A city without roads
It exists in Holland. Giethoorn is a picturesque village in the Netherlands, nicknamed the “Venice of the North” . It owes its fame to the particularity of having no roads, but only wooden bridges and canals . Cars are not used here; one moves only by bike, on foot or by boat.
You can explore it by taking part in organized boat tours, but the idea of ​​renting a Whisper Boat, silent and electric boats to plow these channels undisturbed, is much more suggestive. The Gondelvaart Festival
is held every year in August, a competition between gondoliers that involves the whole world and attracts thousands of tourists and onlookers. Immersed in a magical and timeless atmosphere, the village seems to have been built by Hobbits . Let’s find out together.
Travel informed: useful information
- Inhabitants : 2785
- Language : Dutch
- Local currency : euro (€)
- Climate : cool, cloudy and humid most of the year. Precipitation is not very abundant (it varies between 750 and 850 mm per year) but it is frequent all year round. Wind is very frequent. The average annual temperature is 14 ° C
- Nearest Airports : Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (131 km)
Where is it
120 km from the capital Amsterdam, in the north-western part of the province of Overijssel. Until 1 January 1973, Giethoorn was a separate municipality, after that date it was incorporated into the new municipality of Steenwijkerland, together with the former municipalities of Steenwijk and IJsselham.
How to get
- Low cost flights: Amsterdam Schiphol and the reference airport, reachable in about 2 hours by flight from Rome and Milan. Flights to Amsterdam from € 71.00
- By car from Amsterdam : the village is 1 hour and 20 minutes from Amsterdam. In the village there is a large free parking just 15 minutes walk from the center (Get directions)
- By public transport from Amsterdam : reach Steenwijk by train (€ 20.00), then bus 70 to Dominee Hylkemaweg (from € 4.00 each way; departures every hour). The total duration of the trip varies between 2 and 3 and a half hours
- Organized tour : The day tour from Amsterdam is particularly recommended, with prices starting from € 89.00 per person. Find out more.
When to go
Info on climate and best period
Month Average temperatures (min / max) Precipitation (days / mm) January 1/6 ° 12 days / 31 mm
February 1/6 ° 10 days / 23 mm
March 3/9 ° 12 days / 27 mm
April 4/16 ° 11 days / 16 mm
May 8/17 ° 15 days / 29 mm
June 11/19 ° 17 days / 39 mm
July 13/21 ° 19 days / 44 mm
August 13/22 ° 19 days / 42 mm
September 11 / 18th 18 days / 37 mm
October 8 / 14th 16 days / 33 mm
November 4 / 10th 15 days / 36 mm
December 2/7 17 days / 46 mm
- Climate : oceanic climate: it rains every month of the year. The average annual temperature in Giethoorn is 14 ° (average highest of 22 ° in July and lowest of 5 ° in January). In a year, 368 mm of rain fall. average humidity rate of 82%
- Best period : from May to September, when there is a mild and pleasant temperature and rainfall is scarce
- Period to avoid : autumn and winter are very rainy although not excessively cold
- Tips : for winter: warm clothes, sweater, coat, umbrella. In summer: light clothes, but also some spring / summer items (jacket, sweatshirt or sweater). Always raincoat or umbrella.
10 things to see in and around Giethoorn
- Boat tour : obviously the main activity, you can choose between the typical boats known as “punters” or in classic boats
- Wooden Jumpers : Have fun counting all of Giethoorn’s famous wooden jumpers. There are about 176
- Historic center : a small jewel that can only be reached on foot, by boat or by bike. Once here, stroll among the typical houses, admiring the thatched roofs and the colorful flowers on the balconies
- ‘T Olde Maat Uus Museum : restored 19th-century farm, now used as a museum. Here you will find documents and artifacts that tell the story of the village
- De Oude Aarde Geological Museum : one of the most famous in the Netherlands. Here are kept some wonderful collections dedicated to mineralogy, geology and precious stones enthusiasts
- Gloria Maris Museum : collection that makes you embark on a journey to the bottom of the sea among shells and corals of any color and type
- Weerribben-Wieden Park : to enjoy a unique and enchanting landscape, characterized by aquatic flora and various species of animals, including the otter, the black tern, the cormorant and the egrette
- Kroller-Muller Museum : opened in 1938, exhibits an exceptional private collection of over 11,000 works, with an important section dedicated to Van Gogh
- Enkhuizen open-air museum Zuiderzeemuseum : with over 130 buildings including authentic houses, shops and workshops, illustrates the history and culture of the region
- Batavia Stad Fashion Outlet : a sort of outlet set up in what used to be a pretty eighteenth-century village. 150 stores selling over 250 prestigious brands
What to do in Giethoorn: excursions and tours
How much does it cost to visit Giethoorn
Prices, offers and advice
The easiest and cheapest way to visit the town is by staying in Amsterdam and booking an organized day tour. If, on the other hand, you want to explore the province of Overijssel, you can stay in Giethoorn but in all likelihood you will spend a much more reasonable amount. Given the particular conformation, it is logical not to expect large structures with hundreds of rooms. The few hotels in the area are very small (average € 75.00 per night in low season), while there are much more holiday homes , which generally offer good value for money.
Giethoorn has an excellent gastronomic reputation. Indeed it offers severalexcellent restaurants to eat at . The most prestigious restaurant is the Lindenhof which boasts two Michelin stars (tasting menu € 100.00), but obviously there are more affordable solutions. To save money and taste typical localities, perhaps for a frugal lunch, bitterballen, fried meatballs to be savored with mustard, excellent frites and, for the bravest palates, the traditional raw herring are fine. Unmissable experience the tour of the canals (boat rental from € 6.10).
- Where to sleep: Hotels and b & b from € 66.00 per room – see the offers
- Low cost flights: from € 41.00 – see the offers
