June 08, 2023
By Sonakshi Kandhari
Arriving at your destination with the sound of blaring horns, it is hard to imagine tranquillity during your commute time, but it is possible in Giethoorn, the village with no roads. Situated in the Dutch province of Overijessl, Netherlands, it is a car-free and road-free village. The only sound that might greet you in this village is that of a quacking duck. Keep reading to discover more about this fairytale-like land.
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Called the ‘Venice of the North’, it offers picturesque stills with serene lakes, flowers and bridges. This wonderland can be reached in a one-and-a-half-hour drive from Amsterdam, after which your car has to be parked in the village centre. People get around the village with a punt (a flat-bottomed boat), a canoe, a rented bike or by strolling along the walkway.
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Nestled in between the Weerribben National Park, which is an extremely rich nature reserve,this quaint little village came into being when a group of Francisian monks found their way here and needed to construct canals and transport peat.Fanfare, the film by Dutch filmmaker Bert Haanstra, brought it into the spotlight.
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This village has retained its old-world charm with its thatched houses. The population is a mere 3000, and people get from one place to another using the waterway on whisper boats, which are named so because of their silent motors. These houses are mostly on private islands. For tourists, there are a range of chalets and vacation homes that can house even 4–10 people.
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It's best to visit Giethoorn anytime between July and October to witness the finest spectacle of lush greenery and flowers. If you are prepared to brave the cold winds, even October is an excellent time to visit this place. The canals get frozen, and if the weather permits, you can enjoy a skating experience like no other.
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Along with the waterways, another medium of commuting in Giethoorn is its bridges. The village has 180 of them, and all are mostly made of wood. It's not something you're going to grumble about.
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While you can go paddling along the waterways, being greeted by a swan or duck is not the only thing to do in Giethoorn. You can also rent a bike and cycle along one of the numerous cycling or walking pathways that are found in the village. Besides that, there is no dearth of cute little cafes to spend some time in.
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The Venice of the North is visit-worthy for more reasons than one. If you have always been in love with fairy tales, visit Giethoorn and literally walk into one. It is a gastronomical delight like you may not have witnessed before, with restaurants fringing the water’s edge and offering pinterest views.
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