Day Trips to Giethoorn from Amsterdam

Experience the unforgettable experience of exploring Giethoorn, one of the top items on the list of things to see and do in and around Amsterdam. Immerse yourself in the serenity of the 'Venice of the Netherlands', where canals replace streets and canoes are the preferred mode of transport. From the exciting Punter tour to the relaxing canoe ride, get close to the natural beauty and unhurried life of this enchanting fairytale village.

With these tours to Giethoorn from Amsterdam you can combine your visit with a stop at the lock dyke or explore other nearby gems such as Zaanse Schans and Volendam. Here are the prices, tips, advantages and disadvantages so you can decide which route is best for you. Here we go!

Climb aboard a bus and enjoy a typically Dutch landscape on a 90-minute journey to Giethoorn. Discover the heart of the Netherlands: its canals. The experience immerses you in the peace and tranquillity of a place where cars are non-existent and time seems to stand still.

This type of excursion to Giethoorn and the enclosing dyke from Amsterdam allows you to explore the city on foot and by boat. The inner tour will be lined with thatched cottages and wooden houses, it's a lovely way to explore. You can also explore on foot, crossing the more than 150 bridges scattered around the city. Plus, if you list your trip among the things to do in Amsterdam in spring, tulips will be decorating your path.

Another activity on the tour is often a relaxing boat trip, passing restored farmhouses. Further on, the group heads to Afsluitdijk, the famous Dutch closure dike that connects North Holland and Friesland. The construction site stretches for 32 kilometres elevated some 7 metres above sea level. See this example of Dutch hydraulic mastery, which controls the Ijsselmeer lake, formerly known as Zuiderzee.

Interesting details

• Price: from 79 € per person.
• Duration: between 6 - 10 hours.
• What you should know: This type of tour is done by minibus. The tour is relaxing, ideal to share as a couple or even to take the kids and aim between family trips from Amsterdam.
• What the tour may include: professional local guide service. Shuttle service to and from the accommodation. Excursion to Giethoorn. Cruise through Giethoorn. Tour to Afsluitdijk. Lunch.
• Pros: The tour is entertaining from start to finish, not only because you are immersed in an area out of fairy tales, but also because of the commentary added by the tour guides. Plus, if you choose the boat ride, you'll be boarding one of the best canal cruises in Amsterdam thanks to the form of transport that Giethoorn boasts.
• Cons: The shuttle service may be limited or not available at all with some operators.

Immerse yourself in the beauty of Giethoorn: the Venice of the Netherlands, one of Europe's most beautiful Venice, with a relaxing cruise along its canals, admiring the charming farms and elegant bridges that characterise this car-free village with a tour to the windmills of Giethoorn and Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam.

In Zaanse Schans, marvel at the windmills in action, witnesses to **Holland'**s rich heritage of craftsmanship. A passionate local guide will accompany you, sharing stories and knowledge about the region. Live commentary on the bus provides interesting facts along the way.

Enjoy a tour of a cheese factory, get an up-close look at the process of diamond making and maintenance and visit a wooden clog shop in Zaanse Schans before returning to Giethoorn. Here you can take a boat trip to discover how the Dutch live in harmony with the water. In the afternoon, explore Giethoorn on your own with your guide's recommendations. Don't forget to try a Dutch stroopwafel before returning to Amsterdam.

Immerse yourself in the charm of Giethoorn and Zaanse Schans, creating lasting memories and appreciating the natural wonders in some of the dreamy villages tucked away in the Dutch countryside that are a must-see.

Interesting details

• Price: from 130 € per person.
• Duration: 9 - 10 hours.
• What you need to know: to promote the immersion of the experience and to live it like the locals, the tour often gives you the opportunity to drive a motorboat for 45 - 60 minutes in Giethoorn.
• What the tour may include: professional guide service. Visit to the Zaanse Schans. Visit to a wooden shoe factory. Visit to a cheese factory. Diamond polishing demonstration. Shuttle service to and from the accommodation. Boat trip.
• Pros: Giethoorn is as curious as it is beautiful and this is the ultimate kind of excursion to enjoy its village coolness as it is done in everyday village life. Plus, you have plenty of time to visit other highlights such as the local history museum, Museum Giethoorn 't Olde Maat Uus.
• Cons: Meals are usually on your own, however, some have the courtesy to include a delicious stroopwafel, a kind of wafer sandwich or waffle, filled with caramel syrup.

Discover three iconic destinations in the Netherlands on one of the day tours to Giethoorn, Afsluitdijk, Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam. Usually organised for small groups, this type of experience takes you to places that public transport can't reach.

For those looking for the best way to visit Zaanse Schans and its mills from Amsterdam, this is the right way to make the most of your visit. Stroll through a cheese factory, a clog factory and enjoy a diamond-cutting demonstration in the town. Afterwards, take pictures of the country's largest dam, the Afsluitdijk, and cruise along the canals of Giethoorn, the**"Venice of the** Netherlands".

On board a van or minibus you reach the first stop on the itinerary, often the area of Zaanse Schans, the village of windmills, canals and cheeses where many artisans still work in the traditional way. Next, the van usually passes the 32-kilometre Afsluitdijk dam, an engineering jewel where the Netherlands has defied nature with an artificial dam since 1932.

As a final stop on the tour, explore Giethoorn with its picturesque bridges and thatched houses built in a village where boats and motorboats are the quintessential means of transport. Explore the hidden treasures of this fairytale town.

Details of interest

• Duration: from 9 - 12 hours approximately.
• What you need to know: be aware of your accommodation area, often some parts of Amsterdam are not included in the transport services.
• What the tour may include: professional guide service. Shuttle service to and from your accommodation. One hour cruise through Giethoorn. Guided tour of a cheese factory with cheese tasting. Guided tour of a wooden shoe factory. Visit to a diamond factory. Bottled water.
• Pros: This is one of Amsterdam' s unmissable one-day village tours because in one day you visit some of the most beautiful corners of the country with the comfort of being accompanied by experts on a tour with transport included.
• Cons: Transport often covers hotels located around the A10 motorway ring, excludes north of the IJ River and the airport. Meals are often self-catering.

One of the unforgettable experiences you have to have in Amsterdam, according to National Geographic - and hundreds of globetrotting experts - is a trip to the windmills just outside the capital, and with this type of tour you not only get to visit them, but you also get to visit the quaint little village that's only accessible by water.

The first stop is usually Zaanse Schans, a charming village built around 1850. Here you will see the iconic windmills and stroll among the picturesque green houses. Afterwards, you'll visit a clog factory and a popular cheese factory such as the famous Catharina Hoeve cheese farm, where you'll sample creamy Dutch cheeses.

In Volendam, you'll make your way past wooden cottages, multicoloured buildings and numerous fish stalls as you're surrounded by locals in traditional costume. This stop is one of the things to do in the Netherlands once in a lifetime according to Traveler.

The last stop is probably Giethoorn, the "Venice of the North". In this town, the network of canals forms the "streets" of the town, always with splashes of natural colour from its flowers and orchards. Here some Dutch cheese tasting and traditional experiences continue. Finally, you will have time to stroll along the picturesque paths and admire the more than 150 bridges that make up Giethoorn, concluding one of the best excursions from Amsterdam.

Interesting details

• Price: from 139 € per person.
• Duration: from 10 hours and upwards.
• What you need to know: this type of tour usually starts early in the morning to make the most of the day with plenty of free time to explore the villages at your leisure after receiving commentary from the guide.
• What the tour may include: transfer service to and from the accommodation in the selected area. Visit to a cheese factory. Dutch cheese tasting. Tasting of local gastronomy. lunch. Professional guide service. Cruise along the canals of Giethoorn.
• Pros: This is a tour where you enjoy the best that the outskirts of the Dutch countryside have to offer. It is also worth mentioning that the time dedicated to each stop is ideal to get lost among the canals or the little streets of the villages, and even get to know one of the biggest attractions of Giethoorn, the Weerribben-Wieden National Park.
• Cons: Meals and drinks are usually on your own.

Amsterdam is beautiful, but sometimes the hustle and bustle of the city prevents you from appreciating its natural beauty. Where to do it? In Giethoorn, a charming place with a population of about 3,000 people! The serenity of its canals, the natural environment, its colourful little houses and the warm attention of its inhabitants will make you say #loveyou3000. Here are some activities you can do to make the most of your visit:

• Take a boat ride along the canals while you see more than 150 wooden footbridges and br idges connecting houses, shops, hotels and restaurants in the city. Prices for Amsterdam's canal cruises are affordable and are often included in tours to Giethoorn. You have the option of traditional boats, motor boats called the "whisperers" because of their faint sound. In addition, you can choose between group tours or hire your own boat and cruise these canals at your leisure for around €15 per hour.
• Explore the Weerribben-Wieden National Park and marvel at the diversity of plant and animal species found in the classic Nordic region - no trip to Giethoorn from Amsterdam would be complete without a visit to this nature reserve.
• Enjoy bike rides in and around the village, discovering beautiful natural landscapes and charming houses.
• Discover the picturesque lakes such as Bovenwijde and other bodies of water that adorn Giethoorn, perfect for relaxing and enjoying nature.
• Visit Museum Giethoorn 't Olde Maat Uus, Museum de Oude Aarde to immerse yourself in local history and culture and if cars of yesteryear are your thing, head to the Histomobil where you can see their extensive collection of cars, motorbikes and carriages amidst fun activities including escape rooms.
• Another magical activity in Giethoorn are the boat rides in the evening. Easily enter the best night cruises with the calm water and candlelit terraces.

The answer is a resounding yes. A trip to Giethoorn from Amsterdam is worth while for the possibilities offered by these walks, especially if you are looking for things to see in Amsterdam in 5 days or more.

This picturesque village, connected by waterways, is located about 120 kilometres from the capital. Many travellers who decide to go exploring on their own miss out on the charms along the way and waste time.

A guide allows you to better explore the surroundings, visiting other curious villages along the way, while listening to anecdotes and commentary on local history and evolution. You also forget about driving, can appreciate the surroundings better and have an overall enriching experience.

• Be aware of the language. Most tours are offered in English, Dutch and French.
• Be aware of the transport service. Transfers from your hotel or accommodation are often offered from the A10 ring road. When booking a tour, check if your hotel is included in the pick-up area. In any case, getting around Amsterdam is easy. Options range from bicycles to taxis to reasonably priced buses.
• Bring snacks and consider budgeting for meals, as these tours are usually self-guided.
• Wheelchair access may be limited. Boat tours may not be wheelchair accessible, so check with the tour operator in advance.