Brugge or Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country. The area of the whole city amounts to more than 13,840 hectares, including 1,075 hectares off the coast, at Zeebrugge. The historic city centre is a prominent World Heritage Site of UNESCO. It is oval-shaped and about 430 hectares in size. The city’s total population is 120,000 of which around 20,000 live in the city centre. Along with a few other canal-based northern cities, such as Amsterdam, it is sometimes referred to as “The Venice of the North”. Brugge has a significant economic importance thanks to its port. At one time, it was the “chief commercial city” of the world. Today the Market square lined with cafés is a very popular tourist destination. Photograph taken with Nikon D90 & 10-24mm lens at 24mm on 8th May 2012.