Top 10 Remarquable Facts about Giethoorn

Binnenpad 47B Giethoorn, The Netherlands Holiday Park Giethoorn. Photo by Eef NL on Wikimedia

Top 10 Remarquable Facts about Giethoorn

The Netherlands is one of the perfect water countries for sports enthusiasts and tourists. Several towns and cities in the Netherlands are the best destinations for anyone who loves to explore.

Giethoorn is a typically Dutch village located in the province of Overijssel. The total population of Giethoorn was two thousand, seven hundred and ninety-five (2,795) in 2020.

Giethoorn is located in the municipality of Steenwijkerland which is approximately 5 kilometres southwest of Steenwijk. Many people have labelled Giethoorn as Hollands Venetië which means the Venice of the Netherlands during its tourist attraction.

The environment of this area is full of lakes, reed beds and forests perfect for picturesque with thatched roofs and characteristic wooden bridges. Giethoorn was an establishment for settling peat harvesters in the region.

Accessing this town was by bridge or traditional Giethoorn boats which were called punters, narrow boats pushed using long poles. The settlers built houses on the little islands after they harvested peat.

Nothing much has changed about Giethoorn as the huge wooden bridges are still in place. Some people use punters, motor boats and other means to access Giethoorn.

Below are the top 10 Remarquable Facts about Giethoorn:

1. Giethoorn’s Name Originates from Discovery of Hundred of Goat Horns

The name Giethoorn has a significant meaning which dates from centuries ago. The base originates from the first inhabitants of the village.

It is believed that there was a discovery of hundred of goat horns in the marshland. These were remnants of the 10th-century flood. The name Giethoorn is derived from gietehorens.

2. The Village’s Population is Among the Least in the Netherlands

Giethoorn, The Netherlands: A boatbuilder shop at one of Giethoorns water channels. Photo by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas on Wikimedia

Several towns and cities of the Netherlands are not inhabited by many people. Some have less than one thousand people.

Giethoorn is ranked among the least populated villages/towns in the Netherlands. In the 2020 population collection, Giethoorn had two thousand, seven hundred and ninety-five people in total. This number is among the least in the Netherlands.

3. Visitors Tour around Giethoorn in Punters

Giethoorn village is largely surrounded by water. There are other areas where the land is dry.

Tourists and other visitors arrive in Giethoorn via the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, park their cars and go ahead to tour the area. However, several visitors love touring Giethoorn in their oldest means of transport.

Punters are a common way of touring around Giethoorn. A punteraar uses a long pole to row over the water as the tourists’ seat in the punter. This is a wholesome way of touring Giethoorn.

4. There are no Roads in Giethoorn Village

Giethoorn landscape. Photo by Autochess on Wikimedia

The village of Giethoorn is a remarkable one in the Netherlands. This special village has no roads in the centre.

Tourists who visit the area find it hard but they have to comply with the culture of Giethoorn. Tourists and residents of Giethoorn do not access the village in their cars.

There are special car parks where the vehicles are left behind before proceeding in. Tourists and the residents usually walk, ride bikes or ride in the punters into Giethoorn.

5. Giethoorn Village is Connected to the Mainland with 176 Bridges

The village of Giethoorn contains several hand-dug canals and small islands. These canals and islands were brought about by the peat harvesters who were the settlers here.

There are no access roads for cars and other vehicles to access Giethoorn village. The only way to connect Giethoorn to the mainland is through bridges.

Giethoorn village has 176 bridges that connect it to the mainland. Tourists and residents use bicycles and other means to connect to the mainland as no vehicles can pass through.

6. The Village is Dubbed the ‘Venice of the Netherlands’

The “Sugar Factory” – previously building of the Nederlands Hervormde Church. Now a house. Photo by Eef NL on Wikimedia

Venice, an Italian town that has great history is one of the best tourist destinations. Giethoorn has also been dubbed the Venice of the Netherlands.

There are several roof thatched houses in Giethoorn which are usually surrounded by deep green well-kept lawns. These lawns have beautiful flowering hydrangeas.

The waterways and canals of Giethoorn as well as the rows of weeping willows give tourists the feeling of being in Venice. The 176 bridges connecting Giethoorn to the mainland make it more of Venice as there is no car access.

With all these, the Venice of the Netherlands is one of the most frequented areas by tourists every year.

7. More than One Million Tourists Visit Giethoorn

Giethoorn is one of the most toured villages in the Netherlands. The exciting activities and touring in punters have made Giethoorn one of the top ten most visited areas in the Netherlands.

Every year, more than one million tourists visit and spend quality time in Giethoorn Village. There has never been a year where the turnout of tourists has been at a low.

8. There are No Coffee Shops in the Village

Giethoorn, The Netherlands: Houses with thatched roofs in Giethoorn. Photo by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas on Wikimedia

It is not that easy to find a village or town that keeps its culture for several years. However, Giethoorn village has managed to keep their culture intact for centuries.

Tourists who visit the area usually get perplexed by how unique it is. With no roads and no cars, more things can’t be found here.

There are no coffee shops in Giethoorn. The reason for this is still not known. The nearest coffee shop is located in Steenwijk which is ten minutes from Giethoorn.

9. The Village was Ranked First as the Best World Destination

There are several beautiful tourist destinations, but Giethoorn is among the top. In 2015, there was the 80th-anniversary international edition of Monopoly where people were voted for the best tourist destinations.

There were 182 contending destinations for this award with Giethoorn being one of them. Giethoorn won this award as it was voted the best tourist destination.

10. Giethoorn is usually Quiet during Off-Season but Busy in Summer

Giethoorn, The Netherlands: Tourists exploring the channels of Giethoorn. Photo by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas on Wikimedia

The calmness of Giethoorn village is usually determined by the season tourists want to visit the place. Some seasons are usually quiet, but bustles with activities and are crowded during tourist seasons.

Giethoorn village is usually busy during the summer months and April because of the tulips blooming. During this period, several people are seen in the canals while others are relaxed and enjoying the serene environment.

This is contrary during the off-season. Giethoorn becomes more calm and more silent at this time with the locals only seen with the voices of birds and ducks being heard.

Giethoorn village will always be a mesmerising place to visit with the family to make more memories. The folks living in this village are accommodating which the experiences even better.