When I say Amsterdam isn't romantic, I don't mean all of Amsterdam. The picturesque canals that ring the city's busy center are the essence of romantic, treelined canals crossed by little bridges that seem far too small for current day traffic (see photo of the truck crossing as a good example). Add long parades of seventeenth century merchant homes, each one with its own architectural quirks, and laidback Amsterdamers pedaling along on their bikes, and you've got the perfect spot for leisurely walks discovering the city. As a merchant city rather than a royal city, Amsterdam doesn't really have dramatic sights, so these charming canals are really what makes the city special.