Home / Wanderlust Categories / Natural Marvels / The Venice of the North

The Venice of the North

Giethoorn is a picturesque water village that is also known as the Venice of the Netherlands due to its 170 wooden bridges connecting the thatched houses on the small peat islands. This idyllic spot in the Dutch province of Overijssel originated as a peat settlement. Peat extraction in the surrounding area led to the formation of ponds and lakes. Between them lay islands on which houses were built that could only be reached via small bridges or by a small boat, known as a “punter,” which is propelled by a long pole called a “punteraar.” This is how this unique village came into being, nestled along an 8-kilometer-long canal lined with 19th- and 20th-century thatched houses, peat diggers’ cottages, and several museums. This enchanting village in the heart of the largest area of the De Wieden nature reserve, together with the neighboring Weeribben National Park, forms the largest uninterrupted lowland moorland area in northwestern Europe. I also visited the Venice of the North, which could actually have come straight out of a picture book. The nostalgic water village is a real tourist magnet that can be explored on foot, by bike, or by boat and offers not only nature but also pure romance.

Tagged:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *