Giethoorn is a village in the Dutch province of Overijssel, known worldwide for its canals, bridges and boats. A large part of the village consists of waterways instead of streets, which makes boating one of the main ways to explore Giethoorn. That is why Giethoorn is often called the “Venice of the North”.
Giethoorn combines water, nature and tranquillity. The village has dozens of small wooden bridges that connect houses, gardens and footpaths. Cars are almost absent from the old village centre, which creates a relaxed atmosphere.
Visitors often describe Giethoorn as:
These qualities make Giethoorn popular with Dutch and international visitors alike.
Giethoorn was founded around the 13th century by settlers who dug peat in the marshland. Peat extraction created ponds and waterways, which were later joined up to form the canals that characterise the village today.
The name “Giethoorn” is said to come from the many goat horns the first inhabitants found after a major flood. Over the centuries the village developed from an agricultural community into a tourist destination.
Giethoorn owes this nickname to the lack of roads in the old part of the village and the use of boats as the main means of transport. As in Venice, waterways play a central role in daily life here.
The difference with Venice is that Giethoorn:
Giethoorn lies in the province of Overijssel, in the north of the Netherlands, close to Weerribben-Wieden National Park. Its location in this watery nature reserve makes the village a good base for boating, walking and cycling.
In the surrounding area you will find:
Besides boating, visitors can:
This makes Giethoorn suitable for a day trip, but also for a longer stay.
Giethoorn suits a wide range of visitors:
Giethoorn is a village in the Dutch province of Overijssel, known worldwide as the “Venice of the North”. Instead of streets, the village has waterways, with countless small wooden bridges and a historic centre where cars are rare. Boating, in a whisper boat or on a canal cruise, is the main way to explore the village. Giethoorn is known for its peace and quiet and its natural setting, and it welcomes visitors from the Netherlands and abroad every year. It lies between reed beds and lakes, close to Weerribben-Wieden National Park, and suits a day trip as well as a longer stay.
A large part of the village consists of waterways instead of streets, and in the old village centre boats are the main means of transport. That is reminiscent of Venice. Giethoorn is smaller, quieter and more rural, though, and it lies in the middle of nature.
On the water you can choose between a canal cruise, renting a whisper boat to explore the canals yourself, or canoeing through the nature reserve. You can also walk along the bridges and paths, visit museums, sit on a waterside terrace or cycle through the reed beds and nature parks nearby. That makes Giethoorn suitable for a day trip and for a longer stay.
Because hardly any cars come into the centre, it is peaceful and the water and nature take centre stage. You explore the surroundings by boat, which gives a very different picture from a walk through a city. A village like this suits anyone looking to relax, who loves nature, or who wants to see old traditions and picturesque spots, far from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
You escape the daily rush for a while and unwind. You can enjoy nature, go on long walks or bike rides and relax by the water. With little traffic, it is quiet, which helps you switch off. Places like this suit solo travellers and families who like to be outdoors and close to nature.
