Whisper Boat (Boat Tour On Canals)

Giethoorn is a village in the north of Overijssel, on the edge of the Weerribben-Wieden National Park, and it has become one of the best-known sights in the Netherlands. It is often called the Venice of the North, because the old farmhouses stand on small islands connected by arched wooden bridges, and canals take the place of streets. The thatched houses, gardens and ponds give the place a calm, fairy-tale character, and most of the centre can only be reached on foot, by bicycle or by boat. The name is said to come from the goat horns found by the first peat diggers, who named the settlement after them.

The village was created by peat cutters in the Middle Ages, who dug the peat for fuel and left behind a maze of ponds and channels. Over time the farmers built their houses on the higher strips of land between them, and the waterways became the transport network. Because the settlement grew without a plan, the layout is irregular and picturesque, and the movement of boats through it is the most natural way to see it. The village is also remembered as the setting for a famous Dutch film of the late 1950s, which brought it to a wider audience.

A whisper boat is a small open boat driven by a quiet electric motor, which keeps the noise and fumes of traditional engines away from the canals. The boats seat a handful of people and are easy to handle, so that families and groups can steer themselves through the village without special experience. Operators usually provide instructions before departure, and a map helps to find the way through the network of canals, which is easy to get lost in. The pace is slow, the sound of birdsong and rustling reeds is clear, and the passing views of gardens, bridges and farmhouses are a treat.

Practical advice is helpful. In the main season from spring to early autumn the canals can be crowded, and booking ahead is wise. Rules apply on the water, including speed limits and priority for other craft. Weekdays and early mornings are quieter, and in wet weather the experience is still pleasant with a coat. Rental usually lasts a couple of hours.

Giethoorn has other attractions. Het Olde Maat Uus, a historic farmhouse, gives a sense of what life was like in the old village, and cafes and restaurants along the water offer places to rest. Beyond the village, the national park has reed beds, lakes and nature reserves, ideal for canoeing and cycling. The tour suits couples, families and photographers.