Giethoorn Boat Tour: ‘The Venice of the North’

Giethoorn is known as ‘the Venice of the North’ for a reason. This picturesque Dutch village is filled with traditional farmhouses, calm canals, and fairytale bridges. Giethoorn has no roads, so the only way to get around is by foot, bike, or boat, giving the village a calm and peaceful feel. If you want a day off from the hustle of the city, it is worth taking a day trip to Giethoorn. In this blog, you can find everything you need to know about planning a Giethoorn day trip from Amsterdam.

Giethoorn is located in the North East of the Netherlands about 45km North of Zwolle, or two hours by car or bus from Amsterdam. It is one of the top ten attractions to visit in the Netherlands and is, therefore, very easy to get to from multiple cities in the Netherlands. 

Giethoorn is the sort of place that you can visit all year round. In the summer, Giethoorn is the perfect place to kick back and relax. You can enjoy your time there while eating ice cream, wandering over all 186 bridges, and lazing around in a boat. 

However, Giethoorn still has plenty to offer in the winter, from a delicious canal-side high tea to cycling or maybe even ice skating around the canals. You can stay warm and enjoy the winter sun reflecting off of the water. One of the benefits of visiting Giethoorn in the Winter is that you can avoid the crowds and get the place to yourself. So don’t avoid visiting Giethoorn just because it is Winter!

You can get to Giethoorn from Amsterdam in multiple ways. However, there is no direct public transport, so it can be a bit of a trek to get there on the train. But don’t let this put you off because there are plenty of ways to visit Giethoorn. 

The easiest way to visit Giethoorn is to book a Giethoorn day trip from Amsterdam. That way, you can avoid any train ticket drama, Google map mishaps, and car rental shenanigans. All you need to do is sit back and enjoy the view from the window as you drive through the Dutch countryside on your way to Giethoorn. On top of that, you will get expert tips from knowledgeable locals about what to do in Giethoorn and which places to avoid.

Some day tours don’t offer you much flexibility, which can be a little offputting for some, in which case, the Hop On and Hop Off might be the perfect option. With a Hop On and Hop Off tour to Giethoorn, you will travel in a luxury coach all the way from Amsterdam and get tickets for an hour-long boat tour of Giethoorn. Book your adventure now by clcking the button below;

However, when you get to Giethoorn, you can choose exactly how and where you want to spend your time. So basically, you get none of the hassle of finding your own way there but all the freedom!

One of the best ways to explore Giethoorn village is by boat. You have two main choices: rent a boat of almost any kind and drive yourself or join one of the canal cruises. Or, if you love being on the water, you can do both! 

There are several benefits of taking a canal cruise. Not only do you get to see the village in all of its beauty, but you can also learn about its history and local culture. At the same time, you do not have to worry about hitting other boats or steering your boat down the windy, narrow canals. Especially in the summer, these canals can get busy, so taking a boat tour is definitely a much more relaxing way to see the village. 

Few Beautiful clicks of Giethoorn by Hoponhopoffholland.

That said, if you have a sense of adventure or just want to plan your own route on the canals, it can be fun to float around on a kayak, a stand-up paddle board, or in a rented sloop. 

While Giethoorn is famous for its canals, there are plenty of different things to do beyond seeing the canals. 

Giethoorn has several museums that can be entertaining for people of all ages. The Museum ‘t Olde Maat Uus gives visitors an insight into the farming and fishing life of people living in Giethoorn a hundred years ago. With personal stories and an original Gieterse farm, this museum is a great way to learn about the history of Giethoorn. 

In the Museum of the Old Earth, you can explore a unique collection of gemstones, minerals, and fossils from all over the world, including the largest egg in the world. If shells are more your thing, you can check out the Shell Gallery Gloria Maris with all sorts of beautiful objects from the ocean floor, such as coral, mother of pearl, shells, cameos, nautilus, and other shells. There are many other small museums and galleries in Giethoorn, such as the Histomobil, a car museum. 

Cycling is one of the quintessential Dutch experiences. So what better way to explore a traditional Dutch village than to rent a bike and cycle around the canals? When you rent a bike, you will be given a map that details the different cycling routes available, from short cycles with plenty of stops, to longer trips for the more experienced cyclists out there. You can choose to follow one of these routes or let the wind take you and explore off the beaten track. 

Giethoorn is full of small ‘eetcafes’ (Dutch cafes), cozy terraces, and restaurants. There is no way you can go hungry in Giethoorn. You can find anything from traditional Dutch cuisine to Italian, French, and Chinese food. The best part is that most of these restaurants and cafes come with a canalside view. You can even book canal cruises with food on board. 

There are some notable foodie experiences you can enjoy in Giethoorn including locally made ice cream; a picturesque canalside high tea; Dutch pancakes; and for the luxurious foodies, there is even a Michelin-star restaurant.  

There are also many shops selling souvenirs, Dutch knickknacks, and most importantly, traditional Dutch candy, or snoepjes, as they say in Dutch. 

Giethoorn is definitely not a place to miss out on. Whether you book a day trip to Giethoorn from Amsterdam or venture out to Giethoorn yourself, you are guaranteed to be enchanted by the winding canals and traditional Dutch farmhouses. You cannot avoid falling in love with such a fairytale-like place. Immerse yourself in rural Dutch culture and enjoy the peace and quiet of a village without roads.