Giethoorn village, the most beautiful and fairytale village in the Netherlands. The Dutch village where the inhabitants can only sail around, walk or cycle to transport themselves. Every year, 1 million people visit Giethoorn. Partly for this reason, we as a group of residents created this website. So, you can visit our village well prepared.
Giethoorn village in Netherlands
Small introduction
We would like to introduce our village to you as locals. Our small village, is located in the Northeastern part of the Netherlands, approx. 85 mins drive from Amsterdam, our capital city. Yearly around 1 million people from all over the world come to visit our town of ''no roads'', this puts Giethoorn in the top 10 attractions in the Netherlands. Our village is of course well known in the Netherlands but also far beyond. This means it would be difficult to name a country, where nobody from that country, has not visited the Dutch ''Venice of the Netherlands''.
Village of Giethoorn
The part of our village that most (foreign) tourists will see when they visit us is called: ''Giethoorn village''. This part of our village contains hand-dug canals and all small islands which are inter connected by 176 bridges to the mainland. In fact, on all these islands, there are houses (farmhouses) which are built in the 18th and 19th centuries. A walking/cycling path named: 'Binnenpad' runs right trough this area. Tourist shops and restaurants (which are well represented) are interspersed with typical Dutch houses with thatched roofs.
Thatched roof house in Giethoorn
Dutch village without roads
Giethoorn village has no roads in the center. So of course, no roads means also no cars. Visitors and residents of Giethoorn village need to park their car outside the village at special car parks. This car-free area is the commercial heart of our village. You can rent whisper boats, board a guided cruise or visit a museum here, along with lots of choices of restaurants and cafes. This cycling/foot path known as the 'Binnenpad' is like walking on to a film set. 90% of our visitors only come in this part of our village.
What do most people do in Giethoorn?
Rent your own boat
The best way to experience our village is by boat. All about the boat rental options. Boat rental adress: Kerkweg 35 in Giethoorn.
To really discover our village, you need a boat to sail around and to feel like a local. You can rent a boat at 1 of our 25 different boat rental companies. The cheapest boats are the 'fluisterboot' type. These are suitable for 2 to 4 people and the costs start at €25 per hour. For a little more comfort, there are open sloop boats for rent. It is also possible to rent a canoe or a sup board.
Canal cruise
Canal cruise
The guided cruise boat tour takes about 1 hour and follows the tourist village route, through the narrow canals and under the bridges. Most skippers who sail on these tour boats, speak several languages spoken by the skippers. The prices of these cruises vary from €10 to €15 per tour per person. The prices depends partly on the season.
Private boat tour
This is private guided boat tour in an open sloop boat for groups up to 12 persons. Costs per hour starts at €120 for a small group. You will sail through the Venice of Netherlands in an old Dutch sloop boat. Your private skipper will guide you through our village. During the boat tour your captain will tell you all special things about the Dutch Venice.
Download the Giethoorn sailing route-app
Sailing route-app Giethoorn Village
Of course we couldn't stay behind in Giethoorn. For years you received a paper sailing route when you rented a boat in our village. Hundreds of thousands have been given over the years when sailing a boat in our village. Now that sustainability is becoming an increasingly important theme, we have developed the Giethoorn sailing app, especially for visitors to Dutch Venice. Download the app for the most common sailing routes of our village. The app has been available for download since 2023.
Sailing routes on your phone
Scan or click on the QR-code for the sailing-app
Each boat rental company has a unique QR code. Request this QR code from your boat rental company. Scan this QR code with your phone for the sailing routes of your boat rental company.
Sailing app for everyone
Every boat rental company in Giethoorn can contact us to use our app (free). There are no costs attached to this. This way, each boat rental company can create its own sailing routes. You can register at info@giethoornvillage.com
First experiences of the users
Most of the users of the sailing route app indicated that the sailing experience has improved since using the app.
It is allowed to walk on the cycle path in the center of our village. There is no separate bike and walk path in our village. So, the bikepath is also used as a bike path, so pay attention. The walkway runs parallel to the village moat of our village. From the footpath you have a nice view of the houses that stand next to the village canal. Each house also has its own bridge. Through these bridges, the inhabitants get to their homes. The bridges of the inhabitants are private property. It is therefore not the intention that the tourists stand on the bridges for the better view or for taking a photo.
Cycling
Cycle in Giethoorn
Cycling in our village
It is allowed to Cycle on the bikepath in the center of Giethoorn. This bikepath is also used as a Foothpath, so pay attention. This cycle path runs parallel to the village moat of our village. From the Bikepath you have a nice view of the houses that stand next to the village canal.
National park Weerribben-Wieden
Giethoorn is located in Weerribben-Wieden National Park. Miles of cycle paths are available here. Check out our cycling in Giethoorn page for details. Bikes can be hired in our village.
Supping
Supping in Giethoorn
sup in Giethoorn
It is allowed to sup on the waters in Giethoorn. The village moat is 4 km long. It's great to paddle through here with a sup board. Do bend down by the bridges. Ever get cheered on, during a sup trip? Well in Giethoorn the other tourists just stand to cheer you on when you come along with your sup board. Moreover, the nature around our village also gives enough sup possibilities. From the village moat you have a nice view of the houses that stand next to the village canal. Look here for an extended sup adventure in Giethoorn. It is possible to rent a sup board with paddle in our village.
Iceskating
Iceskating in Giethoorn
In the winter of 2018
Iceskating in Giethoorn, that's been a while. The last time you could skate in our village was in the winter of 2018. Of course we know the village of Giethoorn from all that water, those cute houses with thatched roofs and all those bridges. You probably know the pictures on social media, with all those boats sailing through our village. But what is it like in the winter in Giethoorn? When can you even skate in our village? Well, in February 2021 we could skate again in our village.
How to get to Giethoorn Netherlands?
With touroperator Giethorn
Giethorn tours
Amsterdam to Giethoorn
Meet Giethorn, a Dutch tour operator and boat rental company in Giethoorn, with offices in Giethoorn and Amsterdam. Their specialty lies in organizing fully catered day trips from Amsterdam to Giethoorn village. They do this for groups of 2 to 21 people. A pick-up service at your hotel in Amsterdam is included. In addition, we also mediate with local entrepreneurs for the best price for our customers, on site. This allows us to offer a sharper price than the competition. A selection of our daytrips:
Tulipfields tours
Volendam tours
Zaanse schans tours
Photography tours
Amsterdam to Giethoorn
Daytour by bus
Giethorn tours
This is a day tour to Giethoorn from Amsterdam is for groups up to 21 people. Costs per person where around the €99 in 2023. Pick-up at your hotel in Amsterdam around 10.00 A.M for a bus tour with Giethorn. Guided cruise in our village included. At 16.00 P.M the bus leaves back to Amsterdam. At 18.00 P.M you are back at your hotel in Amsterdam.
Private tour
This private tour from Amsterdam to Giethoorn village is for groups up to 8 people. Transport from Amsterdam to our village is done by tour company Giethorn in a mini-bus. Costs per mini-bus where around the €450 in 2023. Pick-up at your hotel in Amsterdam around 10.00 A.M for a private tour from Amsterdam to Giethorn by mini-bus. Boat tour is not included. At 14.00 P.M the mini-bus leaves back to Amsterdam. At 15.30 P.M you are back at your Amsterdam hotel.
Boat tour with private captain
Private captain
A private guided tour in a sloop boat is for groups up to 12 persons. Costs per hour will start in 2023 at €120 for a small group. You will sail through the Venice of Netherlands in an old Dutch sloop boat. Your private captain from Giethorn will guide you through our village. During the boat tour your captain will tell you all special things about the venice of Netherlands. In combination with a private tour from Amsterdam to Giethoorn discounts are possible.
By train
Giethoorn by train
By train to NS trainstation Zwolle
Travel to NS train station Zwolle. There you can take bus nr 70 from Zwolle to Giethoorn.
By train to NS trainstation Steenwijk
Travel to NS train station Steenwijk. There you can take the bus nr 70 or bus nr 270 from Steenwijk to Giethoorn.
By car
Giethoorn parking
Google, The location of one of our parkings for your exact location to park your car. Remember that, parking inside this Dutch village is not possible. From the parkings it is approx 5 minutes to walk to the village. Most of the parkings in our village are free of charge.
Where to eat ?
Restaurants in Giethoorn
Restaurants are well represented in our village. Most restaurants cater to the Dutch visitor. However, there are also restaurants that specifically cater to the foreign tourist. Conclusion, tastes too over.
We live in a social media era. Therefore, it is sometimes necessary to wait for your turn to get that perfect picture of that roof thatched house. As everyone knows, it is vitally important to impress all your social media friends your holiday photos. For this reason, the village of Giethoorn is the our favorite of all the picturesque Dutch villages. Get inspired by our instagram account.
Useful tips for your visit to Giethoorn
Petrol station
Gas and Service Station in Giethoorn
In our village you can refuel at an Avia gas station. This is also the only gas station in our village. For both cars and boats you can go here for fuel. There is also a kiosk at the gas station. You can also refuel here 24 hours a day.
Opening hours kiosk
Monday to Saturday 09:00 - 17:00
Sunday 10:00 - 17:00
Telephone number
088-1344000
Address
Beulakerweg 137, 8355AG Giethoorn
Supermarket
Plus supermarket
There is only one supermarket in our village. This Plus supermarket is located close to the centre of our village. You can parkin front of the supermarket. Please note that this parking lot is a blue zone. Don't forget to put down your parking ticket (blue card). tip: look for offers in the Plus folder.
Opening hours supermarket
Monday to Saturday 08:00 - 20:00
Sunday 09:00 - 19:00
Telephone number
0521-361234
Address
Eendrachtsplein 4 8355DL Giethoorn
What don't we have in Giethoorn
No coffeeshop
There is no coffeshop in Giethoorn. This nearest coffeeshop is located in Steenwijk. Steenwijk is 10 minutes by car from our village.
No airport nearby Giethoorn Netherlands
Our village has no airport. So, the focus should be on Schiphol airport or Eindhoven airport. Travel from there by car, train or bus to Giethoorn.
No Mac Donalds
There is no Mac-Donalds in Giethoorn. This nearest Mac Donalds is located in Steenwijk. Steenwijk is 10 minutes by car from our village.
Top-12 nicknames of Giethoorn
Canal village
Dutch Venice of the Netherlands
Dutch water village
Little Venice
Geithoorn
Giethoorn Netherlands
Giethoorn village
Giethorn
Giethroon
Venice of the North
Village without cars
Village without roads
Residents giethoorn are not racist
Giethoorn racist?
At the beginning of 2022, it came out via the Dutch TV program 'Zembla' that a (Turkish) family from Giethoorn was being bullied. Through that same TV program it came out that this family, was discriminated against and terrorized by a number of local youths. This is not justifiable! The day after the TV broadcast, the young people in question apologized to the (Turkish) family. It was also suggested in the media that everyone in Giethoorn would be racist. This is absolutely not true!