Day 101: Giethoorn, Netherlands – A Fairytale Stop with Kids

I have to thank Instagram for leading us to this magical little village—Giethoorn is definitely in our top 10 places we’ve visited so far, and we’ve been to many! I had never even heard of it until a reel popped up on my feed… and I was instantly hooked.

Giethoorn is divided by a wide canal into two parts. We stayed with our motorhome on one side, which was quiet, scenic, and perfect for a walk and some kid-friendly fishing. But the other side?—it was like stepping into a storybook.

We brought the kids’ scooters along, but ended up leaving them near the supermarket since the canal paths were a bit full of people. It was easier (and safer too).

The first thing we spotted were the boat tours. Not only were they affordable, but they also came with free hot drinks or lemonade for kids— a definite win! You can also rent your own boat (no license needed) and they’re very easy to drive, even if you’ve never done it before.

Since we knew we wanted to rent a boat later, we decided to take a short stroll first—just enough to admire the canals and avoid any “I’m tired!” moments from the kids. Along the way, you’ll find lots of shops, cafés, and restaurants. At one point, the path splits—left over a bridge or right along the water. We chose right, and it was beautiful. There are even clean public toilets near the split (bring a coin!).

Before jumping on the boat, we made a quick detour to a local playground to recharge the kids’ energy and mood levels—it’s just a very short walk from the boat rental area.

Then came the highlight of our day—our boat ride.

We rented a boat for one hour and set off to explore the canals. It felt like drifting through a fairytale. The houses lining the water are stunningly decorated, with arched bridges and flower-filled gardens at every turn.

But the real surprise? The canal opens up into a majestic lake filled with swans, ducks, geese, and other birds. The white swans came right up to our boat—probably hoping for food (which is a big "No" for us, but was still lovely to see them up close). The kids were in awe.

 They even got to take turns steering the boat—with full supervision of course!

And just when we thought it couldn’t get more memorable… the rain came. A proper, dramatic downpour right in the middle of the lake! Luckily we were prepared , and it actually turned into a super fun moment—other families on boats started laughing, singing, and dancing in the rain. It was pure joy.

Our boat ride came to an end, and so did our day in Giethoorn—a magical place that will stay in our memories forever.

Additional Info for Visiting Giethoorn with Kids:

1. Boat Tours start from just under €10 for adults and €7 for kids. They include a free hot drink or lemonade.

   
   

2. Renting a private boat costs €25/hour. One hour is enough to see both sides of the canals and visit the lake. We rented the purple and silver boats.

   
   

3. Playground Location: [here]

4. Motorhome Stay: We parked at camperplaats "Haamstede", which was €27 per night with all services included, it was great.

5. About Me: I’m Gabby, mom to 5-year-old twins (a boy and a girl), and in 2025 we’re traveling the world most of the time in our motorhome, Sunlight. Follow our family adventures on social media—links below!