This car-free Dutch village runs entirely on waterways, with residents using wooden boats to navigate between their 18th-century thatched-roof homes and gardens connected by footbridges.
Giethoorn, a village in the Netherlands' Overijssel province, has no roads in its center - only canals and 176 wooden bridges. You'll find 18th-century houses with thatched roofs along the waterways, where locals and visitors navigate in small boats. The Museum Giethoorn 't Olde Maat Uus shows daily life from the 1900s, while the surrounding Weerribben-Wieden National Park contains reed beds and wetlands where you can spot otters and black terns.
Exploring Giethoorn by Water
The canals serve as the main transportation network in Giethoorn's center, where you won't find any cars. You can rent an electric "whisper boat," which fits 2-4 people and requires no license to operate. Guided boat tours run hourly with multilingual guides explaining the village's history and layout.
Walking and Cycling in Giethoorn
Walking paths run alongside the canals and over bridges, connecting the village's small islands. The 9.5-mile walking route takes you through both the village center and surrounding countryside. You can rent bikes from several locations to explore the cycling paths that extend into Weerribben-Wieden National Park.
Getting to Giethoorn
From Amsterdam, you can reach Giethoorn in about 85 minutes by car. If you prefer public transport, take a train to Steenwijk station, then catch bus 70 to Giethoorn. Several tour companies operate day trips from Amsterdam that include transportation and a boat tour.
Best Times to Visit
The canals become crowded with tourists in July and August. In April, May, or September, you'll find fewer people and more available boats. Most day-trippers arrive around 10 AM and leave by late afternoon, making early mornings and evenings less busy.
Weerribben-Wieden National Park
The national park surrounding Giethoorn contains miles of waterways, reed beds, and wetlands. You can take canoe trips through the park's channels, watch otters and black terns in their natural habitat, or follow marked hiking trails. Centuries of peat harvesting created the current landscape of interconnected lakes and land strips.
Historical Background
Hundreds of goat horns (gietehorens) discovered in the marshland gave the village its name, marking the site of a 10th-century flood. Peat diggers created the canals and lakes in the 13th century, establishing the water-based transportation system. The thatched-roof houses date to the 18th century, when reed roofs were common due to the abundance of local materials.
Practical Information
Park your car in the designated lots on the village outskirts, as the center is car-free. You'll find a Plus supermarket near the center and an Avia gas station that serves both boats and cars. Restaurants and cafes line the canals, with peak hours coinciding with tourist arrival times.
