Giethoorn – Village With No Roads
Giethoorn is a small village and well-known tourist spot in the Netherlands. Its main attraction is that there are no motorable roads in the old parts of the village. It is frequently referred as “Venice of the North” or “Venice of the Netherlands”.
The village was founded by a group of fugitives from the Mediterranean region around AD 1230. It became locally famous, especially after 1958, when the Dutch film maker Bert Haanstra made his famous comedy “Fanfare” there.
About 7.5km of waterways run through the old part of Giethoorn, each averaging about one meter deep. Many houses have been built on islands and are only reachable over wooden bridges. Today, a bicycle path is the only road through the old town.
Beautiful. I had never heard of this place.
Reblogged this on Grandfather David and commented:
It looks beautiful and drier then here. I detect sunshine! Mm, I have a vague memory of that.
Not many ‘motorable’ roads round here either (the wilds of West Ireland)
What a lovely place! *already wondering how I can set a story there…*
wow! Gorgeous, idyllic, quaint but the picture of my kids balls being kicked thrown, batted into the water and skateboarding directly of the ramp and into the water makes me wonder if it is an adult only community?
How charming.
wow …I respect these people I mean it’s more healthy for the body ,but mostly for the nature to use a boat than a car…thank you for sharing with us…I love your blog!
Have been to Holland many times, but Girthoorn must be the best kept secret in the country, as I have never heard of the city nor have my friends in Emst never mentioned it to me either, shame on them. I guess I will need to make plans to see this village on my next visit.