Paths and bridges in the village
The old centre of Giethoorn is car-free. You walk or cycle along the village canal and cross the water by bridges. The village has more than a hundred of them. Many are high wooden bridges, and according to the tourist organisation of Weerribben-Wieden, some are so steep that not everyone can use them.
Which paths are paved, how wide they are and which bridges have a slope that is manageable with a wheelchair or walker cannot be found in any reliable source. That is why no route can be recommended as wheelchair-friendly on this page. If you are not sure, plan a stretch where you can always turn back, or choose the water.
Boating as a way to see the village
For those who cannot use the steep bridges, boating is a good way to see the village. There are different types of boats and not every boat is equally accessible. Here is what is known.
Boat tours with a lift
At several providers in Giethoorn, a canal cruise boat has a lift for wheelchairs. At one of the providers, a platform lift goes down to the floor of the boat, so you do not have to step or be lifted. Depending on the type of boat, electric wheelchairs, walkers and mobility scooters can come along. When you reserve, say which aid you use, so that the rental company can schedule the right boat.
Not every canal cruise boat is suitable. At one provider you take a step from the quay into the boat. That boat is not suitable for wheelchairs, and anyone who has difficulty walking gets help boarding. So always check beforehand whether the boat you book has a lift.
Steering yourself in a wheelchair
One provider has an open sloop (electric boat) with a built-in wheelchair lift. You drive your wheelchair onto the platform and the lift takes you down to the floor of the boat. Electric wheelchairs can come along. The sloop is meant for a maximum of ten people, with room for one wheelchair. The driver’s seat can be removed, so you can steer from your own wheelchair.
A wheelchair does not fit in the standard open rental sloops. A folded walker or a pushchair can come along with at least one rental company, but boarding remains a step from the bank to the boat.
Parking and the way to the jetty
You park by car on the edge of the village, at local businesses. At one provider with lifts, the car park, the restaurant, the toilet and the departure jetty are close together, and wheelchair vans and coaches can also park there. No information was found on separate disabled parking spaces in the village. You can read more about the parking options at parking in Giethoorn.
Toilets
At the provider with lifts, the restaurant has toilets that are suitable for wheelchair users, including a spacious accessible toilet. There is no toilet on that provider’s canal cruise boats. So expect to use the toilet before or after the trip. For other places in the village, it is not known which toilets are accessible.
Museums and restaurants
The museum in the village is well accessible with a walker or wheelchair. Mobility scooters, balance bikes, scooters and Segways may not be taken inside. No accessibility information was found about the other museums in Giethoorn, so check beforehand.
With restaurants it differs greatly. A restaurant at one of the jetties is on one level and has automatic sliding doors. For most restaurants in Giethoorn, accessibility is not stated. So call beforehand, and ask about the terrace too, because it may be at a different height from the restaurant.
Nature around Giethoorn
In Weerribben-Wieden National Park, the Staatsbosbeheer visitor centre in De Weerribben is accessible to wheelchairs, and according to Staatsbosbeheer, the cycle paths in that area are suitable for wheelchair users. The park’s tourist site has its own section on accessibility. For the park, also read the page about Weerribben-Wieden National Park.
What is not known
- Which paths in the village are paved and how wide they are
- Which bridges have a slope that is manageable for a wheelchair or walker
- Whether there are disabled parking spaces and where they are
- How accessible most restaurants and accommodation are
Do you have a specific question, for example about a particular wheelchair or a mobility scooter? Then call Giethoorn.com on +31 (0)521 360 099. You can put your question to us and hear what is possible.
