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In the city of Amsterdam, in the Netherlands (Holland), there are more
than 50 canals and over 400 bridges. No wonder travelers who visit
Amsterdam call it the ``Venice of the North'' for, like Venice, this
is a city of canals. Amsterdam is a city built in, on, and around
water. It stands on a dike, or dam, on the Amstel River. Even the
Royal Palace rests on thousands of wooden piles placed there in 1650.
The modern buildings in Amsterdam rest on strong concrete piles that
go deep into the sandy soil.
Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, but government affairs
are conducted in another city, The ...