Beautiful village in Europe dubbed a ‘mini Venice’ – but without the crowds

A beautiful European village constantly named among the world’s most beautiful has been dubbed the “Venice of the Netherlands” but without the hoardes of tourists.

On a regular day in Giethoorn, in the Dutch province of Overijssel, you can find yourself “taking a quiet stroll along the canals into the picturesque sunset,” wrote visa2fly. Known for its bridges, waterways and punts, the quaint Dutch village has been consistently named one of the 50 most beautiful villages in the world by Conde Nast Traveller, including in August 2023. 

The limited inhabitants here, at about 2,795, prefer to commute by bicycles or boats through the canals giving a true slow-living experience. In fact, there are no roads – just cycle paths and waterways – so visitors must park outside the village at special car parks.

While not one of the most romantic cities in the world, like Venice, the village – found about an hour and a half away from Amsterdam, welcomes just one million visitors a year. When compared with the five million international visitors that descend on Venice every year, according to Statista, there really is no comparison. 

There are over 176 wooden arch bridges in the village, connecting the small islands to the mainland, which house the 18th- and 19th- century thatched roof cottages.

Walking along the Binnenpad footpath has been likened to “walking on to a film set,” by the village website. Meanwhile, one can rent whisper boats, for two to four people at just over £21 an hour, or take a canal cruise, usually costing between £8.47 and £12.70 per tour per person. 

To increase sustainability, the village has swapped its paper sailing routes for a free Giethoorn sailing app. Each boat rental company has a unique QR code and provides a link to the sailing routes. 

There are also cafes and restaurants to visit and a town museum to explore. Most restaurants cater to the Dutch visior, but many also cater to foreign tourists, including Brasserie de Pergola, Burgers & grill and Grand cafe Fanfare. 

When the weather permits, visitors can also ice skate on the canals, but this has not been possible since 2018. 

For those wishing to stay in Giethoorn, there are hundreds of houseboats available for rent. There are also other B&Bs and chalets available.

Giethoorn can be visited through Dutch tour companies, with offices in Amsterdam, for groups for up to 21 people. Private tours can also be organised for groups of a maximum of eight. 

For those wishing to travel under their own steam, you can also visit by train to the Nwolle Stadshagen (NS) train station, from which you can take the bus nr 70 from Zwolle to Giethorn. It is also possible to arrive via NS train station Steenwijk, where you can then take the bus nr 70 or nr 270. 

 On Tripadvisor, day trips to Giethoorn came “highly recommend[ed]”, with “beautiful scenery” as well as being “picturesque and charming”.