Giethoorn
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.
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.
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. 80% of our visitors only come in this part of our village.
Rent your own boat
The best way to experience our village is by boat. All about the boat rental options. Boat rental adress: Binnenpad 88 in Giethoorn.
Private boat tour
Hire a local to show you the best places in our village. No traffic jams. Discover our village with your own guide. Binnenpad 88 in Giethoorn
Take a canal cruise
Discover our village in a tour boat. Take a seat and let the skippers tell you everything about our village.
Rent a boat in Giethoorn
To really discover our village, you need a boat to sail around and to feel like a local. You can see the current availability of the rental boats via giethoorn.live. The cheapest boats are the 'fluisterboot' type. These are suitable for 2 people and the costs start at €27,50 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
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 €89 for a small (6pax) 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.
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
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.
Telephone number
06-33399923
Address Giethoorn Village
Boat rental Giethoorn
Giethoorn boat tickets
Frank Raggers
Giethoorn bootje huren
Giethoorn sloep huren
Hotel de Harmonie
Restaurant de Fanfare
Restaurant Grachthof
Weerribben bootje huren
Walking in Giethoorn
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.
Cycle in Giethoorn
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 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 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.
Google, the location of one of our 18 parkings for your exact location to park your car. The official Giethoorn Village parking is located at Binnenpad 88. 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 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.
Daytour by bus
This is the cheapest day tour to Giethoorn from Amsterdam for groups up to 55 people. Costs per person are only €49 in 2025.
In just 1 hour and 20 minutes, you'll arrive in the charming village of Giethoorn. You can rent your own boat, or join a guided canal cruise with a skipper who will share all the highlights of Giethoorn.
- Boarding Location: Tolhuis Buiksloterweg 7, 1031CC Amsterdam
- Departure from Amsterdam: 9:00 AM
- Arrival in Giethoorn Village: 10:20 AM
- Departure from Giethoorn to Amsterdam: 2:30 PM
- Arrival back in Amsterdam: 3:50 PM
Giethorn tours
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.
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 €550 in 2024. 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.
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
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
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.
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
Plus supermarket
There is only one supermarket in our village. This Plus supermarket is located close to the centre of our village. You can park in 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
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.
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!