Thatched farmhouses, wooden footbridges and canals where cars simply do not fit: Giethoorn village in the province of Overijssel looks like a storybook, and it has become one of the most photographed places in the Netherlands. It is also quite small, so a bit of planning makes the difference between a calm day and a crowded one.
A short history
The village grew out of peat digging. Locals cut peat, and the pits slowly filled with water, creating canals. A popular story says the first settlers found piles of goat horns in the ground, left from an old flood, and named the place after them. Whether or not that is exactly true, the canals became the village’s streets, and houses still stand on little islands reached by bridges.
Getting there from Amsterdam
The nearest big station is Steenwijk. From Amsterdam you take a train, usually with a change, and the trip takes around two hours. From Steenwijk a local bus covers the last few kilometres into the village. By car it is about one hour and forty minutes, with parking on the outskirts. Check the current timetable on 9292.nl before you go.
How to explore
- Whisper boats: small electric boats, quiet enough not to disturb the ducks. You can rent them without a licence, and you steer them yourself.
- Punting: a traditional way to glide through the canals, more relaxing than it looks, though a bit wobbly on the first try.
- On foot or by bike: narrow paths run along the water. Bikes are a good option if you also want to see the surrounding nature reserve, the Weerribben-Wieden.
- Guided boat tours: good when you want history and stories rather than steering.
Best time to visit
Summer weekends are busy, especially around midday when tour groups arrive. Early morning or late afternoon is calmer, and weekdays outside school holidays are better still. In winter the village looks wonderful under frost, and if the canals freeze, locals sometimes skate, though thin ice is dangerous, so follow local advice.
Where to eat and stay
You will find waterside cafes serving pancakes, coffee and local pastries, plus a few restaurants with canal views. Staying overnight is worth it, as the village empties in the evening and you get peaceful streets. Small bed and breakfasts are common; book early for high season.
Respect the residents
People live in these houses. Keep your voice down, do not step into private gardens, and avoid flying drones, which many places discourage. Pay for parking and tours honestly, as tourism supports the village economy.
Giethoorn works best as a slow day trip, not a checklist stop. Combine it with a visit to the nearby national park, and you will see why the Dutch love their water landscapes. For more places like this, see invisionfree.com.
Featured image: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).
