Giethoorn Town, which looks like something out of a fairy tale, is one of the rare places in the world. The town, where transportation is provided by water channels, is known as the Venice of the Netherlands. The town is located in the Overijssel region in the north of the Netherlands. The houses of the town, which dates back to the Middle Ages, are reminiscent of hobbit houses, which have preserved their architectural characteristics from that period to the present day. The term “Hobbit Village” is used for the town..
Hundreds of years of historical houses, water channels and air attracts a lot of attention from tourists. Tourist boat trips are organized throughout the day on the water channels passing through the village. Approximately 2600 locals live in the town, which is thought to be a museum by tourists. Most of the houses are located on the islands and access to the houses is provided by 176 wooden bridges over the canals. Any motor vehicle is prohibited from entering the town, transportation is mostly provided by boats. There are only pedestrian and bicycle paths in the town. This town, where there is no traffic and the noise of the city, is like a corner of Paradise.
Despite the number of tourists coming to the region, the town continues to maintain its silence and calmness. The loudest sound that can be heard in the town will be the sound of the water flowing through the canals and the sound of the ducks hovering on it. The town, which has a different beauty in every season, is covered with lush green grass and colorful flowers in spring. In the winter months, with the snowfall, images resembling a separate postcard emerge. In addition, with the freezing of water channels, it is possible to ice skating on it.
History of the Town of Giethoorn
The history of the town dates back to ancient times. It was discovered almost at the same time as the discovery of the Netherlands. It was found by Mediterranean explorers in the early 1200s. When it was first found, it was a place where swamps and puddles were abundant, and it was difficult to find the land. Mediterranean asylum seekers who came to the Region succeeded in taming the water and built islets by creating new landmasses for themselves.
In the history of the town, there was a great flood due to the sea waters overflowing into the inland sea over the North Sea. Due to floods and floods, the goats that the settlers brought to the region perished. Later, a large number of carobs came out of the mud, and for this reason, the name “Giet Hoorn”, which means “Goat Horn”, was given to the region. Stronger dams were built to prevent the same incident from happening again.
At first, there was no highway to the village and all transportation was provided by waterway. However, at the end of the 1970s, bicycle and pedestrian paths were built on the sides of the water channels. The Hobbit village hasn’t changed much since it was first founded. Traditional style houses built on soil continued to preserve their characteristics. In the construction of the roofs of the houses, the material obtained as a result of drying, stacking and compacting the reeds grown in the lake and swamp regions was used.
It is possible to provide transportation in the region easily by renting a boat or boat. There are various restaurants and places where visitors can have a good time on the islands formed due to the canals. There are about 25 hotels and pensions for people who want to stay in the region apart from day-trippers. In addition, due to the camping areas in the region, it is possible to camp in a caravan or tent.
