Now that the summer weather invites us to take the ultimate getaway, we’re all searching for places that instantly enchant us. And how surprising is it that a picturesque water paradise awaits you—one that can effortlessly compete with Europe’s most iconic canal cities?
As soon as you arrive in Giethoorn, you step into a living painting where cars give way to electric boats. It’s no wonder this magical phenomenon has been attracting the attention of adventurers worldwide for decades. It’s simply a unique destination right here in the Netherlands that definitely belongs on your bucket list.
Why this village beats the real Venice
Forget the singing gondoliers and the crowded Italian squares. This Overijssel gem proves that a water paradise doesn’t need the honking hustle and bustle to enchant. While the real Venice relies on marble palaces, our own “Venice of the North” is all about pure, rural romance.
The iconic Dorpsgracht serves as the central thoroughfare here, flanked by lush gardens and historic facades. Instead of roaring engines, all you hear here is the gentle lapping of electric boats and the chirping of birds. It’s Venice, but completely transformed into a serene and vibrant Dutch fairy tale that will instantly steal your heart.
Always ranked among the most beautiful villages in the world
Whether it’s renowned travel magazines or rankings by global travel experts, this Dutch phenomenon consistently appears at the very top of every list. For example, the well-known French travel guide Le Petit Futé officially named it the second most beautiful village in the world in 2026, after it had already been ranked an impressive fourth by Forbes business magazine the year before.
As soon as you arrive, you’ll immediately understand why the whole world has fallen so hopelessly in love with this place. With its lush greenery and overflowing flower gardens, nature takes center stage here. Time seems to stand completely still. It feels as though you’re walking through the pages of an ancient fairy tale book.
A fairytale maze of 176 wooden bridges
What makes this village unique is that the landscape is completely fragmented into dozens of tiny islands of peatland. Virtually every historic, thatched-roof farmhouse stands on its own plot of land and is completely surrounded by the rippling waters of the canals.
To make it possible for neighbors to visit each other for coffee, the village is connected by an impressive network of no fewer than 176 charming little wooden bridges. The result is an idyllic, picturesque labyrinth where every corner you turn—whether by boat or on foot—looks like a perfect postcard.
