The Beautiful Venice of Holland: Giethoorn Netherlands Most of us are familiar with the scenic beauty of Venice also known as the ‘Queen of the Seas’, in which the various islands are interconnected through water transportation. It would be close to imagine another place quite the same as Venice- and this is where we are mistaken! There is almost an identical place in Holland called Giethoorn in the province of Overijssel which, like Venice, is an idyllic place that is connected through canals having practically no roads whatsoever.
Giethoorn is also known as the ‘Venice of the North’ and has become a great tourist attraction for those who seek to bask in the glories of nature. The Victorian-style houses and cottages located on private islands and the 180 odd wooden bridges that serve as links to houses appear as if out of a storybook. Since water transportation is the only way to move about, you can indulge in a sightseeing boating trip or perhaps even be a little adventurous by hiring a ‘whisper boat’ or punter to roam around by yourself.
This rural village dates back to the year 1200 when a group of fugitive Franciscan monks from the Mediterranean region inhabited the marshy peat area. They eventually dug out canals for transportation and developed it in a planned manner. Approximately 3000 people live in the village of Giethoorn.
Giethoorn is a popular winter holiday destination for ice skating enthusiasts. Surrounded by a huge expanse of natural reservation land called De Wieden, this village is the perfect place to retire in with its colorful homes with thatched roofs, beautiful flowers, well connected canals and scenic beauty. The rustic elegance of Giethoorn was featured in a film called ‘Fanfare’ by Bert Haanstra, a Dutch filmmaker that gave this beautiful place more recognition.
Giethoorn is indeed a very picturesque place which is very slow-paced and relaxing. So if you enjoy soaking up the ambience of an idyllic countryside and benefit from the therapeutic effects of being close to nature, then this is surely the perfect place to be!
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