In the northeastern corner of the Netherlands, tucked between marshes and meadows, lies a village that seems plucked from another era. Giethoorn is still, not from silence, but from the absence of engines. Here, life flows at the pace of water.

Instead of streets, there are canals. Instead of traffic, the gentle hum of boats. Locals navigate by punt, mail is delivered by skiff, and visitors arrive not with a honk, but a ripple.

Founded in the 13th century by peat diggers, Giethoorn’s origins are as practical as they are picturesque.

Cutting into the boggy landscape to extract peat for fuel, early settlers left behind lakes and soft marshland.

To move their harvest, they dug canals… narrow, winding waterways that slowly transformed into the village’s lifeblood.

Today, more than 170 small wooden bridges connect islands of land where thatched cottages stand wrapped in flowers.

The village may look like a movie set, but it’s entirely lived-in… kids walk to school, fish dart beneath your boat, and a neighbor might paddle by with groceries.

There are a few walking and cycling paths, but the village is mostly car-free.

Even local services, like the fire brigade, use the water. Most boats are electric now, ensuring the sounds of lapping water and birdsong remain unbroken.

Giethoorn sees its share of tourism, particularly in spring when tulips bloom and the gardens burst into color. Yet the village holds its character.

Crowds spread out, the canals keep the noise at bay, and life continues at its usual drifting rhythm.

Hop on a boat tour for a slow float past 18th-century farmhouses, grazing sheep, and low-slung bridges.

The local museum, Museum Giethoorn ’t Olde Maat Uus, offers a glimpse into how the village came to be, with exhibits on peat cutting, fishing, and boatmaking.

You can dock beside a café for a buttery Dutch pancake or settle in for hearty stamppot at one of the canal-side restaurants.

Don’t skip the apple tart, best enjoyed with fresh cream and a waterside view.

Stay overnight in a cottage with a mooring out front, and you’ll wake to mist rising off the water and ducks paddling past your window. Sometimes, happening upon places like this reminds us that life has many paces. The slow ones seem to be the most beautiful.

Until next time,

Emails From Afar Team

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