Giethoorn

Choose Giethoorn when you want canals on a village scale, with thatched cottages, small bridges and a boat ride. Give it a full day including the journey, or stay overnight if you want time for the surrounding Weerribben-Wieden landscape as well.

A wooden footbridge across a village canal in Giethoorn.

A boat ride and a walk show different sides

The Dorpsgracht is the familiar village scene. Walking beside it lets you stop by the bridges and look along the water; a boat takes you into the same landscape from another angle. Choose a guided ride if you want to sit back. A self-drive boat makes sense if handling the boat is part of the fun for your group.

Rental boats moored beside the water in Giethoorn.

A covered sightseeing boat on a Giethoorn canal.

The narrow village canals are only one part of the area. The wider wetlands have reed beds and open water, so decide whether you want a village outing or a longer day on the water before choosing your trip.

Open water and reed-lined banks near Giethoorn.

A stork on a nest among trees in Giethoorn.

Give the journey a proper place in the plan

Giethoorn is a more substantial outing from Amsterdam than Haarlem or Zaanse Schans. Keep the whole day for it. A guided day trip can simplify the journey; traveling independently gives you control over the time you spend in the village.

Stay if the wetlands are part of the holiday

An overnight stay makes more sense for a village-and-nature visit than for a quick photograph and return journey. Find a place to stay in Giethoorn, or compare the other day trips from Amsterdam if you only have one spare day.

A thatched building beside a canal in Giethoorn.

A walking-route marker beside a landing in the Giethoorn wetlands.

Find more places to visit in the Netherlands.