Cruising Down the Canal Trivia Quiz

Answer: Amsterdam

Amsterdam's extensive network of canals splits the city into around 90 islands connected by roughly 1,300 bridges and viaducts. De Duif is a church that sits on the Prinsengracht (Prince's Canal), one of the historic concentric canals that were dug out in the 17th century.

Het Scheepvaartmuseum (National Maritime Museum) is a maritime museum showcasing the Netherlands' history of shipping and sailing.

Answer: Bangkok

The sprawling city of Bangkok in Thailand features a network of canals and waterways. Across the city, there are a variety of markets where traders do business on boats as they float on the canals. They sell items like food and clothing. Some of the food is cooked right there in the boat, which is impressive considering most of them are about the size of a canoe!

Answer: Birmingham

Birmingham, England's second city, grew phenomenally during the Industrial Revolution. Many of the country's crucial canals flowed through the area, bringing industry and commercial success with them. Birmingham is home to the the Arena (which opened as the National Indoor Arena in 1991) and the International Convention Centre. Both of them host entertainment events and sit near each other by the Old Main Line Canal.

Answer: Bruges

The Belgian city of Bruges is home to the Groeningemuseum, an art gallery in the city showcasing Belgian masterpieces. Outside the museum, the beautiful Bonifacius bridge stretches over the canal and leads to Arents Courtyard (Arentshof). From the park, the towering spire of the Church of Our Lady is visible.

Answer: Hamburg

'Fleet' is a North German word meaning trench and is used to refer to the canals in Hamburg. They flow through the city and connect natural waterways like the Alster and the Elbe. As well as having numerous canals, the city also contains two large artificial lakes called Outer Alster Lake and Inner Alster Lake.

Answer: St Petersburg

St Petersburg was built on the Neva River delta marshlands and many canals have been dug out of the floodplain. One of those canals was the Catherine Canal (renamed the Griboyedov Canal in 1923). As Tsar Alexander II of Russia was travelling along the canal in March 1881, he was mortally wounded in a bomb explosion.

After his death, the imperial family paid for the construction of a magnificent church on the site, which became known as the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood.

Answer: Copenhagen

Nyhavn is a waterfront in Copenhagen. It's home to the famous painted houses that sit along the canal, the oldest of which was built in 1681. The waterway snakes through the Danish city towards the harbour where the neo futuristic Copenhagen Opera House is located.

It was designed by the Danish architect Henning Larsen and kind of looks like it's wearing a hat! It's definitely a sight to see as you cruise down the canal.

Answer: Tai'erzhuang

China's Grand Canal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014. It runs through many towns and cities, including Tai'erzhuang. Tai'erzhuang has around 2,000 years of history and many of its older buildings underwent restoration at the beginning of the 21st century. It has a number of canals and waterways within it and an array of historic and cultural buildings alongside them.

Answer: Alappuzha

Alappuzha, formerly known as Alleppey, is in the Indian State of Kerala. It's known for the houseboats that cruise down the backwaters. Originally, the wooden boats with thatched roofs were used to transport rice and spices. Now, however, many of them have gone up-market. Top-of-the-range houseboats are rented out like hotel rooms, with all of the amenities you'd expect from a hotel, too.

Answer: Venice

The Doges' Palace was the official residence of the elected leaders of Venice way back when the city was a republic. It looks out onto the Grand Canal, and just around the corner, the Bridge of Sighs stretches over a narrow waterway. The bridge connects the Doges' Palace with a prison on the other side. Crossing the bridge was the last time prisoners would see Venice before being executed, hence its name. Due to its beautifully preserved buildings and history, this Italian city and its lagoon were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987.