Our village Giethoorn is known for it's waterways. To discover these waterways you will need a boat to transport yourself as a local. Read all about the different kinds of Giethoorn boat rental companies and the option to hire a private boat tour guide. So, to rent a boat in Giethoorn becomes easy for you.
4 p whisperboat
- € 39,50 - 1.5 hours sailing
- € 50,00 - 1.5 hours sailing
4 persons boat
- € 59,99 - 2 hours sailing
- € 75,00 - 2 hours sailing
5 persons boat
- € 69,95 - 2 hours sailing
- € 85,00 - 3 hours sailing
6 persons boat
- € 49,50 - 1.5 hours sailing
- € 55,00 - 1.5 hours sailing
Luxury boat 8 persons
- € 69,95 - 1.5 hours sailing
- € 80,00 - 1.5 hours sailing
Boat 8 persons
- € 79,95 - 2 hours sailing
- € 95,00 - 2 hours sailing
Boat 12 persons
- € 99,95 - 2 hours sailing
- € 120,00 - 2 hours sailing
Private boat tour
- € 180,00 - 1-hour guided cruise
- € 200,00 - 1-hour guided cruise
If you want to come and sail in Giethoorn, you can always take the risk to rent a boat on the spot. Especially if you come outside the often busier weekends, children's holidays and the high season. It is often still relatively quiet in Giethoorn in our village. This is not a guarantee. Reserving a boat is then normally, also not necessary. Nevertheless, it is possible that with good weather, even during these so-called quieter periods, it can become quite busy. We therefore advise everyone to reserve a boat in advance.
If you go to Giethoorn during the busy period and you want to sail there, then reserving a boat is often necessary. Regularly all available boats in Giethoorn, in combination with a sunny weather forecast, are already reserved days in advance. It would be a great pity, if you have come all the way to Giethoorn and you can not sail, because all boats are already rented out. Reservations are also recommended if you want to come sailing in the winter, as most boats (90%) have been taken out of the water for maintenance during this period. Save yourself the search for a boat. All the more so, because Giethoorn is best discovered from the water. Reserving a boat in Giethoorn is definitely recommended in the following periods:
- Pentecost weekend
- May holidays
- Ascension Day
- Weekends from May to September (from friday till Sunday)
- Summer holidays (and especially the Dutch construction holiday)
- Winter
The only way to be 100% sure that there is a rental boat ready for you is to make a reservation.
If you want to rent a boat in Giethoorn, you can choose from different types of boats. The choice of the right boat starts with the composition of the group and the number of people you are with in Giethoorn. For example, you can choose to rent several boats, if you are with a large group. Did you know that from 15 people or more, you can be cheaper, by booking a tour boat. All rental boats in Giethoorn are equipped with a silent electric motor. That is why these boats are also called a whisper boat. Here is a selection of the different types of boats that can be rented in Giethoorn:
- Sloop
- Rowboat
- Sailing pointer
- Tour boat
- Wooden punter (punting with a point)
- Steel punter (Cheapest type of whisper boat)
At least 3 hours of sailing to make a reasonable round
A boat in Giethoorn can be rented from an hour to a whole day. Most boat rental companies have a minimum purchase of 2 or 3 hours of sailing. You need this time practically, minimally, to be able to make a reasonable round. Then there should be nothing against it on the way. Keep in mind that a reasonable round during busy days can take longer. In most cases, the boat rental company will then charge you extra costs. A round takes you through the village canal of Giethoorn and then goes via the lake the Bovenwijde back to your starting point. The Bovenwijde is a lake that lies parallel to the village canal of Giethoorn.
Sailing route of 1.5 hours plotted from 2023
From 2023 it is also possible to reserve a boat for 1.5 hours. A sailing route of 1.5 hours has been set out especially for people who are in doubt between sailing for 1 or 2 hours. With the 1.5 hour route you also simply sail through the village canal of Giethoorn. During this route you will not miss anything of our beautiful village. There's just no time to stop along the way!
Rent a boat all day
You can also choose to rent a boat for a whole day. As a result, there is less time pressure and you can escape the crowds in Giethoorn a bit. An additional advantage is the more favorable price for the rental of a boat for the whole day.
Sailing map Giethoorn
You will always receive a sailing card from Giethoorn when renting a boat from us. Various sailing routes are described on this sailing map. The following sailing routes are on the boat map:
- 1 hour of sailing (yellow A)
- 2 hours of sailing (yellow B)
- Half day sailing (red or green)
- Full day sailing (Yellow/red/green)
For example, a sailing route for the whole day takes you to the Weerribben -Wieden. During a full day of sailing, don't forget to sail through Dwarsgracht and Belt-schutsloot.
Crowds in the village canal of Giethoorn
Keep in mind that, the sometimes crowded village moat, can affect the duration of your round.
One-way traffic in the village canal
Because our village canal is so busy, one-way traffic is set up for most of the village canal. This rule applies from pole 1 to pole 5.
We may have all seen the images of Giethoorn Netherlands with its (over) full canals. It is therefore logical that a frequently asked question is: do you have to be able to sail well to be able to sail in Giethoorn? We think that you do not have to be an experienced skipper to be able to drive a whisper boat or sloop in Giethoorn. Our experience is that one learns fairly quickly how best to drive the boat. Especially if you start sailing and steering, you set the engine to the slowest position for the first 10 minutes. At minimal power, the boats are well steerable and stable. A little steering skills is never wrong of course!
Rent a boat without a license
Renting a boat starts with a short explanation by the landlord. This explanation is about the boat, the engine, the operation of the steering wheel and the sailing route to be followed. For all boats that can be rented in Giethoorn, no license is required to be allowed to sail with it. However, a minimum age has been agreed per boat to be allowed to drive a whisper boat or a sloop.
Life jackets often present at the boat rental companies
In the village canal and on the Bovenwiede it is at most 70 cm deep. Nevertheless, it is regularly asked whether there are life jackets on location. TIP: Ask your boat rental company for a life jacket. Most boat rental companies also have life jackets for children to borrow.
Ga aan de kant
Rustig aan
Pas op!
Eenrichtingsverkeer
Wij hebben voorrang
Laat je gas los
Go to the side
Take it easy
Look out!
One-way traffic
We have priority
Stop giving full throttle
You can certainly rent a boat in Giethoorn in winter. If there is ice on the ditches, no boats will be rented. The low season runs roughly from the end of October to the end of March.
Most boats are taken out of the water
Most boat rental companies take their boats out of the water during the low season. The boats are maintained during these periods.
Book a boat in winter?
You will sometimes be amazed at how many people visit our village in winter. As long as there is no ice, boats are also rented out during this period. The majority of boat rental companies take their boats out of the water in the winter. Because of this, it is sometimes looking for a boat that can be rented in the winter. So you would do well to reserve a boat in advance in the winter.
At this moment there are no corona rules in Netherlands. Don't give corona a chance!
Qr code mandatory for boat rental?
So far (January 2022), you are not obliged to show your QR code for renting a boat in our village.
Giethoorn boat rental companies
Boatrental company
What do they rent?
Sloop/ 8-persons boat
45 Boats/sloop and whisperboat
Fluisterbootje/sloop/canal cruise
Private boat tour/Old Dutch sloop
Boat pick-up point
Kerkweg 35
Zuiderpad 14
Beulakerweg 55
Kerkweg 35
If you're looking for a full experience of Giethoorn Village, guided by a local, you can hire a private guide who shows you all the highlights and hidden treasures of Giethoorn.
This is a private tour guide company with many years of experience in guiding tourists in the Netherlands. 
The private guides of this company are specialized in guiding foreign tourists. The guiding of tourists through (among others) Giethoorn village is possible by boat ,bike or foot. They even guide people in their old Dutch sloop.
Parking and location
You can park your car next to the boat rental at Kerkweg 35 at Giethoorn and is free of charge. The private tours will start from there.