1 to 12 people
Dwarsgracht Deluxe sloop
A sloop with wheel steering and cushions, for 1 to 12 people. With it you sail the surroundings yourself from Dwarsgracht.
De Otterskooi
café-restaurant on the water in Dwarsgracht
De Otterskooi is at the end of the village canal in Dwarsgracht. You can have lunch, dinner or a drink at the bar or on the terrace by the water. From its own jetty you rent a sloop (electric boat) or take a boat tour with a group.
Eating, drinking and boating in Dwarsgracht
Café-Restaurant De Otterskooi is run by host Fokke and hostess Hillie Vos. The business has several dining rooms and smaller rooms, a spacious bar and a large terrace right on the Dwarsgracht. Thanks to the different spaces, groups who want privacy can also sit apart. De Otterskooi is also a resting point for walkers and cyclists, and a departure and arrival point for a trip on the water.
- Dutch-French cuisine with fresh produce from the region
- Lunch, dinner, coffee with cake and drinks
- Terrace on the water with room for 150 guests
- Landing stage for those who arrive by boat
- Rent a sloop for 1 to 12 people
- Boat tours, packages and parties for groups
- Large private car park for cars and coaches
At De Otterskooi you can have lunch and eat out, drink coffee with cake, have drinks at the bar or on the terrace by the water, rent a sloop, do a boat tour or day package with a group, play a quiz, Hunted or a murder mystery dinner, and celebrate a wedding, reception, anniversary or staff party.
Restaurant
Restaurant with a Dutch-French cuisine
The kitchen describes itself as Dutch-French. It cooks with fresh produce from the region, but also with recipes from further afield. There are also vegetarian and vegan options. The menu changes over time; for the current menu call 0521 36 14 74.
- Lunch and dinner in the dining rooms or on the terrace
- Vegetarian and vegan options
- A children’s menu for the little ones
- Coffee with cake
- Let them know about dietary requirements and allergies in advance
Café and terrace
Bar and terrace on the Dwarsgracht
In the café there is a spacious bar, where you have an aperitif before dinner or a drink at the regulars’ table. Walkers and cyclists stop here for coffee with something sweet or a drink.
The terrace is right on the water of the Dwarsgracht; the village and the waterway share the same name. There is room for about 150 guests. From the terrace you see boats mooring at the jetty and local farmers with punters, rafts and boks (traditional flat-bottomed work boats) on their way to their land. A barbecue or buffet for a group can also be held on the terrace; part of the terrace is then reserved for you.
- Coffee, drinks and a snack at the bar or on the terrace
- Generous landing stage at the terrace
- Barbecue and buffet on the terrace for groups
Boating from De Otterskooi
De Otterskooi is a departure and arrival point for trips on the water. You can sail yourself in a sloop, and for groups there are boat tours with a skipper. You book the sloop and the group package with boat tour on the De Otterskooi booking page.
1 to 12 people
Groups
Boat tour on a bok
The bok, like the raft and the punter, has traditionally been a work boat in Giethoorn, used to take cows to the meadow. De Otterskooi has a few covered boks for groups. The skippers tell you about the nature and the origin of the area along the way. For groups with special requests, De Otterskooi works with other boat tour companies.
From 10 people
Group package with boat tour
A package for groups from 10 people, with a boat tour and food and drink at the table. See the current set-up on the booking page.
Groups
Group outings and day packages
For company outings, clubs, family days and groups of friends, De Otterskooi puts together a programme. For groups from 20 people there are day packages, sometimes together with other hospitality businesses nearby. You can sail in a whisper boat, cycle and visit a museum, alternated with a barbecue, lunch or buffet. A boat tour can always be combined with coffee, lunch, drinks, a buffet or dinner. Buffets are available for groups from 25 people.
- Quizzes and game shows in the room
- Hunted: a walking game in the countryside around Giethoorn, in which you have to stay out of the hunters’ hands
- Murder mystery dinner: eat and solve a murder case as a character
- Welcome with coffee and cake, lunch or drinks
- Tailor-made for small and large parties
Parties
Weddings, receptions and anniversaries
In one of the rooms you can celebrate a wedding, traditional farmers’ wedding, reception, anniversary or staff party. De Otterskooi has a capacity of about 250 people. Besides the party, a dinner, buffet or coffee table with refreshments is possible, and De Otterskooi also provides catering. You discuss your wishes beforehand with the host and hostess.
- Wedding package of about 4 hours, also in a more extensive version
- Traditional farmers’ wedding or farmers’ party
- Dinners, coffee tables, receptions and staff parties
Location
Named after the duck decoy
De Otterskooi is at the end of the road to Dwarsgracht, a hamlet of Giethoorn with the same name as the waterway. The café-restaurant is named after the duck decoy (eendenkooi) nearby, which is still intact. Dwarsgracht is quieter than the centre of Giethoorn, although the terrace there can get lively too.
Practical information
- AddressDwarsgracht 54, 8355 CW Giethoorn
- Parkinglarge private car park for cars and coaches
- By boatmoor at the jetty by the terrace
- Booking a tableby phone on 0521 36 14 74
- Sloop and group packageonline via the De Otterskooi booking page
- Dietary requirementsvegetarian and vegan options; let them know about allergies and dietary requirements in advance
- Capacityabout 250 people inside, terrace for 150 guests
Frequently asked questions about De Otterskooi
What kind of cuisine does De Otterskooi have?
The cuisine is Dutch-French, with fresh produce from the region. There are also vegetarian and vegan options. The menu changes over time, so call 0521 36 14 74 for the current menu.
Can you rent a sloop at De Otterskooi?
Yes. On the De Otterskooi booking page you book the Dwarsgracht Deluxe sloop, a sloop (electric boat) with a steering wheel and cushions for 1 to 12 people.
How do you book a table at De Otterskooi?
For a table, contact De Otterskooi by phone on 0521 36 14 74. You book the sloop and the group package with boat tour online on the booking page.
Can you come to De Otterskooi with a group?
Yes. There are several rooms and the total capacity is about 250 people. For groups from 20 people De Otterskooi puts together day packages, for example with boating, cycling or a museum visit, alternated with food and drink. Buffets are available for groups from 25 people.
Which group activities are there?
You can choose from quizzes and game shows in the room, the walking game Hunted in the countryside around Giethoorn, and a murder mystery dinner.
Can you get married or hold a party at De Otterskooi?
Yes. De Otterskooi hosts weddings, traditional farmers’ weddings, receptions, anniversaries and staff parties in one of the rooms. A wedding package takes about 4 hours. A dinner, buffet or coffee table with refreshments is also possible.
Where do you park at De Otterskooi?
De Otterskooi has a large private car park for cars and coaches. If you come by boat, you can moor at the jetty by the terrace.