A prominent European capital city with canals is Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. It is famously known as the "Venice of the North" due to its extensive and historic canal system, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city's canal network was developed in the early 17th century and consists of concentric rings of canals used originally for defense, water management, and transportation, now mostly for pleasure and tourism. Amsterdam has about 90 islands connected by around 1,300 bridges, creating a distinctive and historic urban landscape.
Other European capitals with notable canals include Venice in Italy, though Venice is not typically referred to as a capital in the formal sense since the capital of Italy is Rome. Venice is unique for its canals running through a group of islands, connected by numerous bridges, and has historically been built entirely without motor vehicles. It is renowned worldwide for its waterways and gondolas.
Among capitals, Amsterdam stands out as the prime example of a European capital with a famous and extensive canal system.
