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
Giethoorn
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''. Giethoorn has many nicknames. For example:
Giethorn
Venice of the Netherlands
Dutch Venice
Village of Giethoorn
Thatched roof house in 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.
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.
Social media
We live in the 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.
Venice of the North
All these roof thatched houses in the Venice of the North are often surrounded by deep green well-kept lawns with beautiful flowering hydrangeas. So, in combination with the many waterways with rows of weeping willows along the canals and the 176 bridges you easily imagine yourself in a romantic fairy tale. However, it is important to remember this town without streets, is one of the top-10 tourist locations in Netherlands. In other words, you are never alone when you visit the Venice of Netherlands.
What to do in Giethoorn?
Rent your own boat
The best way to experience our village is by boat. All about the boat rental options.
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 €15 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 €6 to €12 per tour per person. This 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 and is coronaproof. Costs per hour starts at €110 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.
Corona measures
Due to the corona outbreak in the Netherlands and the measures associated with it, a visit to our village may require some adjustment. Before you visit us first look at the applicable corona rules.
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.
Dwarsgracht and Belt-Schutsloot
Just outside Giethoorn there are also very nice spots, such as Dwarsgracht and Belt-schutsloot. These Dutch villages can also be explored on foot.
Corona measures
Due to the corona outbreak in the Netherlands and the measures associated with it, a visit to our village may require some adjustment. Before you visit us first look at the applicable corona rules.
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.
Dwarsgracht and Belt-Schutsloot
Just outside Giethoorn there are also very nice spots, such as Dwarsgracht and Belt-schutsloot. These Dutch villages can also be explored by bike.
Corona measures
Due to the corona outbreak in the Netherlands and the Dutch COVID-19 measures associated with it, a visit to our village may require some adjustment. Before you visit us first look at the applicable corona rules.
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.
Dwarsgracht and Belt-Schutsloot
Just outside our village there are also very nice spots, such as Dwarsgracht and Belt-schutsloot. These Dutch villages can also be explored by sup.
Corona measures
Due to the corona outbreak in the Netherlands and the Dutch COVID-19 measures associated with it, a visit to our village may require some adjustment. Before you visit us, look at the applicable corona rules.
Iceskating
Skating in Giethoorn
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.
Corona measures
Due to the corona outbreak in the Netherlands and the Dutch COVID-19 measures associated with it, a visit to our village may require some adjustment. Before you visit us, look at the applicable corona rules.
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 €89 in 2020. 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 €350 in 2020. 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
Private boat tour
A private guided tour in a sloop boat is for groups up to 12 persons. Costs per hour will start in 2021 at €110 for a small group and will be coronaproof. 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.
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.
By plane
No airport in 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.
With tour operator Giethorn you can travel from Amsterdam to Giethoorn. Giethorn specializes in transporting 2 to 21 people to Giethoorn. They also organize private boat trips through Giethoorn in a luxury sloop. Are you looking for a maximum experience in the Venice of the Netherlands? Then we advise you to book a tour via tour operator Giethorn.
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.
Burgers & grill
Brasserie de Pergola
d'Olde Smidse
Dames van de Jonge
De Harmonie
De Kruumte
Eetkamer van Giethoorn
Grachthof
Grand cafe Fanfare
Het wapen van Giethoorn
Het Zwaantje Giethoorn
Hollands Venetie
La Piccola Venezia
Otterskooi
Pergola
Restaurant 't Binnenhof
Ristoranta Fratelli
Smit Giethoorn
Smits Paviljoen
Resort Venetie
Snackbar Geythorn
Steakhouse
Vishandel Gerrits & de Boer
Witte hoeve
9 helpful places to know in Giethoorn
Supermarket
Plus supermarket
This Plus supermarket is located in 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. 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
Eendrachtsplein 4 8355DL 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.
