Giethoorn in the northeast of the Netherlands has been likened to Venice due to the canal network which runs through its centre and has become known for its beautiful thatched cottages
A beautiful village in the Netherlands is a wonderland of hand-dug canals, bridges and thatched cottages.
Giethoorn, in the northeast of the clog and waffle loving country, has just 2,800 residents, and a complete absence of roads in its centre which makes it tricky to navigate if you’re not used to cycling or boating.
Those who do choose to visit the village – which is a relatively simple two hour train ride from Amsterdam – rarely regret their decision however. Giethoorn is one of the most idyllic, bucolic places you’re ever likely to visit, and one where time seems to slow down.
The lack of cars means the hustle and bustle is kept to an absolute minimum. Rather than racing here-and-there, locals spend their days wandering along the canals past cottages with thatched roofs, stopping intermittently to sniff a tulip or two.
The extensive nature of the hand-dug canal network that runs through Giethoorn has earned it the nickname ‘Venice of the Netherlands, with residents similarly relying on boats to get around, do their shopping and visit neighbours as those in the Queen of the Adriatic.
The part of the village that most tourists will see when they visit is made up of these canals that have carved part of the settlement into many small islands which are connected by 176 bridges.
Despite being tiny geographically and in terms of population, Giethoorn plays a major role in the Dutch tourist economy. Around one million people visit every year, meaning 357 visitors for every person who lives there. Many of those locals are proud of the fact the village beat hundreds of others to feature on the official world edition of Monopoly.
Much like Venice, Giethoorn is partially a victim of its own success. The sheer number of visitors makes it a little hard to navigate during the summer months and temporarily robs the place of the peace and calm that is central to its reputation.
Travel writer Tassie Devil Abroad discovered as much during a visit to the village. “Giethoorn has become quite a popular destination lately, so you might be rudely surprised when you visit to find it very busy with tour-groups and other visitors, wandering around the paths in packs or clogging up the canals in their rented whisper-boats,” they wrote.
“I actually found it quite amusing how full of tourists in boats the canals were, many of whom didn’t seem to actually know how to steer their little boats, so they were constantly bumping into the edges of the canals and other boats like some sort of slow-motion dodgem.”
If the actions and noise of other, perhaps less considerate tourists tend to annoy you, then Giethoorn may be one destination to miss. Loud, chugging boats with amplified tour guides are a feature of the village canals during the summer, when the paths are taken up by abruptly stopping day-trippers seeking the perfect holiday snap.
However, in recognition of its beauty, Giethoorn was named one of the 23 most attractive towns around the world by Travel + Leisure.
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