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All the Netherlands Giethoorn Giethoorn
AO Edited

Giethoorn

This small town in the Netherlands has no roads but instead, miles of canals and over 100 bridges.

Giethoorn, Netherlands

Added By
Kyle D.
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Giethoorn   piotr ilowiecki on Flickr
Giethoorn   piotr ilowiecki on Flickr
Giethoorn   piotr ilowiecki on Flickr
Giethoorn   G D on Flickr
Beautiful + picturesque + unique.   davelally03 / Atlas Obscura User
Beautiful + picturesque + unique.   davelally03 / Atlas Obscura User
Beautiful + picturesque + unique.   davelally03 / Atlas Obscura User
Beautiful + picturesque + unique.   davelally03 / Atlas Obscura User
Beautiful + picturesque + unique.   davelally03 / Atlas Obscura User
Beautiful + picturesque + unique.   davelally03 / Atlas Obscura User
Beautiful + picturesque + unique.   davelally03 / Atlas Obscura User
Beautiful + picturesque + unique.   davelally03 / Atlas Obscura User
Beautiful + picturesque + unique.   davelally03 / Atlas Obscura User
Beautiful + picturesque + unique.   davelally03 / Atlas Obscura User
Beautiful + picturesque + unique.   davelally03 / Atlas Obscura User
Beautiful + picturesque + unique.   davelally03 / Atlas Obscura User
Beautiful + picturesque + unique.   davelally03 / Atlas Obscura User
Beautiful + picturesque + unique.   davelally03 / Atlas Obscura User
Beautiful + picturesque + unique.   davelally03 / Atlas Obscura User
Beautiful + picturesque + unique.   davelally03 / Atlas Obscura User
Beautiful + picturesque + unique.   davelally03 / Atlas Obscura User
Beautiful + picturesque + unique.   davelally03 / Atlas Obscura User
Beautiful + picturesque + unique.   davelally03 / Atlas Obscura User
down one of the canals   amossberg / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Known as the "Venice of the North," the town of Giethoorn has no roads in the touristic center, just quaint canals and rustic wooden bridges connecting the populace. 

Looking like nothing more than Venice as designed by hobbits, this idyllic locale was actually founded by outlaws and mercenaries. Around 1230 CE a group of fugitives from the Mediterranean region founded the small hamlet, but it wasn't until later that a group of monks dug the iconic canals in order to transport peat through the area. Due to this, the canals are only about a meter deep. The town survived down the centuries and is now home to just under 3,000 people. Most of the homes in Giethoorn sit on small private islands that are only connected by the more than 100 wooden bridges that criss-cross the landscape. All told, there are over four miles of canals separating the various islets.

Travel among the islands is only possible via small boats, including gondolas, rowboats, and ships called "whisper boats" which have tiny, silent engines to keep from breaking the quaint atmosphere. Giethoorn may not be Venice, but it makes Italy's river city look like a crass metropolis. 

Yearly 1 million people visit this small village. Especially during the Dutch holidays, it can be very busy in Giethoorn. 

Related Tags

Eccentric Homes Water Homes

Know Before You Go

Check out the website if you are planning to visit Giethoorn well prepared. This website is written by locals of Giethoorn. 

Community Contributors

Added By

ectoman3

Edited By

hrnick, iamkinderdijk, EricGrundhauser, amossberg...

  • hrnick
  • iamkinderdijk
  • EricGrundhauser
  • amossberg
  • davelally03
  • annekatrienbraeken

Published

April 29, 2014

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Sources
  • https://roadtrippers.com/blog/this-town-without-streets-will-enchant-you
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giethoorn
  • http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2093144/Giethoorn-The-village-Netherlands-roads.html
  • http://all-that-is-interesting.com/giethoorn-town-without-streets
  • http://www.tourismontheedge.com/places/europe/giethoorn-holland-the-small-venice-of-the-north.html
Giethoorn
55 Beulakerweg
Giethoorn, 8355 AB
Netherlands
52.751908, 6.083208
Visit Website
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Nearby Places

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Netherlands

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