The little town in north of Netherlands is commonly referred to by local residents as the Venice of Netherlands.  Unlike Venice in Italy with old tall buildings built right to the waters edge, Giethoorn is a small village with mostly small houses and churches built 30 to 40 feet back from the canal.  The village sees most of it's water traffic during the summer months when the local campgrounds and trailer parks are booked solid.  People enjoy cruising the one way direction canals in small motor boats which eventually take you out to the lake.

During our visit we were the only ones there.  We met a few people doing maintenance on their property from their own platform boats but otherwise the day was quiet.  Take a couple hours and enjoy this little village that was first settled about 800 years ago.  Rent a boat like we did at www.smitgithoorn.nl.