Parties and receptions
Hall with private terrace
A separate hall with its own entrance and a bar of its own. Next to it is a private terrace with a view over the meadows and the water, where you watch the sun set in the evening.
Smit Giethoorn
restaurant, terrace & boat rental on the village canal
Smit Giethoorn is the business of the Smit family on the Zuiderpad, right on the village canal. You can have lunch, dinner or a drink on the terrace, and from the same spot rent a boat or take a boat tour.
Boating, eating and drinking at one address
Smit Giethoorn is in the centre of Giethoorn on the village canal and is also easy to reach by car. In one place you rent a boat, board a tour boat and then eat or drink something in the restaurant or on the terrace. That makes it a handy starting or end point for a day in Giethoorn, whether you come with children, as a couple or with a group.
- Restaurant in an old farmhouse, with a terrace on the village canal
- Rent a boat without a boating licence, departing from Zuiderpad 58
- Boat tours and private boat tours with a skipper
- Hall with a private terrace and a loft for parties, meetings and weddings
- Packages and activities for groups
- Holiday farmhouse on the village canal for up to 8 people
At Smit Giethoorn you can eat out, eat pancakes, have coffee with cake, have a bite and a drink on a terrace by the water, rent sloops (electric boats) and whisper boats, rent canoes and rowing boats, go punting (traditional wooden boat), take a boat tour or private boat tour, combine eating and boating, do a package with a group, hold a meeting, celebrate and get married.
In autumn and around the holidays Smit Giethoorn also organises theme days and theme evenings. You can find them in the events calendar further down this page.
Restaurant and terrace
Lunch, drinks and dinner by the canal
The restaurant is in an old farmhouse, decorated in natural tones with round tables. The cooking is simple and accessible, with dishes for lunch and dinner and something sweet with your coffee. There are vegetarian options and a children’s menu of its own. Let them know about dietary requirements in advance.
On the terrace on the village canal you watch the boats sail past. You can have lunch or dinner, but also just a drink or an ice cream.
- Coffee with cake
- Lunch, drinks and dinner
- Children’s menu and vegetarian options
- Drinks and ice creams on the terrace
- Takeaway by arrangement
Boat rental
Sailing through Giethoorn yourself
All rental boats depart from the starting point at Zuiderpad 58, next to the restaurant. You do not need a boating licence: before you set off the skippers explain how the boat works and which route you can take. You get a boating map with routes of 2 to 5 hours, but you may also choose your own route. Your dog may come on board, although Smit Giethoorn asks you not to let it sit on the cushions.
Especially in summer it is busy on the water. Smit Giethoorn recommends booking your boat in good time; you can do that by phone too.
- Luxury electric sloop with a steering console, backrest and cushions (1 to 8 people)
- Whisper boat with an electric motor (1 to 8 people)
- Luxury whisper boat with a steering console and cushions (1 to 5 people)
- Small electric sloop with cushions (1 to 6 people)
- Canoes and rowing boats
- Treasure hunt by punter through the village
Boat tour
Boat tour and private boat tour
Would you rather not steer yourself? On the covered tour boats of Smit Giethoorn you sail through the old village and across the lake, past farmhouses and small bridges. The trip takes about an hour. The skippers all hold a boating licence and tell you about the village along the way. By arrangement you can stop at a museum along the way or extend the trip through part of Weerribben-Wieden National Park. The tour boats are accessible to people with reduced mobility and electric wheelchairs.
If you have something to celebrate, such as a birthday or anniversary, you can also request a private boat tour. The boat is then for your party alone, small or large.
- Tour boat for your party alone
- Set route or a route made to measure
- Skipper who knows the village and the surroundings
- Snacks and drinks on board possible
Halls, parties and weddings
As well as the restaurant and the terrace, Smit Giethoorn has two spaces for private parties, for small and larger groups.
Parties and receptions
Meetings and parties
Loft
The loft is suitable for small to medium-sized groups. There is a projector and a bar of its own, the ceiling is high with wooden beams and plenty of daylight comes in through the skylights.
Weddings
Getting married
You can get married at Smit Giethoorn on the private terrace, for example with a ceremony at sunset and a boat tour. The kitchen provides the dinner and at the bar you can party on until late. An appointment to view the venue is non-binding.
Groups
Packages and activities for groups
For family days, company outings and groups of friends, Smit Giethoorn has several day programmes. They are intended for groups from 20 people, but from 10 people you can also join in. A few packages can be booked from just 1 person. Parts can be combined and adapted to your group. If you want to stay several days, you can arrange an overnight stay at MyHotel Steenwijk, which Smit Giethoorn works with.
- Day programme with a welcome, boat tour and lunch
- Trips by punter or tour boat, possibly with a barbecue or buffet
- Treasure hunts and active programmes
- Visit to a farm or museum, with a boat tour
- Programmes for bad weather
- Meetings with a projector and flip chart, with lunch and a boat trip
- Party in the hall with the private terrace
Accommodation
Holiday farmhouse on the village canal
In the middle of Giethoorn the Smit family rents out a holiday farmhouse on the village canal. There is room for groups of up to 8 people. For more information, contact Smit Giethoorn.
- Four double bedrooms
- Spacious living room with a TV and a new kitchen
- Two showers and two toilets
- Spacious terrace with a large lawn and a pergola in the garden behind the house
Events at Smit Giethoorn
These are the next theme days and theme evenings at Smit Giethoorn. You can book by phone on 0521 36 16 25. You can find all events in the village in the Giethoorn events calendar.
Game evening
View event Game evening
Whisky tasting: a journey through Scotland
View event Whisky tasting: a journey through Scotland
Bier, kluif en ballen: beer tasting on a boat tour
View event Bier, kluif en ballen: beer tasting on a boat tour
Unlimited spareribs weekend
View event Unlimited spareribs weekendAt the start of the year Smit Giethoorn also has activities around Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
Practical information
- Parkingfree in two private car parks, also for coaches, with a charging point for electric cars
- Satnavthe turning is ten metres beside the Frensensteeg; do not drive into the Frensensteeg and look out for the red flags of Smit Giethoorn
- AEDavailable on the car park side of the restaurant
Frequently asked questions about Smit Giethoorn
Do you need a boating licence to rent a boat at Smit Giethoorn?
No. You do not need a boating licence for the rental boats of Smit Giethoorn. Before you set off you get an explanation of the boat and a boating map with routes of 2 to 5 hours.
Can you take your dog in the rental boat?
Yes, a dog may come on board. If you rent a boat with cushions, Smit Giethoorn asks you not to let the dog sit on the cushions.
Where do you park at Smit Giethoorn?
Smit Giethoorn has two private car parks where parking is free; they are also suitable for coaches and there is a charging point for electric cars. If you follow a satnav, take care: the turning is ten metres beside the Frensensteeg. Do not drive into the Frensensteeg itself, but follow the red flags of Smit Giethoorn.
Can you come to Smit Giethoorn with a group?
Yes. The group packages are intended for groups from 20 people; from 10 people you can also join in, and a number of packages can be booked from just 1 person. Packages can be combined and adapted to your wishes. For parties and meetings there are a hall with a private terrace and a loft with a projector.
Can you get married at Smit Giethoorn?
Yes. Smit Giethoorn has a hall with a private terrace on the water, where you can hold a ceremony at sunset, for example. The kitchen provides the dinner and there is a bar of its own. You can make an appointment to view the venue.
Are the tour boats wheelchair accessible?
According to Smit Giethoorn, the covered tour boats are accessible to people with reduced mobility and electric wheelchairs.