Things to do in Giethoorn

No. 6 of Best Things to Do in Netherlands

Giethoorn

Giethoorn is a village where canals replace roads. Known for its crisscrossing waterways and lush greenery, it is often called the "Venice of the North." The village's name originates from early residents who unearthed a large number of goat horns while digging for peat. In Dutch, "Geytenhoren" means "goat horn," which was later simplified to Giethoorn. The lake district where the village is located is a legacy of centuries of peat extraction, with the trenches formed by digging gradually developing into the current network of canals. A major scenic view in the village is the reed-thatched farmhouses built along the river. These houses, with their reed-covered roofs and well-tended gardens, are scattered along both banks of the canal and connected by numerous small wooden bridges. Taking a boat through the canals is the best way to experience the village. As you glide through the tranquil waterways, you can enjoy views of the thatched-roof houses and pastoral scenery from the water. In addition to the waterways, you can also take a leisurely bike ride along the forest paths to experience the village's pastoral charm from a different perspective.

Museum Giethoorn 't Olde Maat Uus

Museum Giethoorn 't Olde Maat Uus is located in Giethoorn, Overijssel, Netherlands, and is a unique place that showcases traditional Dutch farming life. The museum is situated in a picturesque rural setting, surrounded by typical Dutch canals and green spaces. Visitors can explore the lifestyle of Dutch farmers here and learn about traditional agricultural techniques and tools. The farm tools and household items on display in the museum vividly recreate past farming life, providing an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Dutch rural history. The exhibits range from ancient farm tools to traditional clothing, showcasing how Dutch farmers lived in harmony with nature. The museum also regularly hosts interactive activities and workshops, allowing visitors to experience traditional farming skills firsthand. Regarding transportation, Giethoorn is famous for its unique car-free streets, and visitors can easily reach the museum by walking or renting a bicycle. It is recommended that visitors check the museum's opening hours and plan their itinerary in advance to fully experience the surrounding natural beauty. The Museum Giethoorn 't Olde Maat Uus in Giethoorn is not only a great place to learn about Dutch agricultural history but also an ideal location to enjoy a peaceful rural atmosphere, suitable for families and history enthusiasts.

Smit Giethoorn

Giethoorn is located in a nature reserve called DeWieden in the northwest of the Netherlands, about 120 kilometers from Amsterdam. Known as the "Green Venice of the North", the town is like a fairy tale world, with blue sky, green grass, and trickling streams, attracting many tourists. It is said that a group of coal diggers settled here in the 18th century and dug many horns underground, hence the name. The residents of Giethoorn Village still maintain the traditional conical roofs, all woven from reeds. Most of these unique reed houses are located beside the river, and are connected to the opposite bank by small wooden bridges. Every house is like a well-designed work of art, not only the roof, windows, gates, but also every detail of the sculptures on the lawn are realistic. When you come to Giethoorn Village, in addition to walking slowly, you must enjoy the beauty of taking a boat tour of the village. When renting a boat, the store will give you a map of the waterway of Giethoorn Village. According to the flagpole marked with the number on the water, you can find the waterway mark on the map, and you can clearly find your location. You can also rent a bicycle to wander among the boulevards and enjoy the pleasures of life in a way that is close to nature.

Bovenwijde

Located in Steenwijkerland Vannepoven in the province of Overijssel in the Netherlands, Bovenwijder Lake is a lake known for its natural beauty and rich outdoor activities. The lake area attracts nature lovers and leisure tourists with its tranquil environment and diverse ecosystem. There are many trails around the lake, which are perfect for hiking and cycling. Visitors can stroll along the lake and enjoy the fresh air and the beautiful scenery of the lake and mountains. For those who like water activities, Bovenwijder Lake offers opportunities for boating and fishing, which is a good way to experience life in the lake area. The lake area is also an ideal place for bird watching. Many birds live here, especially during the migration season, which attracts many bird watching enthusiasts. Visitors are advised to bring binoculars for better bird observation. Whether seeking natural beauty or outdoor activities, Bovenwijder Lake provides visitors with an ideal place to relax.

De Weerribben-Wieden National Park

Giethoornis a small village located within De Weerribben-Wieden National Park,and during the Ice Age, De Wieden was situated between two moraine zones, making its terrain lower than the surrounding areas. This resulted in poor soil and an abundance of peat bogs, where few plants grow besides reeds and sedges. However, it is precisely this that gives Giethoorn its unique landscape. The park was established in 1882 and has preserved its vegetation and wildlife well to this day. You can take a boat ride along the small canals to enjoy the scenic views—a truly relaxing experience.

Pantropica

Pantropica, located in Luttelgeest, Flevoland, the Netherlands, is a large indoor tropical plant and animal attraction. Established over 100 years ago, it has grown from a flower farm into one of the largest tropical attractions in Europe. The park's environment mimics a tropical rainforest, featuring waterfalls, streams, suspension bridges, and dense forest paths, making visitors feel as if they have stepped into a real jungle. The park is home to a variety of tropical plants, with orchids being particularly eye-catching, and features a large indoor butterfly garden, "Vlinder Vallei" (Butterfly Valley), which is one of the largest butterfly exhibits in Europe. The animal section is also diverse, where visitors can see white-eared marmosets, red-bellied tamarins, flamingos, lorikeets, ring-tailed lemurs, and other small animals. The park is well-equipped, child-friendly, and suitable for family outings, with areas for rest such as animal feeding shows, jungle-themed exhibitions, cafes, and the "Sky Garden" restaurant.

Giethoorn Center

De Oude Aarde

This is a unique museum where you can admire many gemstones, massive crystal geodes, and petrified wood.

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Van Gogh Museum

The Van Gogh Museum is located on Museumplein in Amsterdam and is a national art museum centered on Van Gogh's works, holding more than 200 of his oil paintings, hundreds of drawings, and a large number of letters exchanged between him and his brother Theo, a collection that ranks among the foremost of its kind worldwide. The origin of this collection is itself a story: after Van Gogh's death in 1890, the paintings were kept by his brother Theo; Theo passed away shortly afterward, and his widow, Johanna van Gogh-Bonger, devoted her life to organizing and exhibiting these works, which had received little attention during Van Gogh's lifetime, ultimately bringing them together into this museum. The permanent exhibition lays out a clear viewing route in chronological order of creation: from the dark-toned "The Potato Eaters" of the Nuenen period in the Netherlands, to the numerous self-portraits of the Paris period, then to "The Yellow House," "The Bedroom," and "Sunflowers" of the Arles period, and finally to "Almond Blossom" and "Wheatfield with Crows" created in the last stage of his life in Saint-Rémy and Auvers-sur-Oise, making Van Gogh's creative trajectory over a brief ten years clear at a glance. In addition to his own works, the museum also displays paintings and sculptures by contemporary artists such as Monet, Gauguin, and Rodin, many of which were personally collected by Van Gogh and Theo at the time; in Gauguin's "The Painter of Sunflowers," the protagonist is none other than Van Gogh, the painter of sunflowers. The building itself is also worth a closer look: the main building was designed by the Dutch De Stijl architect Rietveld and opened in 1973, with exhibition galleries unfolding layer by layer around an open atrium; the oval wing designed by the Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa was completed in 1999 and is dedicated to large-scale temporary exhibitions; and the all-glass entrance building opened in 2015 connects the old and new wings into one. The museum is consistently popular, with dense crowds during peak hours, so if you plan to take a close look at the permanent collection, it is recommended to allow ample visiting time.

Taman Indonesia Zoo