Around 13 years ago I received an email with the title “a village in Netherlands with no cars and roads”. I’ve always wanted to visit this village but during my first travel to Europe I couldn’t find enough time to do so. In my second visit, I planned my itinerary in a way so that I can visit both my friend Hamid, who lives in Netherlands, and Little Venice.
I arrived in Netherlands in a Sunday and since Hamid was free that day, he accompanied me. It was around 200 kilometers from Eindhoven to Giethoorn in northeastern Netherlands.
One can rent one of these small motorboats for €50 for one hour
After having a cup of tea in a cafe we bought a ticket for a tour on a boat around the village. We decided not to rent a private boat because it was rainy. Instead we bought a ticket for one the bigger boats with roof and a guide. Ticket was €15 per person. Other people on the your were all Dutch families who were spending their Sunday afternoon outside.
Dutch tourists on the boat with me and Hamid
The boat tour took 50 minutes. Afterwards we walked around Giethoorn for a couple of hours. Aside from canals that have been the primary and only way of transportation here, a few cycling paths have been created recently.
The village’s population is 2600 but each year there are 200 thousand Chinese tourists alone visiting. Maybe this is the reason many of the houses in the village have the for sale sign.
This house had been put up for sale, a little far from my workplace, otherwise I would have bought it 😆
Big groups of Chinese tourists usually come to Giethoorn during summer and fall, Netherlands’ tourism seasons. Fortunately there was no sign of them in that fall afternoon.
The lakes around Giethoorn were formed by peat unearthing and gradually filled water during the years.
If you’re planning to go to Giethoorn from Amsterdam, first you need to get to Meppel by train, then from Meppel, take the bus line 79 to Giethoorn. It takes around 2 hours and the ticket will cost around €40.
To be comfortable, you can also buy a Giethoorn tour ticket from Amsterdam. The whole tour including driving from Amsterdam to Giethoorn, boat tour and going back to Amsterdam takes around 8 hours and costs around €80.
My photos have been taken in a rainy and cloudy day in fall and should not be compared with those photos taken by a professional camera in a sunny day you usually see on the internet. 🙂
All houses were beautiful
All houses were beautiful
Giethoorn village was like a city from a fantasy book
There are 180 bridges in Giethoorn and most of them are made for one house only
It was so quiet and peaceful that I could only hear the birds singing
I was wondering if these ducks know their village is like heaven
These three houses formed an island and didn't even have a bridge
Eastern lake on a cloudy and foggy day
Giethoorn map
Giethoorn village
Restaurant by the canal that invites you to park the boat and chill for a bit
Metal mirrors installed at crossroads to prevent boat accidents
Giethoorn village and its lake
This was a one-way canal
Me and my old friend in Giethoorn village
A beautiful house in Giethoorn village
Everything is quiet and peaceful Giethoorn
Giethoorn village
This house's parking was very big
There were also sheep and cows
Giethoorn village
Giethoorn village
Ahmad Khani Iranian backpacker and travel lover
2comment
Wow beautiful photos – the most beautiful I’ve seen of Giethoorn!
I plan to visit Giethoorn and found your blog as I was researching the village. Keep traveling and taking pictures!
Giethoorn is a lovely place, try to avoid weekends