Giethoorn Canal Cruise

OVERVIEW

Cruise the countless canals that crisscross Giethoorn, a small village that is largely free of vehicles as most everyone gets around by walking, bicycling or boating. Although there are only a few thousand residents, each year nearly a million people descend on Giethoorn to admire its fairytale-like setting and leisurely pace of life. Cruising the canals, some of which were dug by hand, will present a unique water perspective of the village, which is often referred to as the Venice of the Netherlands. Along the way, you can expect to see an abundance of 18th- and 19th-century farmhouses with thatched roofs and pass under innumerable wooden bridges as the village boasts more than 175 of them. If you notice a flat-bottomed, square-front vessel being poled like a Venetian gondola, it will likely be a punt. Few experiences are quite so relaxing as cruising the canals of Giethoorn.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit Giethoorn, an idyllic village that is almost completely devoid of roads and cars.
• Cruise the shallow and narrow canals that run through Giethoorn.
• Appreciate Giethoorn’s serenity, slow pace of life and fairytale setting.
• Hear commentary about the history of the village, which was settled in the 13th century.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.