Giethoorn is a ‘water village’ in Overijssel, in the municipality of Steenwijkerland, in the Dutch province of Overijssel and is located between Steenwijk and Meppel. It’s a very popular village in the Netherlands often referred to as the Venice of the North/Netherlands. The village has 2620 inhabitants and is known for its bridges, waterways, and punts. Giethoorn is elongated and consists of three neighbourhoods that are connected to each other via waterways. In the north it is the Noordeinde, then the Middenbuurt and finally the Zuideinde. The Dorpsgracht is the central axis of Giethoorn and ends in the south in the Zuideindiger Wijde.
Tourism has had a relatively small influence on the old traditional town. The village, still only fully accessible by boat, is one of several places commonly known as the Venice of the Netherlands. The infrastructure of the villages counts over 180 bridges and countless canals. Giethoorn is a very popular attraction amongst Asian and especially Chinese tourists. The village sees between 150,000 and 200,000 Chinese tourists every year.
Although we’re convinced that visiting Giethoorn will be a highly memorable experience, getting there can be quite a hassle. Giethoorn is a tiny village at quite some distance from Amsterdam; approximately 75 minutes by car. Getting there by public transport will take you over 2 hours and requires transfers from train to bus. However, there are also all-in arranged tours from Amsterdam to Giethoorn available.