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How to get to Giethoorn
Always wanted to know what opportunities you have when Giethoorn visits is on the agenda? Good news: in this article we have listed the many possibilities for a successful trip to the Venice of the North. The village is accessible by car, but in the centre of Giethoorn you can not drive by car. Public transport – bus, train – to Giethoorn is perfectly arranged and there are also some other options and combinations. Read along and then you can start planning your day to Giethoorn.
Arriving in Giethoorn by Car
Planning to visit Giethoorn by car? It’s helpful to know where you can park. The good news is: in Giethoorn, parking is available in many places. Unlike big cities, you won’t find large parking garages here – instead, you’ll be welcomed by friendly, accessible parking spaces offered by local businesses. In many cases, parking is free or available for a small fee.
Parking in a car-free village
In the scenic, canal-filled part of Giethoorn, the village is explored on foot or by boat. Cars are not allowed in these areas – and that’s exactly what makes Giethoorn so special. That’s why you’ll park your car at one of the many parking spots spread throughout the village, provided by local entrepreneurs such as restaurants, boat rental companies, accommodations, and shops.
From every parking location, you’re just minutes away from the full Giethoorn experience. The village is long and easy to navigate, so no matter where you park, you’ll always be close to what you came to see and do.
Parking with local businesses: convenient and welcoming
Many restaurants, rental companies, and overnight stays offer their guests private parking areas. These are usually located right next to the business, so you can get out of your car and start enjoying your day or overnight stay immediately. In most cases, parking is free for customers, and you can leave your car there for an extended period without worry.
If you’ve made a reservation for an activity or a meal, you’ll often receive clear instructions on where to park. This saves time, avoids unnecessary searching, and ensures a smooth and relaxed start to your visit.
Staying overnight in Giethoorn? Parking is usually included
If you’re booking a hotel, B&B, vacation home, or guesthouse in Giethoorn, chances are it includes a dedicated parking spot. These are typically reserved for guests, so you’ll always have a guaranteed place to park near your accommodation. When booking, check the parking details in advance – it’s usually clearly mentioned whether it’s included or not, both on booking platforms and direct reservations.
Combining parking with an activity or meal
Planning a boat tour, a bike ride, or a meal in Giethoorn? No need to worry about parking. Many local businesses offer not only great experiences or food, but also convenient parking. It’s the ideal way to start your visit: park your car, step out, and you’re exactly where you need to be.
In summary
Parking in Giethoorn is simple, convenient, and well-organized. Thanks to the effort of local businesses spread throughout the village, you can start your Giethoorn adventure from any location. If you’ve reserved an activity or accommodation in advance, you’ll usually know exactly where to park – making your day stress-free, just the way it should be.
Restaurants in Giethoorn
No expensive parking tickets, that saves a lot. You can spend that money saved on dinner! I’m sure you’d like to pick out a restaurant? An overview of restaurants in Giethoorn can be found here.
At most restaurants you can indicate during the booking that you want to reserve a parking space. If this is not the case, you can still give this trough by phone or mail after you made the booking. Booking a ‘general’ parking space in Giethoorn in advance is not possible.
By train to Giethoorn
First, it is good to know that there is no train station in Giethoorn. The nearest NS train station is Steenwijk, followed by Meppel. You can also come to Giethoorn from Zwolle station. Depending on the period, a train stops in Steenwijk or Meppel two to four times an hour.
How to get from Steenwijk to Giethoorn
From the stations you can come in Giethoorn in different ways. From the NS station Steenwijk you can take the bus to Giethoorn. You can also take a taxi or rent a bike at the train station. This can be done both in Steenwijk and in Meppel. After this we will tell you a little more about the different travel options from the stations.
By bike from Steenwijk to Giethoorn
From Steenwijk it is about 8 kilometers to the center of Giethoorn. At the station of Steenwijk there is a bicycle rental. There you can rent an (electric) bike for a day or more. It is a nice bike ride from Steenwijk to Giethoorn. The road is flat, so also on a regular bike with gears this is fine to do.
By taxi from Steenwijk to Giethoorn
You can also choose to take a taxi from the Station. When you come off the train platform, you’ll see the taxi rank on the right hand. You can recognize a taxi by a blue license plate. Often there is a taxi ready. If not, you can contact the taxi station via the column and order a taxi to Giethoorn.
By bus from Steenwijk to Giethoorn
If you go by bus from Steenwijk to Giethoorn, there are two options.
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You can take bus line 70 towards Zwolle/Genne. Bus line 70 runs once to twice an hour throughout the year.
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There is also an extra bus to Giethoorn, this is line 270: the Giethoorn Express. This runs twice an hour all summer and also on holidays such as Ascension Day and Pentecost. This line drives a faster route to Giethoorn.
In both cases, it is best to get off at the Hylkemaweg-Giethoorn Centre stop or stop Hollands Venice. From there it is only a few hundred meters walk to the village centre.
How to get from Meppel to Giethoorn
By bus from Meppel to Giethoorn
From Meppel to Giethoorn there is no direct bus connection. So don’t get out in Meppel, if you want to take the bus to Giethoorn. Travel to Steenwijk, and take the bus to Giethoorn.
By bike from Meppel to Giethoorn
At Meppel station you can rent a bike at the bicycle shop. The bike ride to Giethoorn is a nice ride of about 9.5 kilometers. The route is flat, so is basically very good to do with a bike with gears. There are several routespossible. One of them is ‘indoor’ through the farmlands and through the village of Wanneperveen. Cycling through this elongated village you can see beautiful farms along the way and here you can also make a stopover.
Other places
Giethoorn is easy to travel from the major cities in the Netherlands and abroad. To give you a good idea, we have described this for a couple of cities.
How to get from Amsterdam to Giethoorn
Trains regularly depart at Amsterdam Central station to Steenwijk. You can catch the intercity train to Almere and switch to the intercity to Leeuwarden or take the intercity directly towards Leeuwarden. The travel time is about an hour and a half to Steenwijk station. There you can take the bus(line 70 or line 270)to Giethoorn.
Visa versa is of course also possible. How to get to Amsterdam from Giethoorn? You are the first to take the bus (bus line 70 or bus line 270) to Steenwijk. In Steenwijk you take the train and you can get off in Amsterdam an hour and a half later.
How to get from Rotterdam to Giethoorn
In more than two hours, the train takes you from Rotterdam Central to Steenwijk station. At Rotterdam Central you will take the intercity towards Groningen and in Zwolle you will switch to the train towards Leeuwarden. It also stops in Steenwijk. At Steenwijk station you will then board the bus(line 70 or line 270)to Giethoorn.
How to get from The Hague to Giethoorn
At The Hague Central you can get directly into the intercity towards Leeuwarden. This stops more than two hours later in Steenwijk. From Steenwijk you grab the bus(line 70 or line 270)to Giethoorn.
How to get from London to Giethoorn
From London you can fly from various airports to Groningen (Eelde Airport) or Schiphol. The flight duration about an hour and 15 minutes. From Groningen Central you can travel with the intercity towards Zwolle. An hour and 15 minutes later you are at Steenwijk station. There you can catch the bus(line 70 or line 270)to Giethoorn.
From Schiphol you will also be at Steenwijk station in about an hour and 15 minutes. You take the intercity towards Leeuwarden at Schiphol and get out in Steenwijk. There you take the bus to Giethoorn(line 70 or line 270).
Our travel advice for a day Of Giethoorn
If you only come to visit Giethoorn for one day, the combination of train bus is the easiest and also the most advantageous option. By train to Steenwijk and then by bus to Giethoorn(line 270:the Giethoorn Express or line 70).
Not such a fan of the bus? Then the taxi is a good option.
We hope that with this information you will know how to get into our beautiful village. If you are looking for more inspiration, we recommend that you read this article.
