Giethoorn Village, Netherlands   

     There are places so exquisitely charming and picturesque that they should forever be memorialized in the beautiful postcards that you send home. Giethoorn Village is an example of such a place. 

  Image from pixabay

It is a tiny water village in the Netherlands that has earned its reputation for being the “Dutch Venice” because of the hundreds of canals and wooden foot bridges that are part of its architecture. It has its own charm though, and it should definitely be part of a traveler’s must-see places.  

        The easiest and most convenient option in getting there is by reserving a boat tour tickets online that already include train and bus tickets. This is advisable because during busy months boat rentals can run out. If you prefer getting to Giethoorn and reserving boat rentals there, you can easily reach it by utilizing trains and buses. 

  Image from flickr

          Your goal is to travel from Amsterdam Centraal to Steenwijk Station where there is a direct route to the village. You will need to change stations for Amersfoort, Zwolle, Almere or Lelystad to get to Steenwijk. The station change depends on what time you took the train. Once in Steenwijk, you can take the bus to Giethoorn. Round-trip fares will normally cost you 50 euros or $59. 

Car rentals are also an option. Driving there is easy because you only need to follow the A6 Highway from Amsterdam, but consider rush hour and traffic though.  

 Image from unoexplorer.com

  Image from unusualplaces.org

       Of course, Giethoorn is best explored on a boat so you can either join a canal cruise with a group or rent one of those you can drive yourself. Prices for self-operated boats are usually at 3 euros for every hour while electric whisper boats are around 15 to 20 euros. You can follow the routes on the map that will be provided to you.

        The canals are open except in winter when they freeze over and locals skate on them instead. While on the boat, don’t forget to take photos and enjoy the sights of thatched-roof houses, flowers, foliage, and the overall quaintness of the village. It can get crowded, so visit on a weekday and paddle on the boats early in the morning. Another option is to bike around the footpaths of the village. Take this option if you want to avoid the tourists that may crowd the narrow canals. 

  Image from unusualplaces.org

      You can also hike the Giethoorn walking route which is 4.3 kms all in all. The walk will take you up close to the wooden bridges and farmhouses. For a piece of local history, drop by the Museum Giethoorn 't Olde Maat Uus. The museum is built on an old farmhouse and you will see many artifacts like paintings, tools, cooking utensils, and bikes. You can also relax and enjoy some pancakes and coffee here. 

you will find 18th century rural Europe preserved in the canals, bridges, and houses. While it is true that it has enjoyed fame lately which means more tourists to contend with, if you plan your trip carefully you can avoid the crowds. You shouldn’t miss it for the world.  

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  ( All images found in google image search and I added images source with the website name. These images are not mine. if there have any false details in this article , please accept my apologies )