Giethoorn Village Tour

Local Dutch guides accompany visitors to the town of Giethoorn Village from almost all over the world. They get a little offended if you don’t get guidance, but they don’t turn it into a problem, thank you. The first word the guides use when introducing the Hobbit Village is “North Venice“.

I hope this article, Giethoorn Travel Guide, where we introduce the Hobbit Houses of the Netherlands, will be useful. Be sure to ask questions about the Giethoorn Village Tour from the Comment field at the bottom of our page and from our Social Media accounts.

In fact, they use a similar description for the water canals in Bruges, Belgium, for the Sein River Water Canals passing in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and even for the water canals in the city center of Amsterdam. However, I think it would not be wrong if we say that Venice has become a terminology on this subject.

Where is Giethoorn?

It was founded around the Beulakerwijde Lake, formed by the branches of the Zwarte Meer river, which empties into the inland sea of the Netherlands, the land of waters. It is located within the borders of the town of Steenwijk in the State of Overijssel, in the northeastern state of the country. Actually, there are not many alternatives to go to Fairy Tale Town.

Getting to Giethoorn is very easy using public transport. You can reach Steenwijk in 1 and a half hours by Intercity train from Centraal Train Station in Amsterdam. From there, you can reach the village of Giethoorn with the Zwartsluis Bus line 70. You can arrive in 2 hours and 10 minutes in total.

There are other means of transportation to the Hobbit Village. For example, you can reach it with your personal car, rental car or tour bus by using the A6 and A7 highways. I suggest you take the A7 motorway from Amsterdam to Giethoorn. Because you can get the chance to see the 30 km long Afsluitdijk bridge between the Inland Sea and the North Sea of the Netherlands up close.

After arriving in Fairytale Town, you can enter the village by parking your car in the paid parking lot at the entrance. In the village, you can use the bike or on foot on land, and you can use the boats in the water channels. It is strictly forbidden to use a motorcycle or any fossil fuel powered vehicle.

Türkiye’den Giethoorn’a Nasıl Gidilir?

You can reach Amsterdam by THY Schipol flights from Istanbul and Ankara, and then by train and public transportation vehicles. Your flight journey from Istanbul to Amsterdam takes approximately 3 and a half hours, and the journey from Amsterdam to Giethoorn takes 2 hours. Under these conditions, you will reach Giethoorn approximately 5-6 hours after departure in Istanbul.

Since German cities such as Hamburg, Hannover and Bremen are also close by, you can reach them by road in a very short time.

Amsterdam

Spain

Lisbon

General Information About Giethoorn

I’d like to share a few life-saving tips and tricks about the Dutch dream town.

Time Zone

Time difference between Turkey and Giethoorn: +1 hour
In other words, while it is 16:00 in Istanbul, it will be 15:00 here.

Currency unit

The Euro (€), the common currency of all Europe, is used as the official currency in Giethoorn. However, you can also use US Dollars ($) for your shopping. You can also use your Visa, MasterCard and AmericanExpress credit cards.

Official Language

The official language of the Hobbit town is Dutch. They speak the same language as the Netherlands. However, as the second official language is English, you will never have any problems communicating during your trip to Giethoorn Village.

Amsterdam Turkish Consulate Contact Information

The nearest Turkish Consulate is located in Amsterdam. Consular contact information is as follows:

Adsress: Museumplein 17, 1071DJ Amsterdam
Tel: +31 20 3050333 (Hafta içi 15:00-17:00)
Emergency: +31 6 87242060
E-mail: consulate.amsterdam@mfa.gov.tr

Giethoorn Visa and Passport Information

Visa regime applied for Citizens of the Republic of Turkey going to Giethoorn, a Dutch town, varies according to the type of your passport.

Service Passport – Gray Passport – Diplomatic Passports: Visa is not required for touristic trips not exceeding 90 days in 6 months.

General (Burgundy) Passports: They can enter the Netherlands with a Schengen Visa obtained from the Dutch Foreign Representations in the Republic of Turkey.

Giethoorn History and Discovery Story

Giethoorn was discovered almost at the same time as the discovery of the Netherlands, the last representative of the European continent in the northwest. At the beginning of the 1200s, Mediterranean explorers found this fairy tale village. However, its appearance in those days was of course not as fabulous as it is today. It was very difficult to find a habitable piece of land due to the abundance of swamps and ponds.

Mediterranean refugees, known as Flemish. The Dutch, who also have a maritime culture, managed to tame the water and managed to build new land and islets for themselves.

Historically, there has been a great flood due to sea waters overflowing from the North Sea to the Inland Sea. In other words, all the hard work was in vain. During the floods and floods that occurred after the storm, the goats raised by the settlers perished.

Later, a large number of goat horns came out from under the mud. For this reason, the village was named “Giet Hoorn“, meaning “Goat Horn“. Many lives were lost during the deadly flood. New stronger weirs were built to prevent it from happening again.

In the taming of the waters, the windmills, which we will see on our next tour, Zaanze Schans, were used as much as possible. As a result of the widespread use of electricity after the industrial revolution, modern machines took the place of windmills.

How To Pronounce Giethoorn?

Dutch pronunciation is “ĞHethoorn“. It is very difficult to pronounce the letters “-Ğ” and “-H” here like a native. It’s even funny when you insist on trying. It’s fixed with experience 🙂

Architectural Features

The discovery of Giethoorn as a Hobbit Village has only recently happened. The movie Fanfare, shot by the famous Dutch producer Bert Haanstra, was shot here. For this reason, the film had a worldwide advertising effect. As a result, Giethoorn gained a touristic value. It has become a center of attraction by attracting people from almost all over the world.

Initially, there was no highway in the village. All transportation was done by boats on the water channels. However, in the late 1970s, bicycle and pedestrian paths were built on the sides of the water channels. These roads consist of earth and partly key stones. In addition, wooden bridges were built over the water channels for pedestrians to cross. Thus, the distinctive style of the Dutch Hobbit Village was not affected.

The Hobbit village has not changed much in the course of its historical development. The architecture of traditional village houses built on earthen islets has always been preserved. The most important features of these houses are the natural materials used on their roofs and walls.

The material formed by drying, stacking and compacting the reeds grown in lakes and marshy areas is used on the roofs.

A mixture of compressed hay and wood is used indoors and outdoors. Since this material is also flammable, it is used for heating purposes like coal.

Giethoorn Village Attractions

The most important places to visit in Giethoorn Town, known as the Fairy Tale village or Hobbit village in the Netherlands, are;

Histomobil (Automobile Museum)

Histomobil is a museum that can be visited in a short time, where old cars and car parts are exhibited. Besides a few historical cars, you can also see old bicycles used extensively by the people in the Netherlands.

It was the old car license plates that caught my attention the most. There is also a cave-like pub in the Histomobile museum. You can order a refreshing drink if you wish.

Histomobil Museum Entrance Fee

Histomobil museum entrance fee, designed as a boutique museum, is 3€ per person. For this fee, you are allowed to have a picnic, snack or photograph in the entire museum and in the front garden.

De Weerribben-Wieden National Park (Giethoorn Water Park)

It is also home to Northern Europe’s largest swamp. One of the must-see places in Giethoorn is De Weerribben-Wieden National Park.

You can explore nature with collective boat tours or individual boat tours in Weerribben National Park. You will see the bird and fish species unique to this region up close. In addition to the natural beauties, we dive into the lake, which was once a swamp, and the fairy tale houses around it for hours with a sweet view. I am sure that you will spend pleasant hours in the national park with an area of approximately 100 square kilometers.

Giethoorn Museum (Museum Giethoorn ‘t Olde Maat Uus)

A lively museum of local Dutch dressed workers, local items and clothes. In addition, there are 3 women and 1 old man who produce a waffle-like food in front of the entrance door of the Museum. It’s like they are real actors. You should see this museum, which I thought was a movie shoot when I first saw it.

1  |  2

Yerel Giethoorn Eşyaları

Bir cam pano içerisinde hollanda köy kostümleri ve eşyaları.

2  |  2

Giethoorn Hobbit Köyü Masal Gezisi

Giethoorn müzesi önünde waffle pişiren müze çalışanları.

In the garden of the museum, besides the sculptures of a few local characters, there are also sculptures of the characters who played in the movie Fanfare. In addition, in the glass showcase in front of the museum, a few local cultural items and tools are exhibited.

Museum Entrance Fee: €4.0 for Adults and €1.0 for Children

Museum of the Ancient World (Museum De Oude Aarde)

Giethoorn is one of the most unusual places during a trip. At the Museum of the Ancient World, you can see an exhibition of stunning natural stones and minerals. In addition, if you wish, you can buy natural stones that you like and are sold for yourself or as a gift.

Museum Entrance Fee: €5.0 for Adults and €2.50 for Children

Shell Museum (Gloria Maris Schelpengalerie)

A museum where you can see interesting dried sea creatures and shells. In addition, items, clothes and materials related to the ocean and sea are exhibited in the Shell Museum. If you want, you can buy souvenirs from the Gift Shop section of the museum.

Museum Entry is free for all visitors.

Lake Molengat

The next stop on the Giethoorn village tour, where you can’t stop yourself from time to time and think “or am I dreaming”, is Molengat Lake. If you can get a chance from Chinese tourists, I recommend you to take a tour around Molengat Lake on foot.

It is a very shallow lake in the middle of the water channels. In fact, the depth does not exceed waist level in most regions. I’m telling you as far as I’ve seen from the children entering the lake for the game. Don’t try to enter the lake by taking me as a reference, though. Because there may be places with swamps at the bottom.

If you have joined the Giethoorn Water Canals Boat Tour, it is located at Lake Molengat on the excursion route. If you have time, I recommend you to travel both on the paths around it and by boat tour. But if you don’t have time, I suggest you only see Molengat lake with a Boat Tour.

Wildeboer Shipyard (Punter Yard Wildeboer)

Living with craftsmanship and a love of the sea for generations, the water-rich Giethoorn Village once had around twenty shipyard sites. These are small but thriving craft businesses.

Ships and boats were considered a cargo horse in the village. However, even today, almost all transportation is done over water. Cattle transport, transport, weddings, even funerals, was done by simple watercraft.

Of all these shipyard companies, only two remain today. Punterwerf Wildeboer is one of them. Thomas Vos laid the foundation for the current company in the 1890s. Travelers, boats, rafts helped farmers and even goat traders find their way around. Over the centuries, the shipyard has been inherited from father to son. There is even a bronze statue of Punterwerf in its garden.

Attention:

Access to this location and associated facilities are subject to a number of rules due to the Covid-19 outbreak. It is not possible to enter without the HES (Life is Home) code. It also has a maximum number of visitors.

If you want to see the shipyard, where rafts and boats are still produced today, it is allowed. The only difference between today’s boats is that they have electric motors. Because fossil fuel powered engines are banned throughout the village.

Giethoorn Village Primary School

Right on the shore of the lake, away from the noise, “This is my dream school!” The kind of school you can call it. This is the only school in the village. The “lucky children” of the town use the water channels every day to reach their schools after a pleasant journey. Some go to this beautiful school by personal boat, some by service boat.

The school looks as if it is in the middle of the lake in terms of location. In addition, this must be the only school in the world with such an impressive view. Happy are the teachers and students of this school. Undoubtedly, this school was the place I wanted to be the most, which stuck in my mind during my trip to Giethoorn.

When to go to Giethoorn

Giethorn Village has a year-round rainy climate due to its location close to the ocean and its wetland structure. For this reason, even in the middle of summer, getting caught in the rain is not even sincere. In the characteristic Dutch climate, the weather is lightly rainy in the morning and sunny in the afternoon.

The average temperature in summer is 16-23 degrees. In winter, the lowest temperatures in January are measured around 0 degrees. Snowfall is rarely seen and the general precipitation type is in the form of rain and drizzle. Before going to Giethoorn, it is a good idea to check the weather conditions and dress appropriately.

Annual Weather and Average Temperatures for Giethoorn Village

Giethoorn Village Hotel and Accommodation

In the village of Masal in the Netherlands, there are 25 hotels and hostels in the village of Masal, if you want to stay on a yacht, not content with a day trip. There is even a camping area just across the area at the town entrance and used as a parking lot. If you wish, you can also find accommodation at a more affordable price with your own caravan or rented caravans.

Giethoorn hotels are hotels with a maximum of four stars. It does not exceed one finger. However, they have similar facilities with European hotels in terms of hygiene and quality. Although it varies according to the season, the per night fees are between 75€ and 200€.

At the same time, there are many home or hostel businesses that provide service through Airbnb. Before you go to Giethoorn, be sure to check availability on Airbnb.

What to Eat in Giethoorn

Just like the Netherlands, it does not have a wide culinary culture and variety of food. For this reason, one should not wait for such a long list of food and beverage recommendations. However, wherever you are in the fairy tale village, even if you eat a piece of dry bread (they call it a croissant here), the view will be worth it.

Giethoorn village dishes are shaped under 3 main headings: seafood, vegetarian and meat. I can give you some famous food and restaurant recommendations so that you don’t go hungry.

Famous Giethoorn Dishes

• Vegetarian and Classic Pizza varieties
• Grilled Steak and Ribs
• Grilled Fish and Seafood
• Pasta and Salad Varieties
• Breakfast and snacks.

1  |  3

Giethoorn Hobbit Köyü Masal Gezisi

2  |  3

Giethoorn Hobbit Köyü Masal Gezisi

3  |  3

Giethoorn Hobbit Köyü Masal Gezisi

Major Giethoorn Cafes and Food Restaurants

• De Dames Van De Jonge Hotel Restaurant (+31 521 361 360)
• De Landije van Giethoorn Village(+31 521 362 332)
• Boer on toer (+31 521 361 436)
• La Piccola Venezia (+31 521 360 925)
• Café-Restaurant ‘t Vonder (+31 521 361 244)
• Smit’s Paviljoen (+31 521 361 215)
• Recreatiebedrijf Geythorn (+31 521 361 954)
• Het Wapen van Giethoorn (+31 521 853 577)
• S.H. Geertsma (+31 6 13693979)
• De Eetkamer (+31 521 361 708)
• De Lindenhof (+31 521 361 444)
• Restaurant & Rondvaartbedrijf Hollands Venetië Giethoorn (+31 521 361 231)
• Hotel/Restaurant d’Olde Smidse (+31 521 361 331)
• Restaurant Giethoorn (+31 521 725 855)
• Café-Restaurant Smit (+31 521 361 625)
• Restaurant De Sloothaak (+31 521 361 888)
• De Grachthof Restaurant Bootverhuur (+31 521 361 270)
• Ristorante Fratelli (+31 521 360 767)
• Grand Café Fanfare (+31 521 361 600)

Giethoorn Shopping and Gift Shops

In Giethoorn village, which is a very small Dutch town, the number of shops is small, but it will be sufficient. In fact, museums, supermarkets and some restaurants also meet your needs to buy souvenirs. If you still can’t find what you are looking for, you can find many shops for shopping in the city of Steenwijk, which is about 10 km away.