Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
2.3. Canals
When you arrive in Bruges, one of the first things that you are bound to notice is the abund-
ance of canals and waterways that can be found all over the city.
The many canals of Bruges have, in fact, led many people to call this city “the Venice of
the north”. Of course, the reason why there are so many canals in Bruges is because of the
city's historical importance as a site for trading across Europe. Boats would make their way
into the centre of Bruges from all over Europe, loading and unloading their cargo, and really
making European trade in the middle ages something that flourished.
One of the great things about Bruges today is that many of these waterways are still in work-
ing order. This means that you are not limited to experiencing Bruges by foot and on land,
but, like mentioned in the last chapter, you can take to the waters yourself and experience
Bruges from a whole different perspective. There are five different locations where you can
start your journey on the canals:
