A stunning village in the Netherlands is a veritable paradise of hand-dug canals, bridges, and thatched cottages. Giethoorn, nestled in the northeast of the nation known for clogs and waffles, is home to just 2,800 residents. The complete absence of roads in its center makes getting around challenging for those unaccustomed to cycling or traveling by boat. However, those who venture to the village—a straightforward two-hour train journey from Amsterdam—seldom regret their choice. Giethoorn is among the most enchanting, picturesque destinations one is ever likely to encounter, and a place where the pace of life appears to slow considerably. The absence of motor vehicles keeps noise and commotion to a minimum.
Why Giethoorn Is Called the 'Venice of the Netherlands'
The remarkable extent of the hand-dug canal network running throughout Giethoorn has earned the settlement its celebrated nickname. Inhabitants rely on boats to travel, shop, and visit neighbors, much like those residing in the Queen of the Adriatic. The area of the village that most visitors encounter comprises these very canals, which have divided part of the settlement into numerous small islands connected by 176 bridges.
Tourism and Popularity
Despite its modest size both geographically and population-wise, Giethoorn holds significant importance in Dutch tourism. Approximately 1 million people descend upon it annually, equating to 357 tourists per resident. Many locals take pride in the village's achievement of beating hundreds of competitors to secure a spot on the official world edition of Monopoly.
Similar to Venice, Giethoorn has become somewhat of a casualty of its own popularity. The enormous influx of tourists makes navigation rather challenging during the summer period and briefly strips away the tranquillity and serenity that lie at the heart of its appeal.
Visitor Experiences
Travel writer Tassie Devil Abroad experienced this first-hand during a trip to the village. 'Giethoorn has become quite a popular destination lately, so you might be rudely surprised when you visit to find it very busy with tour groups and other visitors, wandering around the paths in packs or clogging up the canals in their rented whisper boats,' they wrote. 'I actually found it quite amusing how full of tourists in boats the canals were, many of whom didn't seem to actually know how to steer their little boats, so they were constantly bumping into the edges of the canals and other boats like some sort of slow-motion dodgem.'
If the behavior and clamor of less thoughtful visitors tends to grate, Giethoorn might well be a destination worth avoiding. Noisy, spluttering boats with amplified tour guides are a common sight along the village canals throughout the summer months, while the pathways become congested with dawdling day-trippers in pursuit of the perfect holiday photograph.
That said, in acknowledgement of its sheer charm, Giethoorn was previously crowned one of the 23 most picturesque towns across the globe by Travel + Leisure.
