Boats to work: a village in the Netherlands reminds tourists of Venice

While Venice, Italy, is developing a plan to control the crazy flow of tourists, travelers themselves are looking for alternatives to the city on the water. And one interesting option was found in the Netherlands.

According to the Express, it is the village of Giethoorn, which is located in the Dutch province of Overijssel. Like Venice, it stands on canals, and locals travel by flat-bottomed boats.

Famous for its bridges and waterways, Giethoorn is consistently ranked among the 50 most beautiful villages in the world by Conde Nast Traveler. The last time it was included in this list was in August 2024.

It is noteworthy that there are no roads in the village. You can only get around on foot, by bike, or by water. This is quite convenient for the locals, who number about 2,800 people.

At the same time, the number of tourists here is as much as a million a year - the small village is so impressive. Yes, these figures are still far from the 5 million visitors that Venice receives. But staying in Giethoorn is cozy and calm.

The village has over 176 wooden arch bridges connecting small islands to the mainland. You can also admire the cottages from the 18th and 19th centuries, which are still covered with thatched roofs.

The village's official website compares a walk along the Binnenpad trail to "walking on a movie set." You can also rent a boat for 2-4 people or go on a tour of the local canals.

Tourists in Giethoorn are not given paper maps to avoid littering the streets. Instead, you can download a special app for free, which contains all the routes of water walks and other information necessary for tourists.

Several cafes and restaurants will welcome those who are hungry. There is also a museum in the village. Those who want to stay in Giethoorn for more than a day will be accommodated in a house for rent. You can choose either a regular guest house or a house on the water.

You can visit the Giethoorn through Dutch travel companies with offices in Amsterdam. They take groups of up to 21 people. Private tours can also be organized for a group of up to eight people. Those who like to travel independently can take the train to the Nwolle Stadshagen (NS) train station and then take the bus number 70 from Zwolle to Giethoorn. You can also arrive via the NS Steenwijk railway station, where you can take bus #70 or #270.

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