Whisper boats
Open electric boats that you steer with the motor: the Kragge whisper boat (1 to 4 people), Giethoorn (1 to 6) and Wiede (1 to 8).
Grand Café Fanfare
grand café on the village canal
Grand Café Fanfare is right on the village canal in the centre of Giethoorn. You can have lunch, dinner and a drink on the terrace by the water. From the same spot you rent a whisper boat or sloop (electric boat), or board for a boat tour.
Lunch, dinner, boating and groups
De Fanfare takes its name from the film Fanfare by Bert Haanstra from 1958, which made Giethoorn known as Dutch Venice. The grand café is run by Natasja and Arie-Willem Vermeij, who also run Brasserie De Witte Hoeve on the village canal. You come for a lunch or dinner, drinks on the terrace, a trip on the water or a fully arranged group outing.
- Lunch, drinks and dinner, with a terrace on the village canal
- Whisper boats for 1 to 8 people and sloops for 1 to 10 people
- Boat tour through the village and across the Bovenwiede, about an hour
- Sloop or covered private boat with a skipper, up to 40 people
- Three rooms and two terraces, for groups of 2 to 150 people
- Activities, buffets and barbecues for groups
- Apartment diagonally opposite the grand café
At De Fanfare you can have lunch and eat out, have drinks on a terrace by the water, rent whisper boats and sloops, take a boat tour, sail with a skipper, combine eating and boating, try archery and blowpipe shooting, do an escape box or audio tour, hold a party, wedding or meeting with a group and stay overnight in an apartment.
Grand café
Eating and drinking in the grand café
The grand café has sixty seats. The kitchen is led by chef Bert de Vries and likes to work with Dutch produce. You can have lunch, dinner and drinks. There are vegetarian and vegan options. If you have an allergy, let them know in advance. The menu changes; for the current menu call 0521 36 16 00.
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Drinks and a beverage on the terrace
- Vegetarian and vegan
Sail yourself
Rent a whisper boat or sloop
At De Fanfare you step into a quiet electric boat. The boats have luxury cushions (except the whisper boats), a place to keep your lunch and drinks, and a fleece blanket to sit on or under. You get a boating route with fun stops along the way. On request there are cool packs and life jackets for children.
You can take food and drink with you for the trip. Ask about the options.
Sloops
Sloops with a steering wheel and cushions, from the Duo Luxe sloop for two people to the Kragge (1 to 4), Giethoorn (1 to 6), Wiede (1 to 8) and the large Fanfare sloop for up to 10 people. The Kragge, Giethoorn and Wiede are also available in a luxury version.
Sloop with a skipper
Would you rather not steer yourself? Then you sail in a sloop of your own with a skipper, for 1 to 6 or 1 to 8 people.
Boat tours and sailing with a skipper
If you would rather be taken out on the water, you can do so on a regular boat tour or on a boat for your party alone.
About 1 hour
Giethoorn boat tour
A boat tour through the village and across the Bovenwiede lake, in a covered and heated boat. A guide tells you about Giethoorn along the way. You book per person.
20, 30 or 40 people
Private boat with a skipper
A covered boat with a skipper, for your group alone, for a maximum of 20, 30 or 40 people. The windows can be opened; the boats for 30 and 40 people are also heated.
Audio boat tour
A trip in a whisper boat with an audio tour, in which you hear more about the film Fanfare and answer questions along the way. There is also a walking version through the village.
Groups
Activities and packages
For company outings, families and groups of friends, De Fanfare has many activities, together with Brasserie De Witte Hoeve. The group rate applies from 10 people. If you come with fewer, that is possible, but you pay the group rate for 10 people. If you have booked an outdoor activity and the weather is bad, you get a different programme.
You can also combine eating and boating in a package. The options vary, so ask De Fanfare or look at the booking page.
- Archery, blowpipe shooting and egg shooting
- Traditional Dutch games and a pub quiz
- Rietsnijders Escape Box, on the terrace or inside
- Punter ball throwing on the water and a punter treasure hunt
- Tastings and workshops
- Packages that bring together food, boating and activities
Rooms, parties and meetings
De Fanfare has three rooms and two terraces, for groups of 2 to 150 people. You can also hire the whole grand café. For groups there are buffets and barbecues on the back terrace.
Grand café and terrace
The grand café on the village canal, with regular live music. For a party the room can be set up with high tables, bar stools and space for a band.
Tuba Room and back terrace
The Tuba Room is in the rear building, separate from the grand café, with a quiet terrace of its own for a barbecue, for example. There is equipment for meetings. With the doors to the grand café open there is room for 150 people.
Tasting room
A room with a large table, for a tasting, a meeting or a private gathering.
- High tea for groups from 4 people
- Weddings and party evenings
- Business meetings, can be combined with a boat tour, game or lunch
- Receptions, family gatherings and staff parties
The film Fanfare
Fanfare is a Dutch comedy film from 1958 by Bert Haanstra, who wrote the screenplay with Jan Blokker. The film was shot in Giethoorn. Albert Mol plays a young conductor who comes to the village to lead the brass band. On the walls of the grand café hang photos and items from the film, such as the brass band’s banner and Rudi Meyer’s ship’s horn.
Apartment opposite De Fanfare
Diagonally opposite the grand café, De Fanfare rents out an apartment in the rear part of a Giethoorn farmhouse. At the side you have a garden of your own with a terrace and an infrared sauna, with a view of the water. The apartment is suitable for a maximum of four adults and two children. For more information, contact De Fanfare.
Practical information
- AddressBinnenpad 68, 8355 BV Giethoorn, on the village canal
- Routefollow the P route with the turning for the centre and then the signs to De Fanfare
- Booking a tableby phone on 0521 36 16 00, or just walk in
- Boats and packagesonline via the De Fanfare booking page
- Groupsfrom 2 to 150 people; group rate for activities from 10 people
- Allergieslet them know in advance; there are vegetarian and vegan options
Frequently asked questions about Grand Café Fanfare
Where does the name Grand Café Fanfare come from?
The grand café is named after the film Fanfare by Bert Haanstra from 1958, which was shot in Giethoorn and made the village world famous. Inside hang photos and items from the film, such as the brass band’s banner and Rudi Meyer’s ship’s horn.
Can you rent a boat at De Fanfare?
Yes. On the De Fanfare booking page you rent whisper boats for 1 to 8 people and sloops with a steering wheel and cushions for 1 to 10 people. You can also book a sloop with a skipper or a private covered boat with a skipper.
How long does a boat tour from De Fanfare take?
The Giethoorn boat tour takes about an hour. You sail through the village and across the Bovenwiede lake, in a covered and heated boat, with a guide who tells you about Giethoorn.
How many people can De Fanfare host?
Groups of 2 to 150 people. The grand café has sixty seats and the Tuba Room is suitable for 100 people. When the doors between the two rooms are open, there is room for 150 guests. There is also a tasting room on the first floor.
Which group activities are there at De Fanfare?
Among others archery, blowpipe shooting, traditional Dutch games, an escape box, an audio tour through the village, punter ball throwing, a punter treasure hunt, a pub quiz and tastings. The group rate applies from 10 people. If the weather is bad for an outdoor activity, you get a different programme.
Can you get married or hold a meeting at De Fanfare?
Yes. There are options for weddings and party evenings, and for business meetings there are tailor-made packages. In the Tuba Room there is equipment to support a meeting.
Is there a menu at De Fanfare?
Yes. The grand café has a menu for lunch and dinner, with vegetarian and vegan options. The menu changes, so call 0521 36 16 00 for the current menu. If you have an allergy, let them know in advance.
How do you book a table at De Fanfare?
For a table call 0521 36 16 00, or simply walk in. Boats, boat tours, activities and packages are booked online on the De Fanfare booking page.