One Day in the Fairytale Village Giethoorn
Updated: May 12
I have been blessed enough to visit the fairytale village of Giethoorn couple of times during my stay in the Netherlands. A picturesque village in the Netherlands, Giethoorn leaves a lasting image on anyone that visits this place. Giethoorn is known for its paradisal canals, endearing thatched-roof houses, and tranquil atmosphere. In this blog, I will take you through my experience of spending one day in the fairytale village Giethoorn.
It's the 4th time that I'm visiting Giethoorn and it just gets better every single time. The first time I visited Giethoorn was in 2020 with my husband and kids, the second time I took my parents there in Spring of 2021, the third time I took my parent-in-laws in Summer of 2022 and finally I visited this year again in the midst of Spring and Summer of 2023 with close friends who were visiting us from Berlin. It's a known fact now that Giethoorn is one of my favourite places in Netherlands and it gives me a sense of pride to showoff its beauty to friends and family that come to visit us here.
So going back to my day out in Giethoorn, it was a hot Saturday, hot for the Netherlands with the sun blazing at a good 27 degrees celsius. We decided to leave home around 12:30 pm so that we could beat the sweltering heat of the afternoon sun. Giethoorn is a 2 hour drive from The Hague. So keeping that in mind we booked our boat from the rental company at 4 pm, leaving enough time to grab something to eat upon our arrival in Giethoorn.
Restaurants and Cafés
Our favourite restaurant to eat is Fratelli, which is an Italian restaurant, however we always save it for dinner as it is a good walk into the village and is always busy, so save the best for the last. For lunch, there are a couple of good options (which I've tried). One is the restaurant of the boat rental company 't Zwaantje Giethoorn (more on the boat rental towards the end of the post) called 't Zwaantje Botenverhuur Rondvaart bedrijf Restaurant which is the most convenient if you have reserved a boat with them. Soups, salads, dutch pancakes, sandwiches, Fish and Chips, croquettes etc. are their specialities. Another option is the Café Restaurant De Rietstulp which has similar food options. At another 2 minutes walking distance is the Canal Grande restaurant which has a wide range of Italian food options.
Canal Cruise
After a sumptuous lunch of pancakes, aperol spritz, beef burger and frites (dutch fries), we set off on a leisurely cruise along the canals. The water was calm, and in the beginning the only sounds were of the gentle lapping of the water against the boat and the occasional chirping of birds. As soon as you enter into the main village section, you cannot help but marvel at the beauty of the village. You will glide past quaint thatched roof houses and manicured lawns, wooden bridges and huge lush green trees.
The boat rental guys instruct you on the directions inside the village and the places which are a NO-GO when you embark on the cruise. From the village interiors, we followed the said directions and landed into a river where the water got calmer and we could watch majestic white swans swimming in the lake with their young cygnets. However, it became too sunny for us and after 15 minutes of sailing in this lake, we decided to head inside again to shade ourselves from the torching sun rays. After an hour of cruising, we docked our boat at the ice cream parlour Venice Giethoorn. It was the perfect treat on this hot sunny day.
Explore the village on foot
At 6 pm, it was finally time to return our boat to the rental company. We decided to explore the village on foot. The village is small, and it didn't take us long to walk from one end to the other. As we strolled along the narrow streets, we came across several captivating thatched roof houses, charming cafes and restaurants, boutique stores selling clothes and gems and ceramics. Like I mentioned earlier, we decided to have dinner in Fratelli so we queued up with the other visitors to get a table.
After dinner, we found a spot where we could sit back and enjoy the peacefulness of the moment, feeling grateful for the opportunity to experience such a magical place.
More in Giethoorn....
Museum Giethoorn 't Olde Maat Uus
If you plan to reach Giethoorn early, Museum Giethoorn 't Olde Maat Uus is a fine place to spend your time in. The museum is housed in a conventional thatched-roof farmhouse and exhibits the history and culture of the village. The museum showcases the village's origins as a peat bog and how the canals were dug to transport goods and people. It has a museum shop with a coffee corner and there is plenty to discover for children. The museum also exhibits the traditional costumes and crafts of the region.
Opening Times:
Sun - Tue - 11 am to 5 pm
Wed - Sat - 11 am to 6 pm
Museum De Oude Aarde (Edelstenen museum / winkel De Oude Aarde)
The other museum is the De Oude Aarde, a museum dedicated to minerals and fossils. The museum has an grand collection of minerals from all over the world, including rare specimens and with an impressive collection of Gemstones, Fossils, Jewellery. You can spend a couple of hours here admiring the beautiful crystals and learning about their properties.
Opening Times: Sun - Sat - 10 am to 6 pm
In conclusion, spending one day in Giethoorn is a pleasurable experience. The village's allure and tranquility leaves you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. I would highly recommend visiting Giethoorn to anyone looking for a restful escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.
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Boat Rental
You may rent a boat from one of the many rental shops in the village. Our go-to place has always been 't Zwaantje Botenverhuur Giethoorn for boat rental. We rent a Whisperboat with steering wheel and it allows maximum 6 persons to be seated. For a 2 hours rental, it costs us €57.50 and a refundable deposit of €50.
Please checkin 10 minutes before departure time at the boxoffice.
Returning boat later than mentioned timeslot, extra time used is charged with a minimum of an hour rent.
Cancellation is not free, no money return. Every change costs €10,-- per booking
Website: www.giethoornboeking.nl
E-mail: info@giethoornboeking.nl
Twitter: @giethoorn_boten
If you don't intend on renting a boat for yourself and just want to be part of a group cruise, then there is also the option of going on a a river cruise with a tour guide Giethoorn and Weerribben-Wieden National Park for €10 per person. You may book this on travel portals like GetYourGuide.
Car Parking
Parking is free behind the supermarket Spar Eendrachtsplein / Ketstraat. The parking next to supermarket is only short time parking max. 1 hour with blue parking ticket or there is private parking at the 't Zwaantje entrance at the mainroad Beulakerweg between the numbers 133D and 135.
Heads up! During Spring and Summer months, it'd be great to reach early and sail before the crowds start pouring in. By late afternoon, around 3 pm, the village interior canals get super crowded and you might get stuck in a boat jam!
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very well written - enjoyed reading it.🙂
Loved it.. 🙂