The ‘Venice of the Netherlands’ has no cars and five miles of winding canals

Nestled just an hour-and-a-half from Amsterdam sits a lesser-known village, dubbed the ‘Venice of the Netherlands’.

It looks like something from a Disney film: visitors can row along five miles of canals, passing by countless thatched farmhouses and buildings.

Giethoorn village, with its 176 bridges has no roads in its centre — and no roads, means no cars. Instead, visitors park on the outskirts and explore by boat, bike or on foot.

And while you may never have heard of this ‘Dutch Venice’, it gets a million visitors each year.

Feeling inspired? Here’s everything you need to know.

Things to see and do in Giethoorn

If you’ve ever spent an afternoon punting along the River Cam, you’re going to love Giethoorn. Your first port of call should, of course, be to get yourself in a boat.

You can join a canal cruise with local skippers to guide you, pointing out key spots – there are even cheese and wine tours if you want to level up your experience. Or, if you fancy yourself a Captain, you can also opt to DIY and hire a ‘whisper boat’, named because they’re ‘whisper quiet’ as they’re battery powered. It has a flat bottom, and a steering wheel, and is suitable for families with kids too.

Prices start from around £17 for an hour long boat ride but, the fancier the boat, the higher the price tag.

If you’re into your history, there are lots of museums tucked away on the small islands.

Museum Giethoorn ‘t Olde Maat Uus shows visitors what a typical farmhouse in Giethoorn looked like 100 years ago. It’s open from Monday to Saturday and costs just £3.42 for an adult ticket.

There’s also De Oude Aarde which exhibits collections of gemstones, fossils and jewellery from all over the world.

You can also take a pit stop at a quaint little Mennonite church just metres from the water, called Doopsgezinde Gemeente, with gorgeous baby blue pews.

And for more natural beauty, head to Weerribben-Wieden National Park, described as ‘a jewel in the Dutch landscape’. Covering 100sq metres, there are reed fields, lakes, swamps and more winding waterways. There are paths for cyclists and hikers, and of course, you can also take your boat out in the park too.

Where to eat in Giethoorn

If you’re looking for a nice light lunch to break up the day, Het Wapen Van Giethoorn is the place to go.

Think sarnies and ‘picky bits’ on a large snack board, along with cocktails. There’s even a shop at the back for you pick up some food or souvenirs.

For something a bit more substantial then Restaurant De Pergola sells heartier dishes like Schnitzel and veggie pie. It’s on the outskirts of the village but still has some nice outdoor tables overlooking the canal.

Don’t get caught out if you’re visiting on Mondays though because it shuts at 2pm – and in the evenings it shuts at 7:30pm, so you’ll need to head there for an early dinner.

Another popular dinner spot is Smit Giethoorn, offering big burgers and fries, schnitzel, fish, steak and even pancakes. It also boasts a great outdoor seating area.

Where to stay in Giethoorn

The-four star Hotel de Harmonie offers rooms that all have a view of the water. It markets itself as the ‘ideal location for exploring the historic village and its surroundings’.

It’s located on the main canal, directly across from the National Park de Weerribben-Wieden. It offers private canal cruises and moonlight boat tours, as well as electric bikes to rent.

Prices start at about £133 per night, which includes the buffet breakfast in the mornings.

De Dames Van De Jonge Hotel Restaurant Giethoorn also has the same perks for a similar price, with well presented rooms and outdoor terraces to soak up your surroundings.

How to get to Giethoorn

The quickest way to get to Giethoorn is to make the one hour flight from London to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, then get the intercity train to Steenwijk, and then an 11-minute bus (the 70 or 270) to Giethoorn.

Flights start from £79 from London Southend, then the train will cost you around £23 for a 90 minute journey.

Alternatively, you can get the Eurostar from London St Pancras International to Rotterdam Central which costs about £200, and takes roughly three-and-a-half to four hours direct.

Then you’ll need to get some intercity trains and a sprinter train to Steenwijk, again getting the 11 minute bus from there. All in all, the journey would take you around six hours and 23 minutes.

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