Loads of people are curious about Giethoorn. It is known as the Dutch Venice because of the numerous canals that surround little islands. The thatched roof houses are super cute. The numerous things to do in Giethoorn can keep you occupied for a whole day. This is especially true if you visit the gorgeous village in summer. I must warn you though, summer does bring better weather but it also brings in the hordes of tourists.
One of the interesting things that you should know is that Giethoorn is a UNESCO Heritage site. It is one of the unique spots in the Netherlands and it is quite different from the other cities because motor traffic isn’t allowed through. In fact, there are many parts of Giethoorn that can only be accessed by boat.
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Best Time To Visit Giethoorn
Since most of the activities in Giethoorn are outdoors, you will find that it is best visited on a bright and sunny day. This is why almost everyone chooses to visit during summer. Spring and Autumn are also good times to visit but you need to time your visit right. It needs to be a nice sunny day. This is rather hard if you don’t actually live in the Netherlands since both spring and autumn usually have loads of rainy days.
Giethoorn would be absolutely no fun in the rain. You can however choose to take a covered boat ride and visit the museums but all the other things to do in Giethoorn are pretty much outdoors.
Things To Do In Giethoorn: The Outdoors
1. Walk Along The Canals
One of the best things to do in Giethoorn is to walk along the canals. The narrow paths give you access to some of the most scenic parts of the city. You don’t have to be quick about clicking your photographs either because unlike on a boat, you can pace yourself.
Before we visited, I was a little nervous. Everyone talked all about the boats and what a unique experience they were. I was not sure how accessible everything was on foot and since we had a stroller with us, hopping on and off a boat would be pretty difficult. Luckily, the pathways make it accessible for everyone. The only issue you will face is at some of the bridges that have steps and no ramps but these are optional places.
2. Take A Boat Tour
⭐️ Rating: 4.6/5 (507 Reviews) Price: $11 per person Duration: 1 hour 📍Meeting Point: Botenverhuur- en rondvaartbedrijf Koppers Giethoorn. Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
One of the other ways to really see the place is via a boat. Now there are loads of different boat tours and generally speaking the most popular option is to head out on a guided boat tour.
That way you get to listen to the history of Giethoorn while you see some of the most scenic spots that the area has to offer. You even get a cup of coffee/tea or a juice to enjoy while you are on the tour.
“The boat trip is a great way to get to know Giethoorn and the nature reserve. The guide tells you some interesting things, for example about the way of life and the creation of the lake in the nature reserve. The trip was super relaxed, interesting and funny. The tea included (or optionally coffee or lemonade) rounded off the experience. Highly Recommended.”
Maike (read more reviews now!)
If you are ambitious then rent an electric boat with a steering wheel. You’ll have to get behind the wheel and navigate through the canals. It is a fun experience but I have to warn you that it is harder than it looks. During the peak summer days the canals are full which does make it a lot like bumper cars.
3. Rent A Bike
You can also rent a cycle and explore the area. If you do, don’t head towards the main part of the city. Instead, move outwards. There’s a lot to be seen around the countryside. You will find that it is as scenic as the iconic things to do in Giethoorn. The reason why I mention not heading in towards the city is because of the crowds. If you really want to cycle through the city then start out very early in the morning.
Things To Do In Giethoorn: Museums And History
4. Visit The Mennonite Church
The Mennonite church is located right in the center of the city. Most people gaze at it from the outside and pass it by but you can visit the interiors of the church and I highly recommend doing it. For one thing, entrance into the church is free.
It also as an interesting history. The church dates back to 1871. The Mennonites were a free Christian community. The blue color that you see inside is known as Mennonite blue and is very distinctive.
5. Explore Museum Giethoorn ‘t Olde Maat Uus
One of the most interesting things to do in Giethoorn is to see what life was like back in the old days. You can do this at the Museum Giethoorn ‘t Olde Maat Uus. Did you know that there are over 20,000 historical documents, photographs and items on display in the museum? You can also listen to stories about how peat extraction used to take place.
The museum in general is great for both adults and kids alike. An interesting fact about the museum is that it was established on an old farm that was being sold. That’s why the museum merges into its surroundings so well.
6. Check Out Some Fossils & Stones
If you are curious about rocks and fossils then you should check out Museum de Oude Aarde. Here you can see loads of fossils, precious and semi precious stones. At the side of the museum is a small shop that you can browse through different stones. You can even buy them. There are some semi precious stones and fossils on sale too.
Things To Do In Giethoorn: Food
7. Taste Some Local Cheese
One of the best experiences in Giethoorn that we all enjoyed was tasting the different types of cheese. The best place to try the cheese is in a shop called the House of Cheese.
There are all kinds of flavors from cumin, truffle, pepper, rainbow… Yes I said rainbow! But there are so many flavors it is hard to narrow down on when it comes to the cheese you want to take back home. They also make some great Dutch souvenirs to take back home.
8. Chill With Frozen Yoghurt /Ice cream
You can’t go wrong with frozen yoghurt or ice cream on a hot day. If you are wandering around the narrow paths of the town, you are bound to be sweating it out. Now there are numerous places where you can get yourself some ice cream at many spots but our favorite was from the House of Cheese.
Here you can choose the size of your yoghurt bowl and choose both the toppings and the flavor of the syrup drizzled on top of it. We chose caramel with marshmallows and egg liquor with biscoff topping. The marshmallows were obviously for the kids. That being said, I found it hard to choose which one I liked better.
The yoghurt ice cream is made from milk from their own farm which is pretty nice to know and to support a local business.
9. Indulge At One Of The Local Restaurants
As you walk through the city you will find that there are loads of different restaurants. These are both in the center of the city and on the outskirts. Sitting on a nice warm day in the picturesque gardens with unobstructed views of the canals is the perfect way to enjoy some down time. The one downside is that almost everyone has the same idea. That means that in peak season, the restaurants are overflowing. It is hard to catch a table.
My advice is to call in advance and book a table. If you haven’t done this, head to the restaurant of your choice a little earlier. This way you have a better chance of snagging a place to sit.
Things To Do In Giethoorn: Unique Accommodation
10. Go Camping
One of the things to in Giethoorn that doesn’t involve loads of tourists is camping. There are some cool places to set up camp. Not all of them are close to the center which means that you will be away from the crowds and you can still enjoy the serenity of the neighborhood. Whenever you want, you can take a boat or a cycle into town.
Most of the camps have activities for children of all ages so you can relax and have a bit of rest while the kids expend their energy. It is a great way to enjoy the outdoors.
11. The Kruumte
⭐️ Rating: 8.4/10 (681 Reviews) Price: $131 per night 📍Location: Kerkweg 48a, Giethoorn Details: Read more on booking.com now!
If camping is not your thing, you can choose to stay in a place like the Kruumte. This gorgeous hotel caught my attention the moment we walked past it. Not only does it have some great sunny areas to relax at, the hotel in general looks pretty.
The rooms have all the needed amenities and you can even rent a boat from right there. The best part is that it isn’t located in the center of Giethoorn. Yes… I said best part. Its about a 5 minute walk away from all the rush and chaos.
“Owner was friendly, breakfast was delicious, surroundings beautiful and accommodations very clean”
Christine (read more reviews now!)
The Kruumte also has a spot where you can catch a bite to eat. Something to keep in mind if you don’t want to head into town. The hotel is designed for everyone which means that it has disability access too. Oh and if you are worries about parking, don’t! There’s free private parking for all residents of the hotel.
As you can see, there are plenty of things to do in Giethoorn to fill up a full day. Many people head here just for an hour or two and they really miss out. I would recommend allotting as much time as you can to make the journey here worthwhile. This is especially true if you are headed here from a place that is far like Amsterdam.
Have you been to Giethoorn? What was your favorite activity? Let us know in the comments below.
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