Giethoorn is one of the cleanest cities in the world!
Giethoorn, located in the North East part of the Netherlands, approx, 85 minutes drive from Amsterdam. Every year around 1 million people from all over the world come to visit this "no way" city, which places Giethoorn in the top 10 attractions in the Netherlands.
Giethoorn is a village in Holland with canals, not roads. It is often called Venice of the North or Venice of the Netherlands. Giethoorn was founded by fugitives from the Mediterranean region in 1230. The name Giethoorn means "goat horn" in Old Dutch.
City Without Roads
The village of Giethoorn has no middle ground. So of course, no roads mean no cars either. Visitors and residents of Giethoorn village need to park their cars outside the village in a dedicated parking lot. This car-free area is the commercial heart of the village. You can rent a whisper boat, take a guided cruise or visit the museums here, along with a large selection of restaurants and cafes. This cycling/walking path known as 'Binnenpad' is like walking to a shooting location.
Things to do in Giethoorn
Giethoorn is a great place to visit if you enjoy being outdoors and exploring new places. There is plenty to do in Giethoorn, such as renting a boat and exploring the canals.
Rent a Boat 🚤
While in Giethoorn, you can rent a boat from one of 25 different boat rental companies. The cheapest boats are the 'fluisterboot' type. It is suitable for 2 to 4 people and costs from €15 per hour. For a little more convenience, there are open lifeboats for rent. It is also possible to rent a canoe or soup board.
Boat Tour ⛴
The guided cruise tour takes about 1 hour and follows a tourist village route, through narrow canals and under bridges. Most of the captains who sailed on this tour boat, spoke several languages used by the captain. Prices for these cruises vary from €6 to €12 per tour/person.