The European ‘water village’ compared to Venice where there are no cars – and you can get there without a flight
A QUAINT village in Europe has been described as a quiet alternative to Venice because of its canals and waterways, away from the busyness of the tourist hotspot.
Millions of people travel to the popular Italian city every single year, to see its famous waterways and tourist sights.
However, closer to the UK is the village of Giethoorn in the Netherlands.
It sits just a short train ride from Amsterdam, meaning it can be easily reached, with the Eurostar linking the Dutch capital to London.
Once there, visitors can expect a similar experience to that which can be found in Venice, with canals and channels carving their way between the homes of those who live in the village.
The hand-dug canals have created small islands which are all connected to one another by 176 bridges.
Each of the islands has its own farmhouses, which were built between the 18th and 19th centuries.
Most of the houses have thatched roofs and a visit to the village has been likened to visiting the past because of the old style buildings.
Travel blogger Tassie Devil Abroad wrote: “Most of the houses and cottages have thatched roofs so it feels a little as if you have stepped back in time as you walk along the footpath by the canal admiring the pretty homes and perhaps stopping for lunch at one of the canal-side cafes or restaurants.”
Those cafes and restaurants are also joined by tourist shops, which sell souvenirs and gifts to those who choose to visit Giethoorn instead of Venice.
Adding to the feeling of going back in time is the lack of cars, with no automobiles able to enter the centre of the village.
Instead, visitors have to stick to a a walking and cycling path, named the ‘Binnenpad’ which people use to get around when they aren’t in boats.
For those who do wish to make use of the waterways, there are a number of different ways in which they can do it.
They’re able to rent whisper boats, board a guided cruise or hire a kayak, which can take them to many of the other sights open to tourists.
They include the Giethoorn museum, which shows how people would have lived in the village more than 100 years ago.
There’s also the De Oude Aarde, a shop and museum filled with gemstones, fossils and minerals.
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The town has been compared to a fairytale by Instagram user Bia (@biainthenetherlands), who showed the highlights from her trip to her followers.
She accommpanied a video with the caption: “If you are looking for a peaceful and fairy-tale-like place that seems too perfect to be real then Giethoorn is for you.
“Giethoorn is a small town in the Netherlands known for its lush green grasses, thatched-roofed houses, and boat-filled canals.
“This idyllic village is similar to Venice in the number of canals that weave their way through the town. In fact, there are over 170 small wooden bridges in Giethoorn creating pathways over the waterways.”
Her followers were really impressed by what they’d seen.
One wrote: “Falling in love with this village.”
Another added: “I visited multiple times. It’s a very special place.”
A night for two in Giethoorn can be booked from around £66.
Meanwhile, tourists keep comparing this town in the UK to Venice.
And this village is often referred to as the Venice of the Cotswolds.