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HOLLAND'S WATER VILLAGE - GIETHOORN

By the time we decided to visit this tiny village in Northern Netherlands' Overijssel province, we had already visited some of the most beautiful canal locations of Europe, including Venice, Amsterdam and Bruges. Having stayed in the Netherlands for sometime, familiarity had shadowed my interest in canals and waterways. Needless to mention, the expectations from another canal destination were low. But based on some rave reviews, a day trip it was from the Hague, on one late autumn day...a direct train to a place called Steenwijk and then a bus to the destination. A lazy journey of about three and half hours. 


So there it was - Giethoorn,  a village with thatched roof houses, narrow streams of canals and numerous wooden bridges...A tiny speck compared to the likes of Venice and Amsterdam...but bestowed with such freshness...and so peaceful and serene...Giethoorn has a soul of its own. The autumn colors were rampant then. Some trees had already shredded their leaves while others were still red. The canals were narrow and there were a few boats (they like to call them whisper boats or punters) on them. There were many wooden bridges, about 200 of them, and they had a typical look. The houses with thatched roofs looked so dreamy and idyllic.  

And this village has its own residents who live in these homes. There is an old church too...and also a museum and a boatyard, where the whisper-boats are made. No  vehicles can drive inside, there are no roads. Movement is either on the foot or the boats. There is a huge, shallow lake where the canals end. And the boat ride includes some time on this lake also. The pathways adjoining the canals are beautiful and we did spend a couple of hours just walking on these cozy pathways and on the wooden bridges they offered...trying to explore every nook and corner of this tiny piece of heavenly beauty. 

Giethoorn was originally established as a settlement of peat harvesters. Rumors go by that the earliest locals found hundreds of goat horns after a tenth century flood in this marshy location and thus the name Giethoorn.

Some words to end. Giethoorn gets quite popular during the spring and summer months and its difficult to hire a boat during the peak season. Also, in case you are driving, there is a huge parking lot at the entry of the village. There are quite a few places to stay including some hotels and "bed and breakfast" set-ups. There are quite a few restaurants too...at the water's edge. And if you have more time, do venture into the national park nearby - Weerriben Wieden (we didnot get the chance to visit this park, though). 

A small video of a part of the boat ride.



#Blogchattera2z, G for Giethoorn.

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