Lunch buffets
For groups there are several lunch buffets, from a simple Dutch lunch to an extensive buffet. A pancake buffet is also possible.
Smit’s Paviljoen
restaurant, terrace and boat rental on the Bovenwijde
Smit’s Paviljoen has stood on a peninsula in the Bovenwijde lake since 1935, between the old centre of Giethoorn and Weerribben-Wieden National Park. You eat and drink here with a view over the lake, and from its own harbour you rent a boat or board a tour boat.
Eating, drinking and boating in one place on the lake
The pavilion stands on the shore of the Bovenwijde, the big lake of Giethoorn. From the terrace, with about 300 seats, and from the restaurant you look out over the water and the De Wieden nature reserve. You come on foot from the Binnenpad or moor your boat at one of the jetties. From the harbour you sail straight onto the lake, so you can first practise in peace before heading into the canals.
- Coffee with cake, lunch, drinks and dinner with a view over the lake
- Panoramic terrace with about 300 seats
- Whisper boats, punters (traditional wooden boats), pedal boats, kayaks and canoes to rent
- Two tour boats of its own for groups of 7 people or more
- Picnic baskets to take on board
- Packages, activities and workshops for 2 to 400 people
At Smit’s Paviljoen you can have lunch and dinner, take coffee with cake, book a high tea, rent whisper boats, punters, pedal boats, kayaks and canoes, take a boat tour, bring a picnic basket on board, do a package or workshop with a group, hold a meeting, celebrate and get married.
Smit’s Paviljoen belongs to the same family as Café-Restaurant ’t Vonder on the village canal. A number of packages combine both places, for example boating from the pavilion and dining at ’t Vonder.
Restaurant and terrace
Lunch, drinks and dinner with a view over the Bovenwijde
You can sit inside the restaurant, with large windows on the lake side, or outside on the renewed panoramic terrace. Because the pavilion stands on a peninsula, you see both the water towards the village and the De Wieden nature reserve.
The cuisine is accessible and Dutch: you can have lunch, dinner and pancakes, and you are welcome all day for a small snack with your drink and for coffee with cake. There are vegetarian and vegan options; let them know about dietary requirements in advance.
- Coffee and tea with cake
- Lunch, drinks and dinner
- Children’s menu
- High tea for groups and for smaller parties
- Dessert buffet for groups
- Vegetarian and vegan options
Eating with a group or on board
For groups there are lunch buffets, dinner buffets and barbecues. If you are going boating, you can take a picnic basket in the boat.
From 10 people
Buffets and barbecues
There are hot and cold buffets and barbecues on the terrace, from simple to extensive. Halal or vegan options are available too. You can let them know about dietary requirements and allergies in advance.
Picnic baskets
There are several picnic baskets to take on board. Order the basket at least a day in advance; it is ready around midday. You can pass on special requests.
Boat rental from its own harbour
At Smit’s Paviljoen you rent a boat by the hour, by the part of the day or by the day. Renting by the hour is only possible on the spot, if a boat is still free. You book a whisper boat in advance by the part of the day or by the day. With every boat you get an explanation and a route map with boating routes through the village, past the neighbouring villages and through the nature of De Wieden, from an hour to a whole day.
Whisper boat
A boat with an electric motor that makes little noise and is easy to operate. There is room for a maximum of eight adults and you do not need a boating licence.
Punter, with or without a sail
A wooden punter that you push along with the punting pole. The punters of Smit’s Paviljoen have a sail, so that from the lake you can reach the canals more easily.
Pedal boat, kayak and canoe
For those who want to pedal or paddle themselves: a pedal boat, a 1- or 2-person kayak or a Canadian canoe for three people.
Boating on the Bovenwijde
Straight onto the lake
From the harbour you are on the Bovenwijde at once. There are two islands on the lake where you can moor, and several channels and waterways lead towards the village and the nature reserve. You can follow a route from the map or find your own way. Afterwards you moor again at the pavilion for something to eat or drink on the terrace.
Punting is an old Giethoorn tradition: you stand in a wooden punter and push the boat forward along the bottom with a long pole, the punting pole. Most waterways in Giethoorn are about a metre deep, so that works well. With children on board you often choose a whisper boat; along the way you see ducks, cows on the bank and birds in the reeds.
- Explanation of the boat before you set off
- Route map with boating routes with every boat
- Whisper boat without a boating licence
- Punters with a sail to cross the lake
- Picnic basket or drinks box to take along
Boat tour
Boat tour for groups
Smit’s Paviljoen has two tour boats of its own, one for 56 and one for 48 people. Together they carry 104 people at the same time. You book a boat tour from 7 people, at least three days in advance; the trip is scheduled depending on availability and the pavilion decides which boat is used.
The one-hour boat tour goes across the Bovenwijde and through the historic centre of Giethoorn. On the two-hour trip you also sail through the De Wieden nature reserve. Along the way the skipper tells you about Giethoorn, its history and the surroundings.
- Boat tour of one hour or two hours
- Boats for 48 and 56 people
- Skipper with commentary along the way
- Can be combined with lunch, a buffet or a day package
Groups
Packages for family, friends and colleagues
Smit’s Paviljoen organises days for groups of 2 to 400 people. Most group packages are possible from 10 people. You can choose a set package or put together a day yourself from lunch, activities, a buffet or barbecue; the pavilion then draws up a tailor-made quote. With large groups several activities can take place at the same time, so everyone chooses what they want to do.
- Day programmes with a trip by punter or boat tour, lunch and boating
- Programmes with a puzzle trail and a barbecue to finish
- Escape games and other activities
- Family days with boating and a buffet or barbecue
- Children’s parties with a workshop
Boating and dining for two
For two people there are packages where you sail for a day or part of the day and then dine at Restaurant ’t Vonder.
Meetings
You hold your meeting in the pavilion with a view over the lake, or at ’t Vonder on the village canal. The meeting package can be extended with a lunch and a workshop or activity to finish.
Indoor and outdoor games
There are games for indoors and outdoors, in teams, also at ’t Vonder and with a puzzle trail through the village. Ask about the options for your group.
Activities and workshops
As part of a package, Smit’s Paviljoen can arrange all kinds of activities and workshops for you, for young and old and for small and large groups. For activities on land you often first sail to the starting point in whisper boats or punters.
Boating, stand-up paddleboarding and racing
A puzzle trail by punter through Giethoorn (1.5 hours, from 10 people), the outdoor escape game Narcos by whisper boat with an app, an afternoon using all the boats (2.5 hours), stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) at the surf beach or a SUP clinic with an instructor (2 hours), water skiing, flyboarding on the lake and a dragon boat race for groups of 40 people or more.
Cycling, golf and shooting
A 20-kilometre bike ride through the area, also on an e-bike (3 hours, from 6 people), mini golf, archery with a hand bow or crossbow, e-chopper riding and a guided walk through Giethoorn. You can also visit museum De Oude Aarde or Museum Giethoorn ’t Olde Maat Uus, with a guided tour from 10 people.
Workshops and team games
Decorating clogs, making mosaics, painting like Bob Ross, painting Ducky’s and a bushcraft workshop. For large groups there are raft building and rafting, a mobile climbing tower of 8.5 metres, crate stacking, a team games multi-event and an activity choice programme.
Weddings
Getting married by the water
A Giethoorn wedding comes with a wedding boat. Smit’s Paviljoen decorates a wooden wedding punter with fresh flowers in the colour you choose. You start the day on the water with it, and the punter is also suitable for a photo shoot. The ceremony takes place by the water, after which you cut the wedding cake.
Dinner can be with close family at Café-Restaurant ’t Vonder or with all the guests, and in the evening you celebrate in the pavilion with a view over the Bovenwijde. During the day your guests can take a boat tour. You put the programme together with the pavilion, made to measure.
About the pavilion
On the shore of the Bovenwijde since 1935
Smit’s Paviljoen has stood in the same place since 1935, on the shore of the Bovenwijde between Weerribben-Wieden National Park and the old centre of Giethoorn. It is the sister business of Café-Restaurant ’t Vonder on the village canal.
Smit’s Paviljoen takes part in Old Giethoorn, a partnership of businesses in Giethoorn-Noord and Giethoorn-Midden. They want to show visitors the quiet, original character of the village and spread the crowds better.
Events
Events on the lake
Events are held on the lake next to the pavilion, such as punter sailing races, a float-in cinema, float-in bingo and a float-in blues festival. At the float-in events you take part from your own boat or from the terrace. You can ask Smit’s Paviljoen which events are planned.
Practical information
- AddressBinnenpad 29a, 8355 BR Giethoorn, on the shore of the Bovenwijde
- Parkingat Restaurant ’t Vonder, Binnenpad 14, 8355 BP Giethoorn (pay on exit); then about 240 metres on foot
- Accesson foot or with your own boat; you can moor at the jetties of the pavilion
- Bookingby phone on 0521 36 12 15; for groups the pavilion draws up a tailor-made quote
- Boat tourfrom 7 people, book at least three days in advance
- Allergiesthe kitchen works with allergens and cannot guarantee that a dish is allergen-free; let them know about dietary requirements in advance
- Payingwith 4 people or more you cannot pay separately
Frequently asked questions about Smit’s Paviljoen
Do you need a boating licence to rent a boat at Smit’s Paviljoen?
No. You do not need a boating licence for the whisper boats of Smit’s Paviljoen. They have an electric motor and are easy to operate. Before you set off you get an explanation of the boat and a route map with boating routes.
Which boats can you rent at Smit’s Paviljoen?
You can rent a whisper boat for a maximum of eight adults, a punter with or without a sail, a pedal boat, a 1- or 2-person kayak and a Canadian canoe for three people.
Can you rent a boat by the hour?
Yes, you can rent a boat by the hour, by the part of the day or by the day. Renting a boat by the hour is only possible on the spot and if a boat is still free. You book a whisper boat in advance by the part of the day or by the day; you can do that by phone on 0521 36 12 15.
Where do you park when going to Smit’s Paviljoen?
Smit’s Paviljoen refers you to the car park at Restaurant ’t Vonder, Binnenpad 14 in Giethoorn. That is also the address to use for your satnav. You pay on exit and then walk about 240 metres to the pavilion.
How do you book a boat tour at Smit’s Paviljoen?
You can book a boat tour from 7 people. Smit’s Paviljoen asks you to book at least three days in advance; the trip is scheduled depending on availability. You choose between a one-hour boat tour across the Bovenwijde and through the old centre, or a two-hour tour that also takes you through the De Wieden nature reserve.
Can you come to Smit’s Paviljoen with a group?
Yes. Smit’s Paviljoen organises packages for 2 to 400 people. Most group packages are possible from 10 people and you can also put together a day yourself with lunch, activities, a buffet or barbecue. Lunch buffets are available for groups of 8 to 200 people.
Can you take a picnic basket in the boat?
Yes. There are several picnic baskets to take in the boat, including for children. Order the basket at least a day in advance; it is ready for you around midday. The picnic basket is lent to you and you return it afterwards.
Can you get married at Smit’s Paviljoen?
Yes. You can start your wedding day in a wooden wedding punter decorated with fresh flowers in your own colour, hold the ceremony by the water and celebrate in the evening in the pavilion with a view over the Bovenwijde. Dinner can be in the pavilion or at Café-Restaurant ’t Vonder. You can ask for a no-obligation quote.