Giethoorn can be found in the province of Overijssel, which is only a one-and-a-half-hour drive from the capital. It’s a quaint Dutch community without any cars, and you’ll kick yourself for not going.
1. Picturesque village strolls
This charming community, often known as the Venice of the North, is entirely made up of canals, walkways, footbridges, and bicycle routes. Because of this, there won’t be any cars or other motorized vehicles whizzing by, allowing you to take in the view at your own pace. Make sure you bring a camera with you because the surroundings are picture-perfect. So instead, we advise you to take a leisurely stroll and really take in the scenery by spending less time behind the camera.
The village’s boundaries are where automobiles are parked. Thus, getting about requires walking, taking a boat, or renting a bicycle. Either of those transit options will turn out to be beneficial. While wandering through the residential islands, ornamented with blossoming hedges and lush foliage, you’ll find souvenir shops, cafés, and museums.
You can discover some restaurants by happenstance along the waterways if you rent a whisper boat to tour the village. A picnic basket can be purchased at one of the more well-known restaurants and eaten while sailing with your loved ones, or you can have a meal while taking in view of the canals. Giethoorn is the perfect destination for honeymoons and romantic holidays just because of the idea of enjoying a picnic on a boat while admiring a rural community.
2. By boat, explore a nearby 10,000-hectare wetland
The largest freshwater marsh in northwest Europe, De Weerribben-Wieden National Park, is situated nearby. Giethoorn offers boat rentals so that you can enjoy the lovely natural park on the water’s surface. Among the reed beds, a variety of orchids can be seen growing, while otters and other waterfowl are also visible to animal lovers.
Despite the fact that the park is a swamp with a lot of water, hiking is a popular activity among visitors because it enables you to thoroughly explore the wetlands and spot the local species. The visitor center offers details on the various routes and local attractions, including restaurants and coffee shops. If you wish to travel more distance on land, you can also go cycling.
3. An illustration of typical Dutch life
Giethoorn’s numerous homes still exude an old-world charm; they are adorned with vibrant plants and flowers and thatched roofs. Most of the bridges in the village are also made of wood. You’ll have a sense of seeing into a mixed reality of the present-day Netherlands and its bygone eras while spending the day touring Giethoorn, a town that seems to have emerged from the pages of a fairy tale novel.
Despite the activity on the canals, the village is rather calm because there aren’t many cars there. Even the postmaster, it is said, uses a boat to carry mail to Giethoorn’s less than 3,000 residents.
Don’t pass up the chance to visit Museumboerderij ‘t Olde Maat Uus (Museum Giethoorn) if you happen to find it by chance. The objects and machinery on show at Hendrik Maat’s former farm are all genuine and in excellent condition. You can learn about the early 20th-century Dutch lifestyle and traditional farming methods by taking a brief tour.
4. Heaven for winter skating
Giethoorn’s natural beauty draws most visitors in the spring, but there are still plenty of reasons to go there in the winter. Ice skaters will undoubtedly enjoy the frozen playground the canals become when the temperatures drop. Imagine being able to skate around a community that is entirely covered in pristine, white snow, passing beneath countless wooden bridges and along canals.
- Do you know What Can We Do In Giethoorn During Winter?
5. English-speaking locals
A few other languages are also spoken by the majority of Dutch people, just in case. In reality, conversing with someone who speaks French, German, and English is quite usual in the Netherlands. When we spoke with some residents, they admitted that whenever they travel, they make an effort to learn the local tongue.
The Dutch are, therefore, adept at communicating with tourists. They are warm and friendly people by nature. They took the time to teach us, so by the end of our trip. We knew a few Dutch phrases.
