A corner of Holland: discover the village of GiethoornIt is a fairy-tale village, one of those that still exist in Europe. Charming, peaceful, with so much natural beauty that one feels like one is in another time, far from industrial society.
Today in our article we will delve into this fairytale corner: Giethoorn.
Giethoorn
The Netherlands They are a land of canals, so this town of Giethoorn has a network of picturesque canals that will amaze you. Why is it called that? Because the first inhabitants, upon arriving, found hundreds of goat horns, gietehorens, in the swamp, remnant of a 10th century flood.
It doesn't have the noise and activity of the canals of Amsterdam or Venice. It's rather serene, calm, and slow. It doesn't matter if they call it "Little Venice," it has nothing of the Italian city, neither the people, nor the noise, nor the marketing and tourism. i guarantee massive.
The water village of Giethoorn It is located in the province of Overijssel, in the east of the Netherlands, a green paradise. In fact, it is in the very centre of the Overijssel canal system and as such is completely dependent on its waterways and there are houses that have no access except by boat.
If you have a car Giethoorn is only 85 minutes from Amsterdam, and even though the water village is a big attraction, it remains serene. Without a car You can get here on a tour or by public transport: Train from Amsterdam to Steenwijk, with a change of trains in between, and from there by bus. Allow two hours for the full journey.
There is a part of the village that is visited by foreign tourists. This part It contains hand-dug canals and small islands interconnected by 176 bridges to the mainland. On all these little islands there are houses, typical farm houses, which were built between the 18th and 19th centuries.
Visitors can make a walking or cycling circuit called Binnenpad, which runs through this sector of the village and also contains souvenir shops and restaurants.
The village has no streets in the center., so without streets there are no cars. Everyone, whether residents or visitors, must park their cars outside the village in special parking lots. The car-free centre is the commercial heart of the village.
One can Rent small boats or hop on a boat cruise, or visit a museum or sit in a café or restaurant. The paths along the canals are quite small and although we say that it is a quiet and serene village, the truth is that when the tourists arrive... it gets a bit crowded.
It must be said that 90% of visitors stay in this part of the village, so although the little boats are called "whisper boats» and keep noise to a minimum, be prepared to see tourists taking photos, hear voices, or hear the larger boats sometimes bumping into each other.
If you want to see fewer people, then escape the busiest tourist seasons, the European summer, for example. And if you want to stay in Giethoorn? You can, There are some nice AirBnBs and a few hotels.
For example, there is the four-star Hotel de Armonie, just outside the centre but within easy walking distance, or the cheaper Black Sheep Hotel. There are also other three-star hotels and B&Bs.
Things to do in Giethoorn
If you have already decided to visit this picturesque dutch village, it's time to plan what to do in Giethoorn.
The first and basic thing is boat ride. There big boats which take you on a cruise along the canals of Giethoorn to admire their beauty from the water, while learning about the history of the village. These cruises are also accessible for people in wheelchairs or with small children.
Or you can rent one of those «whisper boats» I mentioned above, or another type of smaller boat. They are available for rent in many parts of the village, but if you go in the summer, the canals will be a bit crowded and it may be difficult to even rent one. Reservations are recommended.
So, you can take a cruise, you can rent a private boat or you can pay for a private tour. One way or the other, The tour through the network of canals takes about an hour. between narrow canals and under bridges.
Cruises, for example, cost between 10 and 15 euros per person, but vary depending on the season. Private cruises, for two to four people, cost around 29 euros per hour. And a private boat starts at 125 euros for a small group.
And finally, there are always the canoes. It can be a great way to enjoy Giethoorn, alone or as a couple. You have companies like Pedal Boats or SUP. Another thing that you will see saturated if you go in summer, June, July, August, are the restaurants and cafes. If you want to save time, it is a good idea to bring something to have a picnic and eat there, don't worry.
An activity that I recommend in this corner of Holland called Giethoorn is to visit a museum. Giethoorn has a couple of small and interesting museums. One is the Old Maat Uus that will precisely teach you the history of the village, and has actors dressed in traditional clothing to make teaching more enjoyable.
Another museum is the Histomobil, old cars, old motorcycles and carriages. And there is also the Oude Aarde Museum, for stones and mineralsAdults pay 3.50 euros and children 2,50 euros. Open from March to October, from 10 am to 6 pm, and from November and March, from 10 am to 5 pm.
Another interesting thing is rent a bike and go for a walk. The paths along the canals are great for walking and cycling, and you will find cafes and restaurants along the way. Some companies are: City Bikes, Kick bike-step or E-bikes. You can also rent motorized bicycles or electric scooters or, for longer trips, chopper motorcycles.
You can also enjoy games, archery or mini golf. Finally, A visit to Giethoorn is an ideal day trip from Amsterdam. If you want to add charm you can stay the night, an unforgettable experience without a doubt because people leave, few tourists remain and then the serenity that has made Giethoorn an attraction returns and you understand why it has such a reputation.