We are currently not taking requests.

Accessibility in Giethoorn

Blog

Giethoorn is such a picturesque place in the Netherlands, that it deserves a blog on its own to explain it’s uniqueness.

Giethoorn is a small village north-east of Amsterdam in the Dutch province of Overijssel. It is also called “the Dutch Venice” and there is no exaggeration in that! The town has over 150 bridges and is located in Weerribben-Wieden National Park.

This village is at the centre of Overijssel’s canal system, there were no roads until a cycling path was eventually added! Today, boating is a very popular activity among the tourists, offering canoe trails and motorboats for rent.

Despite the many canals and bridges, Giethoorn is quite accessible and the bridges are just wide enough for a wheelchair. In some cases, a wheelchair will need to be pushed over the arch of the bridges. There are more facilities in the village, such as restaurants, hotels and bed&breakfast’s.

The amazing news is that there is a boating company offering boat tours for wheelchair users! The open boats have a built in lift that can be lowered to the bottom of the boat by the push of a button. Each boat can accommodate up to 10 people including one or multiple wheelchairs.

We recommend a visit to Giethoorn if the Netherlands is in your itinerary. We guarantee that it will be an unforgettable experience! Click here if you would like to book a canal cruise in Giethoorn.

If you would like more information or assistance with your visit to Giethoorn, please contact us!

How to get from Amsterdam to Giethoorn

  • Take the train from Amsterdam Central Station to Amersfoort*.
  • Change trains in Amersfoort. Take the train to Steenwijk*.
  • In Steenwijk take bus 70 to bus stop ‘Hotel Giethoorn’. Train from Amersfoort to Giethoorn.
  • Approximate travel time: 2,5 hours.

*If you are travelling with a wheelchair or companion with a wheelchair, it’s smart to arrange a ramp for the train in advance.