Giethoorn | A boat trip from Amsterdam through the fairytale water towns of the Netherlands
羊角村
If Amsterdam is a canal city, then Giethoorn is a quieter, more fairytale-like Dutch water town. This time, we planned a day trip to Giethoorn from Amsterdam. What attracted me most wasn't any particular attraction, but the opportunity to drive your own boat, slowly gliding through the canals past cottages, meadows, and groves. However, Giethoorn isn't actually very close to Amsterdam. By public transport, it takes about two and a half hours one way; by car, it takes about an hour. Therefore, I would highly recommend driving yourself, as it's much more convenient.
From Amsterdam to Giethoorn
This time, we took the train from Amsterdam to Giethoorn, which took about two and a half hours. After arriving at the train station, we needed to transfer to a bus to get to the boat rental location, so the whole journey wasn't short. If you drive, the journey from Amsterdam to Giethoorn takes about an hour, which saves a lot of time compared to taking public transportation and avoids the hassle of coordinating with train and bus schedules. Therefore, if you are traveling in a group and can rent a car or drive yourself, driving is a more convenient option.
The most interesting experience in Giethoorn: Be the captain yourself
For me, the most unique feature of Giethoorn is the opportunity to drive your own boat. Sitting on the boat, slowly drifting along the canal, you'll pass many cottages, courtyards, meadows, and waterfront scenery. The pace is very slow, perfect for relaxing. The boat rental company we used was Boat Rental Giethoorn , which I found to be relatively inexpensive after comparing prices. Of course, there are many boat rental options in Giethoorn; you can choose the one that best suits your needs based on the number of people, your budget, and the rental period.
The boat rental check-in is self-service. Once you arrive, just follow the on-site instructions. Starting the boat isn't as difficult as you might imagine; you can basically get the hang of it after reading the instructions. When your time is up, you also drive the boat back to its starting point to return it. The whole process is quite convenient. If you're traveling with a group, splitting the rental fee will be more cost-effective and give you a better sense of traveling together.
If you enjoy nature, lakeside or water town scenery, Giethoorn would be a very comfortable place. However, if you prefer shopping, food, museums, or are not particularly interested in boating, it may not be the most necessary part of your trip.
Dining and spending tips
There are some restaurants and cafes in Giethoorn, but we found the local food prices to be a bit high, so we didn't eat there this time. After the boat trip, we went straight back to Amsterdam city for dinner. If you want to control your budget, you can consider buying some simple food or snacks before departure, or you can arrange a half-day boat trip in Giethoorn and have a proper meal back in Amsterdam.