Giethoorn

A roundtrip in the northern part of the Wieden passing Wanneperveen and Giethoorn. Distance 25 km, but you can make one or more shortcuts if this is too much. You have to make this trip clockwise as on the canal in Giethoorn there is one way traffic (from south to north). It is advisable to avoid high season, Sundays and Holidays as Giethoorn will be crowded with people. Renting an electroboat is very popular, but many people don't know how to handle a boat like that properly. 

Kayak rental s at various locations: http://www.giethoorn.info/ (English version available).

In the area there are three marked kayak routes that can be found on the site of B&B Mol/Groenewegen. The route on this page is for a great part the same as the red route. The detour passing Wanneperveen and Westeinde is extra. 

To the starting point  at the Kanaal Beukers - Steenwijk: Exit the A32 between Zwolle and Heerenveen at exit 5 Steenwijk Zuid if you come from the south, or exit 7 Steenwijk Noord if you come from the north. Follow the N333 to the west and turn left on the N334 towards Giethoorn. You see a canal on your right. The starting point is at the third parking-place on your right. This is just before the roads goes up a little.

GPS: Lat. 52.7576, Lon. 6.0804

Mapmyride: http://www.mapmyride.com/route/netherlands/giethoorn/962170937

Paddle south on the canal and after 50 meters you turn left under the main road. After a short distance you go under another bridge and the canal makes a bend to the right. Now you turn left into the Noorder Stouwe. Some intersections are marked with a numbered pole. You go straight on at nr.8. At nr.9A there is a small island in the middle. You turn left here, and then you turn right at nr.10. Follow the canal named Zuider Stouwe till you come at the lake Bovenwijde. Turn left on the lake and follow the eastern side until you find another canal on your left. At the island opposite the canal entrance there are swimming facilities. Follow the canal to theeast and turn right at nr.2. Then turn left at nr.3 and right again at nr.4. At 5A. you turn left into the Haagjesgracht. This canal passes though Wanneperveen. In the village there is a shop at the bridge. Continue to the south until you can turn right under a bridge. Just after the bridge there is a kayak-pier. Now you continue in a southern direction on the other side of the road. After a short distance the canal makes a bend to the right. At the next intersection nr.6V there is a black barn on your left owned by Natuurmonumenten. Here you turn right. After some distance you come at the village Westeinde. After the blue bridge you turn left. Then after a short distance you turn right. At the next intersection marked nr.A you turn left to pass the lake Zuideindiger. There is a lot of reed here. Keep to the right and after a small passage you reach open water where you head north. Enter the canal and soon you come at the first houses of Zuideinde. Keep following the main canal and pass Zuideinde and Giethoorn all the way to the north. After Gierhoorn the canal makes a bend to the right. Then you turn left under a bridge and turn right again. Paddle to the left around the campsite and after a short distance you come at the lake named Molengat. Take the canal to the north and turn left at the T-junction marked nr.5A. Then turn right twice and you pass through Noordeinde. Keep fllowing this canal and you end up at the Kanaal Beukers-Steenwijk. The starting-point is a short distance to the right.

Fanfare

The Bert Haanstra movie Fanfare (1958) was shot in this area. It is about two competing brass bands. In a quarrel at a contest they both start playing at the same time and everybody puts the fingers in their ears expecting a terrible sound... In the movie you can see what Giethoorn once looked like. An agricultural village with no roads so that all transportation was done by boats through the canals.

From Noordeinde you can take the canal to the west to the Giethoornse Meer, and from there go to the Weerribben. The southern part of this area is part of The Wieden.

A trip through Giethoorn in October.

Haagjesgracht south of Wanneperveen.

Wanneperveen.

Zuideinde.

Zuideinde