No Rush Hour, Ever

Next time you find yourself in a snarl of traffic, or if you are looking for a serene holiday destination, here’s a place to daydream about – Giethoorn, in the Netherlands.

This small village is famous for the fact that it does not have roads. Instead, the people of Giethoorn (often called Venice of the Netherlands) travel by canals. This mode of transport creates a slow-paced atmosphere that is the envy of many commuters!

When one you arrive at Giethoorn, the rush of city life is parked and in its place is peace and relaxation. Instead of traffic noise, pollution and heavy construction, you’ll be welcomed by birdsong, the humming of bees and long stretches of silence.

It is so peaceful, so different and has such simple beauty that it hardly seems real. Neighbours meet on wooden bridges to pass the time of day. Giethoorn is quiet, serene and remote, located in the province of Overijssel in the east of the Netherlands, a green and still area. Giethoorn is at the centre of Overijssel’s canal system. When the postman delivers the mail he travels by punt.

The name Giethoorn originates from the hundreds of goat horns (gietehorens) the original settlers found in the marshland, remnants of a 10th-century flood.

Boating has been a popular tourist attraction here for years, with 90km of canoe trails and scores of motorboats to rent, but now, instead of conventional outboard motors, the hire shops stock so-called ‘whisper boats’ – dinghies driven by electric motor.
For tourists, there are organised boat tours, but most choose to hire a small electric boat, seating two or three, that requires no great technical skill to operate. Most of the canal-side restaurants rent them, but in the high season, it’s advisable to secure one early in the day!

You can also rent an inflatable ball, and after you are positioned inside of the big transparent ball, you can literally walk on water … or float.

If you prefer to spend time on land instead, you can rent a bike and explore the village and its surroundings. There are three canal-side museums to visit and the Schreur shipyard, where the Giethoorn punt is built. For absolute relaxation, you can simply eat in the restaurants and cafes and watch the world go by!