Giethoorn: Good Recommendation Rick!

September 6, 2013

                         

Giethoorn, Netherlands is a little village created around 1200AD. The area is known to the locals as peat land. It is good land for farming. In the 16^th century the residents had a creative thought to dig a system of canals by hand in the peat. They dug an entire community of canals, eventually a lake area was born. That is what visitors see today when visiting Giethoorn.

Giethoorn , Netherlands

Rick Steves recommended seeing a community without roads and cars. We took his advice because I am interested in unique styles of living. We drove as far as we could before reaching a community car park. There were lots of bike and boat rental shop along the canal. It was 86 degrees outside so we followed our impulse to sight see by canal. We packed a light lunch and threw on our bathing suit. For 15 euro per hour we rented a whisper boat to explore the community and nature area. There was no deposit they just asked to hold our drivers license. The whisper boat is about the size of a canoe with a electric engine.

                                             

The canals are only about 15 feet at the widest point. There were a few hundred boats moving along the 1 or 2 miles of waterways. Conveniently every 30 feet there was a arched bridge connecting both sides of the canal. Some of the bridges were to private homes some led to restaurants. The houses are merely separated from the water by a 5 foot tall bulkhead.

There was a large canoe of kids who looked to be struggling with their paddles, so Ross reached out and we pulled them along for a while.  They were very thankful for the break.

Dutch Boat

We were told we could swim but that the canals were only about waist deep and the bottom is very squishy. I opted not to swim but I did put my feet in the water.












                                        

Every yard was manicured perfectly. The canal was mainly shaded by weeping willow trees that create the perfect environment for ducks and swans.

                                






September 7, 2013

We walked the boardwalk of the canals as well. As we crisscrossed over the canal popping in gift shops and stopping to listen to the live music. Every cafe, restaurant and church had some sort of outdoor performance going on. Each of them offered a slightly different sound and costume. There was one rather large group of men and women dressed in pirate attire. Another group of men were dressed in a sailor's uniform. The afternoon was colorful to say the least.

Saturday Concert at the Church

                                      



Ross read that the Dutch have a strong connection to sea shell trading, so when we saw a sea shell museum we wanted to check it out. Inside there were glass cabinets from floor to ceiling full of jewelry, shells, and coral. It was the largest collection of sea shells we had ever seen. Shiny, spiney, shells of all colors.

So far the Netherlands really won us over. The Dutch are kind, slender, health conscience, eco friendly, and multilingual. They are relaxed yet not lazy with progressive views. There is an aspect to their culture that runs on the honor system. One example is not locking up their bicycles, especially in the less urban areas. Public restrooms cost .50 cents, there is no lock box just a uncovered plate. If you use you pay. Remarkably no one steals the change