Things to do in Giethoorn
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Top 10 attractions in Giethoorn
Giethoorn
Giethoorn is a village located in Stenweckland, Upper IJssel, the Netherlands. It is known as the "Green Venice of the North". It is famous because Giethoorn uses boats as its main mode of transportation. The town is as described in fairy tales, with blue sky and green grass, trickling streams, and a quiet and peaceful appearance, attracting many tourists. Historical background It is said that a group of coal diggers settled here in the 18th century and dug out many horns from the ground, hence the name "Giethoorn Village". The residents of Giethoorn Village still maintain the traditional conical roofs, all of which are woven from reeds. Most of these reed houses are located beside the river and are connected to the opposite bank by small arched wooden bridges. Each house is a well-designed work of art, not only the roof, windows, gates, but also the sculptures on the lawn are realistic. When you come to Giethoorn Village with a guided tour, in addition to walking slowly, you must enjoy the beauty of taking a boat tour of the village. When renting a boat, the store will give you a map of the waterway of Giethoorn Village. According to the flagpole with the number on the water, you can find the waterway mark on the map, and you can clearly find your position. In addition, tourists can also rent a bicycle to wander among the boulevards, and enjoy the joy of life in a way close to nature.Giethoorn · 2.2km from downtown
Smit Giethoorn
Giethoorn is located in a nature reserve called DeWieden in the northwest of the Netherlands, about 120 kilometers from Amsterdam. Known as the "Green Venice of the North", the town is like a fairy tale world, with blue sky, green grass, and trickling streams, attracting many tourists. It is said that a group of coal diggers settled here in the 18th century and dug many horns underground, hence the name. The residents of Giethoorn Village still maintain the traditional conical roofs, all woven from reeds. Most of these unique reed houses are located beside the river, and are connected to the opposite bank by small wooden bridges. Every house is like a well-designed work of art, not only the roof, windows, gates, but also every detail of the sculptures on the lawn are realistic. When you come to Giethoorn Village, in addition to walking slowly, you must enjoy the beauty of taking a boat tour of the village. When renting a boat, the store will give you a map of the waterway of Giethoorn Village. According to the flagpole marked with the number on the water, you can find the waterway mark on the map, and you can clearly find your location. You can also rent a bicycle to wander among the boulevards and enjoy the pleasures of life in a way that is close to nature.Giethoorn · 3.3km from downtown
Bovenwijde
Located in Steenwijkerland Vannepoven in the province of Overijssel in the Netherlands, Bovenwijder Lake is a lake known for its natural beauty and rich outdoor activities. The lake area attracts nature lovers and leisure tourists with its tranquil environment and diverse ecosystem. There are many trails around the lake, which are perfect for hiking and cycling. Visitors can stroll along the lake and enjoy the fresh air and the beautiful scenery of the lake and mountains. For those who like water activities, Bovenwijder Lake offers opportunities for boating and fishing, which is a good way to experience life in the lake area. The lake area is also an ideal place for bird watching. Many birds live here, especially during the migration season, which attracts many bird watching enthusiasts. Visitors are advised to bring binoculars for better bird observation. Whether seeking natural beauty or outdoor activities, Bovenwijder Lake provides visitors with an ideal place to relax.Wanneperveen · 2.1km from Giethoorn
De Weerribben-Wieden National Park
Giethoornis a small village located within De Weerribben-Wieden National Park,and during the Ice Age, De Wieden was situated between two moraine zones, making its terrain lower than the surrounding areas. This resulted in poor soil and an abundance of peat bogs, where few plants grow besides reeds and sedges. However, it is precisely this that gives Giethoorn its unique landscape. The park was established in 1882 and has preserved its vegetation and wildlife well to this day. You can take a boat ride along the small canals to enjoy the scenic views—a truly relaxing experience.Giethoorn · 3.7km from downtown
Pantropica
Pantropica, located in Luttelgeest, Flevoland, the Netherlands, is a large indoor tropical plant and animal attraction. Established over 100 years ago, it has grown from a flower farm into one of the largest tropical attractions in Europe. The park's environment mimics a tropical rainforest, featuring waterfalls, streams, suspension bridges, and dense forest paths, making visitors feel as if they have stepped into a real jungle. The park is home to a variety of tropical plants, with orchids being particularly eye-catching, and features a large indoor butterfly garden, "Vlinder Vallei" (Butterfly Valley), which is one of the largest butterfly exhibits in Europe. The animal section is also diverse, where visitors can see white-eared marmosets, red-bellied tamarins, flamingos, lorikeets, ring-tailed lemurs, and other small animals. The park is well-equipped, child-friendly, and suitable for family outings, with areas for rest such as animal feeding shows, jungle-themed exhibitions, cafes, and the "Sky Garden" restaurant.Luttelgeest · 16.5km from Giethoorn
Rijksmuseum
• A large collection of well-known art treasures, including masterpieces by many well-known masters • Retaining the architectural style of the 19th century, the brick-red walls are all decorated with images of Dutch history and art • The vaulted roof of the renovated museum atrium hall is made of glass, and the floor is paved with Portuguese stone floor tiles. Natural light penetrates the entire hall, which is spacious and bright. △ The building where the museum is located was planned and designed by the designer of Amsterdam Railway Station. It was opened to the public in 1885 and is one of the oldest museums in Europe. △ Go up the escalator and enter the viewing corridor. The corridor is composed of arched brick walls and large floor-to-ceiling windows. You can enjoy the panoramic view of the atrium hall. The library on the same floor as the corridor is not to be missed. The history of the library can be traced back to the 19th century. The spiral staircase is very unique and is also known as one of the ten libraries with beautiful scenery in the world.Amsterdam · 91.1km from Giethoorn
Hunebed D53
Darp · 11.1km from Giethoorn
Visitor center De Wieden
Sint Jansklooster · 8km from Giethoorn
Royal Palace Amsterdam
• The palace with gorgeous interiors opens 17 halls, rooms and galleries to the public. • About 2,000 pieces of royal furniture such as sofas, tapestries, and chandeliers are preserved, as well as hanging paintings with rich meanings • After visiting the palace, you can also wander in the square in front of the palace, feed the pigeons or watch street performers, and enjoy the European style △ The Royal Palace of Amsterdam is one of the four royal palaces in the Netherlands. It was originally the city hall and court. As the political and economic center of the city, it is also an important square in the city and a favorite creative theme of painters. It is still full of vitality to this day. The biggest attraction here is its architectural structure and the gorgeous decoration inside the palace. △ Visiting this classical and solemn palace can deeply feel the prosperity and prosperity of Amsterdam in the "golden age". The entire building was designed by Dutch architect Jacob van Campen, and 13,568 tree stumps are cleverly used to support this magnificent building.Amsterdam · 90km from Giethoorn
water buffalo farm Oldemarkt
Steenwijkerland · 10.9km from Giethoorn
Experiences you can't miss in Giethoorn
Featured Day tours in Giethoorn
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Featured Cultural experiences in Giethoorn
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![Museum Pass Netherlands [One personalized pass for unlimited access to 500+ Dutch museums and attractions including the Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank House, and more]](https://ak-d.tripcdn.com/images/0351612000rlzjwsw1CF3_C_568_320.jpg?_fr=wc)
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Featured Outdoor experiences in Giethoorn
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Featured Food & drink in Giethoorn
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Free things to do in Giethoorn
Giethoorn
Giethoorn · 2.2km from downtown
Zaanse Schans
Zaandam · 89.8km from Giethoorn
Red Light District Amsterdam Centrum
Amsterdam · 89.4km from Giethoorn
Grand-Place of Brussels
Belgium · Brussels
Canals of Amsterdam
Amsterdam · 90.2km from Giethoorn
Rheinauhafen District
Germany · Cologne
Manneken Pis
Belgium · Brussels
Dam Square
Amsterdam · 89.9km from GiethoornBook now for tomorrow
Minnewater
Belgium · Bruges
Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula
Belgium · Brussels
More ways to travel from Giethoorn
Private Tours in Giethoorn
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What travellers say about Giethoorn
Tablet6661 May 2026
5.0
Giethoorn truly resembles a fairytale town, with more waterways than roads, and small boats moored in front of every house. Low houses with reed-roofed roofs line the waterways, their gardens meticulously manicured. Renting a boat and rowing yourself is the most relaxing way to experience it, slowly gliding under small bridges, with meadows and wild ducks on either side. The main street is somewhat commercialized, but turning into the side streets brings tranquility, with only the sound of oars paddling through the water. It's best to visit on a sunny day; the slippery roads can be quite inconvenient on rainy days.
Giethoorn
Bulubuluchululu13 February 2022
5.0
You can see many different boats getting on and off here!
There are locals there too!
Smit Giethoorn
coo***an15 September 2019
5.0
There are several ways to visit Bowen Wilder Lake. Rowing is one of them. There are also hand-paddled and electric boats. Hand-paddled boats can also be paddled to the more residential river channel, which is quite interesting. The water is very calm and clear, very beautiful~
Bovenwijde
Anonymous user20 September 2026
4.0
Each floor has its own quirkiness. Thoroughly enjoyable to see what was showcased; from the first floor of Jesus, and stories and art made in acknowledgment of the Bible, to the fourth floor holding a plane, with modern-historic art.
Rijksmuseum
_TI***hq26 July 2026
5.0
The place is beautiful and the whole experience with audio book is amazing. It usually takes around 1 hour and 30 min to see the palace thoroughly. The staff was amazing and the place was tidy and really capturing
Royal Palace Amsterdam
