We are allowed to travel again in our country the Netherlands. So we are going to Giethoorn, the Venice of Holland in the province called Overrijssel.
Its almost 9 weeks and the Covid lockdown is lifted and Holland is open again. We are all very releaved and happy that the new beginning for the new after Covid life is starting. I will spare you the details of the last 8 weeks and all the rules and regulations in our country cause all of you suffer aswell or are still suffering, but we decided to go out again despite some rules we will encounter being free again. We are in the west of the Netherlands and we are travelling to the north, about 225 kilometers by car. But the sun is out so we love the three day holiday we are going on.
We will be going to Giethoorn, as already said in the province called Overrijssel.
Giethoorn is a village with a wide range of options for your day trip or weekend break and I will talk in this blog about more than just sailing what we will be doing. We want to be a tourist in our own country and the best way is to walk and sail today to achieve that. So thats the plan.
In the village are several shops, museums and galleries. You can also enjoy walking and cycling through the area. Of course, a visit to the beautiful wonders of the Weerribben-Wieden National Park should not be missed. That is where we will be sailing through today. The museums and galleries we will leave for this day because you had to reserve a ticket in advance and we did not do that. There are only allowed 30 people total inside so that is on my list for next time.
A visit to Giethoorn for us had to include a sailing trip cause normally its a attractive place to tourists from China, Taiwan and the United States and way to busy in Giethoorn. So thats why it was on our list now and not in the past. And the kids had to have their swimming certificate to be safe in the boat. A day in the boat through the village itself and the Weerribben Wieden National Park, the beautiful natural monument that surrounds the area and looking at all the magnificent houses at the sides of the water was a great way to spend the day. We reserved a boat online and due to Covid 19 the rules were a bit different, we couldn’t get a picknick basket but were allowed to bring food and beverages ourselves. So we went prepared, and brought all kinds of snacks and drinks.
Below you will find an overview of all the different possibilities of "sailing in Giethoorn". If you have the opportunity to come to my beautiful country you will find all companies in Giethoorn and the area around the village offering a wide possibility of activities. There are so many hotels and bed&breakfasts in the neighbourhood, for prices from 25 euro a day to 250 euro for one night for a hotel suite or room.
We decided to rent a wooden boat, and because we are all family members from one household we could go in one long wooden boat. When you don’t live in one house that is not allowed because of Covid19 and the fine will be 4300 euro, for both you as a family and for the company that is renting out the boat. So they will have you sign an agreement stating you are a family and can verify with passport or drivers licence. Well all for getting covid out of our society.
The warf we choose is a family company of 4 generations. We found this company online. Around 1890 Thomas Vos laid the foundation for the current company. From a barn on the Appensteeg in Giethoorn he made his artisanal punters, rafts and bucks found their way to farmers and traders. In Holland we do a lot of trading over water, that is the cheapest way and we got the best water roads in the world. This shipyard has passed from father to son-in-law over the centuries. And not just the yard. The unaffected craftsmanship, techniques, feeling and love for the punter were also passed on from generation to generation. I love that and choose them because of it.
I love the fact that the crafmanship is still seen in these days. You can also takes look inside where the work is done. That love for the profession must be unconditional. A passion, anchored in the genes. Since 1933, the punters have been made at the current location of the shipyard on Beulakerweg. Founder Vos' great-grandson Henk Wildeboer took over the company from his father in 1990. He broke new ground with his wife Yvonne Wildeboer.
I called her last week to advise me about the trip and the rent a boat with our kids. She explained all was new with the new rules and the opening back up again after the covid lockdown. But she was very nice and helpful thats why our feeling with this yard was the reason to rent there.
The old workshop, in which the black-tarred boards seemed to have been held in place by spiderweb, is no more. A modern wharf was built on the waterfront. With a shop full of ship's stuff. The punt builder has changed the beacons to maintain the old profession. But the atmosphere, craftsmanship and hospitality have remained. All the wooden boats and lacquered punts are standard equipped with a front pleat, rear bench and sail soft. The punts are made of oak wood and a surface (bottom) of iroko (hardwood), with mahogany or oak floors, a motor support and stainless steel fittings. The parts are attached with stainless steel screws, these screw holes are plugged with oak plugs. The punts are also equipped with mountain wood (bumper strips) and pot covers (a cover strip over the buoy). It is possible to provide the punts with boxes, foredeck and other extras. I love the harts in the wood in the boxes on board.
The smallest of the series of ships that they build, Are after sailing ships with high quality boats. A versatile, strong and very stable boat. The ideal for the angler. The rowing boat is of course equipped with oars, but can also be supplied with a simple sail, we had the one with the electric motor, a silent one.
Length: 5.00 m, Width: 1.20 m and Draft: 12 cm You can but a Giethoorn Fluister boat for the price price: from € 11,395 Great to see that sales and the rental are excisting next to eachother. Enough about boats. The nature is so beautiful and the animals too. We saw gorgeous houses along side of the water.
Overijssel is the beautiful National Park Weerribben-Wieden. This wetland peat area is home to one of the largest peat bogs in Europe. The area is characterized by vast reed beds, meadows, swamp forest, picturesque villages, lakes and a gigantic network of larger and smaller waterways. breathtaking flora and fauna.
I made so many pictures, but I forgot to make photos with my lens ball! In spring and summer you can enjoy blooming water lilies, yellow irises and yellow plumps. You can expect waterfowl such as grebes, moorhens and swans, but also bitterns and black terns. In addition, there are otters and large fire butterflies. But we saw so many more animals where we didnt know the name of.
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Giethoorn is the place when you want to enjoy the Dutch waters and the boat expertise. Our nature is wonderful. The day can be combined with a visit to one of the museums, windmills or the shops along the streets and water where you sail. Due to covid its nesseccary to book all in advance and ask what the new rules are. But I / we had such a great trip and the mini holiday is not over. Holiday in Holland is worth your try.
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See you on the next trip,
Love ❤️ Britt
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