Giethoorn Village in The Netherlands

Giethoorn village in the Netherlands is arguably the most famously beautiful spot in the country. It’s also one of the most unique – Giethoorn town is built almost entirely on water and is famously free of cars. The traditionally thatched cottages are built on a series of small peat islands, connected to one another by over one hundred and fifty bridges. 

Gliding along the waterways of the village by boat, perhaps stopping to learn more about its history at the Giethoorn Museum or having a delicious taste of local food at one of the many quaint little cafés, is a pretty idyllic way to spend an afternoon. It’s easy to feel as if one has stepped back in time when you travel through this picture-perfect little village but Giethoorn town is still home to many local people who are lucky enough to live such a laidback pace of life.
Exploring Giethoorn and the beautiful Dutch countryside is a perfect way of getting out of the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam, you can find a nice and quiet Giethoorn Hotel and exploring the side of this incredible country as many Dutch people do each and every day.

Giethoorn – Holland’s village on Canals?  

Actually, no. Giethoorn is in the province of Overijssel – one of the twelve provinces of the Netherlands. Exploring the Dutch countryside on We Are Amsterdam’s Giethoorn tour is the best way to see the beautiful countryside of Overijssel, Flevoland and Noord-Holland. Although the Netherlands is often referred to as ‘Holland’, this is just one of the country’s regions – on this tour, you can see some of the others too and get a feel for the real Netherlands. It’s the perfect opportunity to explore more of the country that we love and call home and get a break from the bustle of the Dutch capital, Amsterdam.

How to get to Giethoorn 

Getting to Giethoorn by public transport is very difficult and time-consuming. Once you get outside of the major cities and towns travelling on buses and trains becomes much more difficult, and it can be tricky knowing how to get to Giethoorn. That is why we recommend joining one of our Giethoorn Tours, where you can enjoy seeing the best of the Dutch countryside in comfort and ease. You can travel through the stunning polder landscape, stopping off at Zaanse Schans (the famous windmill village) before going on to Giethoorn – this trip isn’t just about the destination but also the journey!

Find out about the Netherlands constant battle with the sea at the Giethoorn Museum. 

Given that one third of the country is actually under sea-level, the Netherlands has been fighting against the sea for hundreds of years. The province of Flevoland which was reclaimed from the sea in the 1960s in order to provide space for the country’s growing population is often cited as one of the world’s engineering marvels. As you travel to Giethoorn you will be driving across this incredible polder landscape – it’s quite an experience to be so far under sea level and one of the unexpected experiences of the Giethoorn Tour. Had you been here a century ago, you would’ve been swimming! You can find out more about life before the reclamation of land at the Giethoorn museum.