Thursday, March 04, 2010

Green Gorgeous Giethoorn

Giethoorn is a village in the province of Overijssel. It literally means "goat horn," and was named that way because the first settlers found masses of goat horns everywhere in the area. It's referred to as the "Venice of the North" because there are no roads in the center of the village.

People park their cars and hop into a boat to make their way into the center of the village.

Giethoorn, The Netherlands

All of the homes have thatched roofs which kindof makes it a fairytale-like village to wander through.
Giethoorn, The Netherlands

Giethoorn, The Netherlands

Giethoorn, The Netherlands

The homes are pretty much right on the waters edge. I'd always be worried I was going to drop the lawnmower in the canal if I lived here.
Giethoorn, The Netherlands

Here you can see one of the canal "streets."
Giethoorn, The Netherlands

Boats galore!
Giethoorn, The Netherlands

You CAN get around via the footpaths and footbridges in the village if you don't have a boat and don't feel like going for a swim (you can't really swim, the canals are only about 1 meter deep).
Giethoorn, The Netherlands

Giethoorn, The Netherlands

Giethoorn, The Netherlands

I think that it's quite a picturesque place to visit, though there really isn't a whole lot to do other than ride the canal boat and take some nice pictures. I don't know that I would make a trip JUST to go there, but if you're nearby I'd say it's worth a peek!

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I'm participating in Mrs. Matlock's Alphabe-Thursday! Click the link below to see what other great goodly things people have posted about.

Jenny Matlock
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