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Punting in Giethoorn

Punting in Giethoorn
sail through the village the traditional way

Punting in Giethoorn is a traditional way to see the village from the water. In a punter (traditional wooden boat) you move yourself through the water with a punting pole, without a motor. In Giethoorn you can hire a traditional punter for up to 6 people and choose from different sailing times.

Hire a traditional punter now How punting works

What is punting in Giethoorn?

Punting is sailing in a traditional punter, moving the boat along with a long pole. Instead of a motor, you use the punting pole to push against the bottom and move the boat forward. That makes punting clearly different from sailing an electric whisper boat or sloop: you do the work yourself and use a sailing technique that belongs to Giethoorn.

The traditional punter that you can hire in Giethoorn is genuinely moved along by traditional punting and has room for up to 6 people. If you want to see Giethoorn and also try a different way of sailing, the punter is a good choice.

View the traditional punter

Skipper pushing off with the punting pole in Giethoorn
  • Max. 6 peopleper traditional punter
  • 1 to 4 hoursor a whole day
  • No motorunder your own power with the punting pole
  • Short explanationat the hire location before you leave
Under your own power

How does punting work?

When punting, you put a long punting pole on the bottom of the water and push the boat forward. By doing this again and again, you move through the canals in the punter. It takes a little more activity and technique than steering an electric boat, but you do not have to operate a motor and the boat moves entirely under your own power.

That way you try out a traditional way of sailing. Before you leave, the hire location gives you a short explanation of how to use the punting pole and how to steer the punter, so you can then set off on the water on your own.

Reserve your punter

Traditional sailing

Why is the punter linked to Giethoorn?

The punter is a type of boat closely tied to the watery character of Giethoorn. Precisely because the village has so many canals and waterways, transport by water played an important part. Today you can find out for yourself what it is like to sail through the village without a motor, sitting low on the water in a punter and moving calmly through the canals.

That makes punting different from most of the other ways visitors see Giethoorn from the water today. If you specifically want this traditional way of sailing, look out for the traditional punter when booking, because the range also includes wooden punters that are driven electrically.

Traditional or electric

Which punters can you hire in Giethoorn?

Several kinds of wooden punters are available in Giethoorn, but not every punter is moved along with a punting pole. The range includes traditional punters, electric wooden punters, a wooden punter sloop and a sailing punter: the electric versions are steered with a motor, while with the traditional punter you really do punt yourself.

So if you specifically want to go punting in Giethoorn, choose a traditional punter. If you mainly want to sail in a wooden Giethoorn boat but would rather not punt yourself, you can also look at an electrically driven wooden punter or punter sloop.

Max. 6 people

How many people can you hire a punter for?

A traditional punter in Giethoorn is suitable for up to 6 people. If you are with a larger party, you can, depending on availability, reserve more than one punter, so you can sail together and perhaps take turns at punting.

Within the wider range of wooden punter boats, other capacities are available too: there are electric wooden punters for up to 4 or 6 people and a wooden punter sloop for up to 8 people. So when booking, always check which type of boat you are choosing and how many people it is suitable for.

1 to 4 hours or a whole day

How long can you go punting in Giethoorn?

A traditional punter can be hired for different sailing times: you can choose 1, 2, 3 or 4 hours, and a whole day is possible too. Which hire duration suits you depends on what you want to do and how much experience you have with punting.

If you mainly want to get to know the technique and sail a short stretch through Giethoorn, you can choose a shorter hire period. If you want to sail further, a longer hire period gives you more time to punt calmly and enjoy the surroundings on the way. Keep in mind that you provide the propulsion yourself, so punting is more active than sailing an electric boat.

View sailing times & prices

Village canals

Where can you go punting in Giethoorn?

In a punter you see Giethoorn from the canals and waterways of the village: you sit close to the water and set the pace yourself. While sailing you see Giethoorn differently than on a walk: you pass houses, gardens and bridges and find out what it is like to move the boat without a motor.

Exactly which route you can sail depends on your departure location, the time you have and the options for the traditional punter. Traditional punting works best on the shallow canals and waters in and around the village itself, where the bottom is around 1 metre deep in most places. That means the punting pole can reach the bottom everywhere. Ask at the hire location about the recommended route from your departure point.

Price

How much does it cost to hire a punter in Giethoorn?

The price of traditional punting depends on the hire duration you choose. Because rates can change and depend on your reservation, it is best to check the current price directly in the booking system.

There you first choose the date, preferred departure time and hire duration; you then see which options are available and what the price is. The traditional punter can be hired for a period from one hour to a whole day. That way you can decide in advance how long you want to go punting and reserve online straight away.

View current prices

What is the difference between a punter and a whisper boat?

The main difference is how you move the boat: with a traditional punter you use a punting pole, while a whisper boat is driven electrically. With a whisper boat you hardly have to make any physical effort, whereas when punting you have to work actively yourself.

There are also wooden punters with an electric motor available, so anyone who would like to sit in a traditional wooden boat but does not want to punt can choose one of those. Do you want to experience the traditional sailing technique? Then choose the traditional punter specifically. Would you rather sail electrically? Then look at the whisper boats.

Hire a punter now

Companies that rent out punters in Giethoorn

Smit's Paviljoen

Smit's Paviljoen

More info & contact
Smit Giethoorn

Smit Giethoorn

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Recreatiebedrijf Geythorn

Recreatiebedrijf Geythorn

More info & contact
Arendshorst Buitenactiviteiten

Arendshorst Buitenactiviteiten

More info & contact
De Dames van de Jonge

De Dames van de Jonge

More info & contact
Broer Botenverhuur

Broer Botenverhuur

More info & contact
Bed & Boot Mol Groenewegen

Bed & Boot Mol Groenewegen

More info & contact
't Zwaantje

't Zwaantje

More info & contact
Punterwerf Wildeboer

Punterwerf Wildeboer

More info & contact

Reserve punting in Giethoorn

Would you like to go punting in Giethoorn yourself? Then choose a traditional punter and find out what it is like to sail through the watery village without a motor. In the booking system, select your date, preferred departure time and hire duration. You then see the available options and the current price straight away.

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Frequently asked questions about punting in Giethoorn

What is punting?

Punting is a way of sailing in which you move a boat along with a long punting pole. You push the pole against the bottom of the water and so propel the punter forward.

Can you go punting yourself in Giethoorn?

Yes. In Giethoorn you can hire a traditional punter that you punt yourself. The traditional punter on offer is suitable for up to 6 people.

Do you need experience to go punting?

No, you do not need any experience. At the hire location you get a short explanation of how to use the punting pole, after which you can set off on the water on your own. Punting does take more technique and effort than sailing an electric boat.

How many people is a traditional punter suitable for?

The traditional punter is suitable for 1 to 6 people. For larger parties you can, depending on availability, reserve more than one boat.

How long can you hire a punter for?

You can choose hire periods of 1, 2, 3 or 4 hours, or a whole day. The departure times available depend on the date and hire duration you choose.

Are all punters in Giethoorn traditional punters?

No. Besides the traditional punter, there are also wooden punters with an electric motor and a wooden punter sloop available. If you really want to move along with a punting pole yourself, choose the traditional punter.

What is the difference between punting and sailing an electric punter?

With traditional punting you propel the boat yourself with a punting pole. An electric wooden punter is driven and steered with a motor.

Can you reserve a punter in Giethoorn in advance?

Yes. You can choose a date, departure time and hire duration online and then reserve the traditional punter. The available times and the current price are shown while booking.

More boating in Giethoorn

See sloops, whisper boats, boat tours and more.

Go to Boating in Giethoorn

In-depth articles about the punter

Sailing punt in Giethoorn

Boat rental in Giethoorn: types, rules and booking