Giethoorn

Background

Giethoorn lies in the municipality of Steenwijkerland in the Dutch province of Overijssel, about 5 km southwest of Steenwijk. The village has 176 bridges, and thatched farmhouses line its canals; the old village originally had no roads (a cycle path was added later), and people got around mainly by water, which is why it is called the "Venice of the Netherlands". The village lies a short distance from Weerribben-Wieden National Park. In 1958 the Dutch filmmaker Bert Haanstra shot his comedy Fanfare here, making Giethoorn famous in the Netherlands. In 2015 it beat 182 contenders from around the world to take square 21 on a special international edition of the Monopoly board. Today tourism is the village's main source of income.

Local customs

• Hire an electric boat, rowing boat or canoe to tour the canals
• cycle through the fields outside the village
• rest at a lakeside café
• count the bridges along the canals and admire the thatched farmhouses.

Travel tips

• Boat hire prices are as quoted locally
• it gets crowded in peak season, so arrive early or come on a weekday. In winter, when the canals freeze, you may be able to skate, but follow local announcements on ice safety.
• From Amsterdam, take a train to Steenwijk and then a bus
• if you drive, park outside the village and continue on foot or by boat. Spring and summer, with green water and flowers in bloom, are the most beautiful seasons
• autumn is quieter, with fewer visitors.