Giethoorn Q&A
How to get to Giethoorn?
Giethoorn is a beautiful village with a unique water landscape that resides in the head of Overijssel, Steenwijkerland. You can reach our village by public transportation or by car. With public transportation, you can get to train station Steenwijk from anywhere in the Netherland. For example, Steenwijk station is only 1 hour 40 minutes from Schiphol Airport Amsterdam and the train runs every 30 minutes. Once you arrive in Steenwijk, you can then proceed to catch bus number 70 (destination Zwolle) which runs at minute 25 every hour from 6 am to 6 pm. From there, it only takes 10 minutes to get to Giethoorn! You can get off at the bus stop Hotel Harmonie to get to our hotel De Dames van de Jonge, or bus stop Dominee Hylkermaweg to get off at Giethoorn center.
What to do in Giethoorn?
There are plenty of activities you can do in Giethoorn for all types of visitors, whether you are alone, in group, on a romantic getaway, or as a family with children. There are outdoor activities such as cycling, boating, punting, sailing, canoeing, and walking through Giethoorn and Weerribben - Wieden National Park, or indoor activities such as joining workshops, visiting art ateliers, museums,… There are plenty of activities to do in the surrounding areas as well if you plan to stay in Giethoorn for a longer period such as fruit picking, getting on hot air balloons, escape rooms, exploring the surrounding landscape,…..
What does Giethoorn mean?
The short answer is Goat Horns. The first inhabitants of the Giethoorn area were refugees from the Mediterranean regions. They settled here around 1200 and began to cultivate the virgin land. In doing so, they found large quantities of the horns of wild goats, which had drowned in the St. All Saints's flood of 1170 (Allerheiligenvloed). They called their settlement 'Geytenhoren' (Goathorns), which gradually evolved to 'Geythorn' and 'Giethoorn. In our Giethoorn symbol and flag, you can still see the goathorns.
When to visit Giethoorn?
When to visit Giethoorn or the best time to visit Giethoorn really depends on your preference. Giethoorn in Spring is a beautiful and delicate spectacle, as the flowers and greeneries are returning, so you can enjoy the fresh start of the year with fewer amount of tourists and gentle sunlight. Giethoorn is the most robust in the late Spring/Summer season (May till September), when flowers are in full bloom and the sun is shining as you travel through the romantic and beautiful canals. As this is the busiest time period in Giethoorn, there will be an extra bus running from Steenwijk to Giethoorn (the Giethoorn express). There are several fun events during this time period such as the Annual Punter Sailing Competition (punter is the traditional boat of Giethoorn) or the magical Gondola Parade where you will see Giethoorn decorated, light up and sparkle during the night with an amazing parade in the weekend. If you prefer a quieter trip with fewer people and when there is still sunshine with a gentle breeze, Autumn will be more suitable for your needs of boating through the quiet and tranquil village. The weather would still be suitable for boating and walking, and you will be able to take some romantic Autumn pictures with the typical colors of the season. Think yellow leaves and pumpkin! And of course, winter of Giethoorn is also a sight to behold, with the frozen canals that you can skate on and a wintertime wonderland covered by snow. Enjoy your Christmas in the most beautiful village of the Netherlands with a hot chocolate topped with marshmallows and experience the magical feeling of traveling inside a snow globe, where the snow is glistening in the sun, falling on top of the cozy thatched-roof cottages and wooden bridges.