry the concept of water exposure to the extreme. Water is an integral part of the city’s transportation system; it often replaces streets. These cities and town are always interesting to tourists since they are exceptions to the mainstream (pun?).

             The city of Amsterdam, like Bruges, is located in the “Low Countries,” sections of Europe which are largely below sea level but which are able to survive due to technology in the form of dikes, canals, and windmills. In Amsterdam canals do not replace roads as they do in Venice but they are found parallel to roads, offering alternative transportation for residents and visitors.

           Canals here are so ubiquitous that many live in houseboats.                     

Canal House

          Obviously, with all these canals, there are hundreds of bridges in the city.                  

Bicycles, Architecture, and Bridges