July 27, 2026
The closest train station to Giethoorn (1) (2) in OverIJssel province to is only 5 miles from the town. We opted to alight at Wolvega to get some extra miles; there was no fuss with the bikes on the train today. Wolvega station houses a flower shop, the scent of which was wonderful. Riding south on paths and quiet roads, Steenwijk beckoned. The town has a park behind a modest old castle filled with spotted deer. After about 15 miles on the bikes, we got the Giethoorn.
The town is known as the "Venice of the Netherlands" for its extensive canal network and lack of cars in the main part of town. While our friends took a boat tour, my wife and I rented a self-drive whisperboat (so called because of its electric outboard motor). Navigating the narrow canals was slow, as other boat renters had limited nautical skills (3). There is a plethora of small wooden bridges over the canals, often bedecked with flowers.
Heading into Swan Lake, we had been instructed to go south and re-enter the canal system. However, the map showed natural watercourses through Weerribben-Wieden National Park on the far side of the lake. The motor still had a full charge and we had time, so we headed in, enjoying the quiet and picking wild raspberries overhanging the river as we went. An observation tower had a small wharf, where we tied up for a aerial view of the park. Back through the lake, past the ice cream boat, we re-entered the residential canals, arriving back at the end of our 2 hour rental period.
Giethoorn is quieter at night after the day trippers had left. We had a good stroll on the car-free paths after dinner enjoying the chill vibe as the moon rose over the canals and fields.
(1) Pronounced HEE•toruhn with a hard H. A local told us the H gets harder if one is from the north of the Netherlands.
(2) The name means "goat horn." When settlers arrived in the 1200s, they discovered a large number of goat horns, believed to have resulted from drownings in an earlier flood.
(3) One boat was wedged sideways in the canal. I don't think I could do the same if I tried.
No comments:
Post a Comment