Giethorn in The Netherlands 2025
A village without roads, which is called the Dutch Venice
Best time: mid-April–mid-October
Giethoorn is an idyllic village located in Weerribben-Wieden National Park. If you want to take a day off from a big city and enjoy a peaceful, car-free environment, Giethoorn is a perfect destination, which can be explored either by boat or on foot. Almost every house in the village is located on a separate small island. The islands are connected by more than 170 bridges. To explore this rural oasis, visitors can take a 2.7-mi (4.3-km) Giethoorn walking path, featuring beautiful views of houses with thatched roofs.
Lakes and canals in Giethoorn were created by peat digging. The village used to have many farms harvesting peat and reed. You can learn more about the region's agriculture in a village museum. Visitors can take a 1 or 2-hour tour through Giethorn in a traditional punter boat, pushed forward with a pole. Despite Giethoorn being called the Dutch Venice, it's very different from a tourist-packed city. Quiet and remote, it experiences only a small influx of tourists during August.
Beautiful farmhouses and bridges, dating back to the 18th and 19th-century, make Giethoorn one of the most popular Dutch destinations on Instagram. The village is known for its gorgeous hydrangeas and other flowers, so the best time to visit Giethoorn is during the blooming season from mid-April to mid-October.
