My Day Trip to Giethoorn Village, Netherlands – Things to Do in Geithoorn, The Venice of Holland

If you’re visiting Netherlands, and enjoy quaint little towns, Giethoorn Village is a must!  But leave your car behind, because Giethoorn has no roads.

Allow me to share my experience in this Instagram-worthy, picturesque countryside of Giethoorn Village in the Netherlands — the Venice of Holland.

When I visited the Netherlands, the only place on my itinerary I knew for sure I wanted to visit was Amsterdam. This is because I wanted to enjoy the cruise at the canals among other things.

My Dutch friend seeing my enthusiasm decided to take me to Giethoorn village. And without any prior planning, off we went.

To say I was amazed is an understatement.

My Dutch friend had explained to me a little bit about the village, but I thought well, it’s just like any other village I had seen so far. But I was wrong.

This little village charmed me, and I felt like I was in a fairy tale storybook.

When we approached the village, we parked the car at a big and free parking spot in Beulakerweg which is just a 7-minute walk to Giethoorn. It is when we got to the village that I realized that it really does not have roads and therefore, it’s almost completely car-less.

Giethoorn village is laced with a stretch of many canals, which makes the place spectacular and the only mode of transport here is by boats, commonly known as “whisper boats”.

With a population of a little over 2600 people, the small village has over 180 bridges along roughly 55 miles of canals which connect the streets, shops, restaurants and houses. It is located inside the Weeribben-Wieden National Park.

Fun Fact: Giethoorn was chosen as one of the properties on the Monopoly Here & Now: World Edition in 2015.

Where is Giethoorn Village? How far is Giethoorn from Amsterdam?

Giethoorn is a beautiful little village in the Dutch province of Overijssel located 75 miles (121 kilometers) away from Amsterdam — a 2-hour trip that is well worth it. It is usually described as the “Venice of Holland” or ‘’Small Venice of the North”.

But unlike the Italian Venice, which is majorly commercialized, this tiny village is serene and extremely beautiful — famously known for its tranquility and dreamy nature.

With no roads, you may be wondering, how do you get to Giethoorn?

Because my friend lives in Holland, we were able to drive to Giethoorn. In addition to where we parked, there is another free lot on Bartus Warnersweg. If you don't have a car, you can get to the village by train or by bus.

Another option is to take a guided tour (either in a public group or a private one) that includes transportation to Giethoorn.

If you're staying overnight, there are many quaint hotels, B & Bs and hostels to choose from. A good place to start looking for a place to stay in Giethoorn is TripAdvisor.

What is the History of Giethoorn Village?

The name Giethoorn harkens back to the 13th century. The story goes that the farmers, who were the original settlers, discovered a mass collection of horns belonging to wild goats which were thought to have died from the floods of 1170.

Therefore, the name was derived from “Goat horn” or rather “Geytenhoren.” The village continues to be defined from the years of post-floods and beautiful landscapes.

Around 1230, the locals discovered the most prized treasure, Peat, a mineral found in the soil that was formed from decomposed vegetable matter which was used as a source of energy. In order to transport Peat, the workers dug the canals.

It’s, therefore, safe to say that since the canals are man-made, they are not deep. 

If you are a person who enjoys being on the water, then this is the place to be as most homes and restaurants can only be accessed via the water — or by walking and biking along the winding paths around the charming little village.

Because boating is the main way to get around Giethoorn, most of the boats run on electricity, both to reduce noise and pollution of the canals.

Even the mail is delivered to most of the houses by boat!

Enjoy the Beautiful Sights of Giethoorn by Boat

When it comes to getting around Giethoorn by boat, you have a few options. If you want to learn about the history of this picturesque village, a guided tour is the way to go. Do keep in mind that if you are visiting during peak tourist season that these fill up fast, so you will probably want to book in advance. If you have a large enough group, you can book a private guided tour along the canals.

If you would prefer to explore at your own pace, you can rent a simple-to-operate excursion boat (many of which run on solar power) — this is what my friend and I did on our visit and it was lovely. You can also opt for a "hop on, hop off" pass that allows you to stop and go at different places along the canal.

For groups, there are also water taxis that will take you to your destination for a fee.

What’s More Fun than Cycling in Giethoorn?

Along the spectacularly beautiful canals, I noticed that there were a lot of cycling lanes crisscrossing the towns. Because the Dutch are not big on car culture, they surely do compensate well on cycling. 

If you love cycling, you will enjoy exploring this scenic beauty without the honking of vehicles as you are mesmerized by the rustic charm of this Dutch countryside. Renting a bike in this village will not dent your pockets, and it will give you an option of exploring whenever you want…

Yes! You heard it from me.

Unlike my visit to Amsterdam, where the roads were jam-packed with bikes with a "hectic kind of buzz" in the air, riding a bike through Giethoorn is more of a leisurely stroll.

I obviously regretted that I did not get to cycle along the village, like I did when I visited Amsterdam… but hey! It gives me more reasons to go back.

A Perfect Place for a Romantic Get-Away

I wouldn’t think of anything better than punting along the stretches of beautiful canals while whispering sweet nothings with my better half. The serene vibe of Giethoorn village will automatically put you into a sentimental state.

Because the footpaths along the canals are pretty small, my friend and I had the advantage of milling around closely admiring the picturesque, quaint thatched houses and restaurants surrounded by lush flower gardens on separate peat islands which are only accessible through the beautiful arc wooden bridges.

This village is simply magical and unforgettable, and it gave me an illusion of museum-like adventure even before stepping foot into one of the actual museums… but let’s not forget that this is a real village with a close-knit community.

To be honest, this village is perfect for a romantic weekend getaway. Maybe next time...

Are There Museums in Giethoorn?

If you enjoy visiting museums, Giethoorn village has two you will love.

The Museum Giethoorn 't Olde Maat Uus is a famous museum where you can learn the life of the farmers and the historical development in the 1900's. You'll also see exhibitions of peat stabbing, reed covering, building ‘’punter’’ boats and ancient handicrafts.

The oldest museum in Giethoorn is the Museum De Oude Aarde which was founded in 1969 by Rene Boissevain. Boissevain was famous for traveling around the world collecting the minerals that can be found on display. The museum is currently run by the Visser family who continues the tradition, collecting more beautiful minerals and crystals as well. 

You can also visit the shipyard, where you can watch the boats being made.

Although I was in Giethoorn for just a few hours, I noticed that the majority of their tourists are Chinese. This is not to say that they are the only tourists who visit Giethoorn. In fact, since this village is an all year-round tourist destination, it attracts a lot of nationalities who come for different festivities.

If you prefer to avoid the crowds, the best time to visit Giethoorn is during the Spring months of April, May and June, or in September. And please, when you visit, remember that you are a guest of this lovely town. Unfortunately, many tourists have caused a nuisance, disrupting the lives of the locals.

What to Do in Giethoorn Village in Summer?

What to Do in Giethoorn Village in Winter?

In the winter the village of Giethoorn transforms into a dreamy winter wonderland. Nothing screams cozy like taking heated canal cruises and later cozying up by the fireplace inside a charming farmhouse lighted up for the holiday season or even take a walk to the bar.

If you are an ice-skating enthusiast, you will enjoy visiting Giethoorn in the winter as you can skate along the canals and lakes. This is truly a magical experience. 

Even though I am not a big fan of pancakes, my friend encouraged me to try some.  

And I thought well, why not?

I was so happy about making this spontaneous trip.

Giethoorn village is, without doubt, a beautiful place to visit. Not only will it charm you with the wonderful romantic atmosphere, it is a whole family dream vacation as well. There are tons of activities to do… so you heard it from the horse’s mouth.  

What are you waiting for?

If you're thinking of a trip to the Netherlands, the cool city of Antwerp in Belgium is another must-see! And it's only about 2 1/2 hours away from Giethoorn (or a little over 1 1/2 hours from Amsterdam)!