This full-day tour starts at our central meeting point in Amsterdam where you meet your driver and guide for the day. In our comfortable bus we drive you to Giethoorn in about 90 minutes. On this journey we drive through the typically Dutch ‘polder’ landscape. Polder is land that has been reclaimed from the sea and most of the land that we drive through today belonged to the sea until the 1950s. This is just one of many things that you will learn today about the Dutch and their interesting relationship with water.
The first stop of the day is the picturesque village of Giethoorn with its intricate waterway system. The center of this pretty village is car free. The only way to get around is by boat or by foot. Because of this, Giethorn is often nicknamed "Venice of the North". During a short walking tour your guide will point out some of Giethoorn's highlights and give you tips on local restaurants, shops and activities. You also get the unique opportunity to experience Giethoorn from the water on a 1 hour boat trip which is included in this tour.
After enjoying a meal in Giethoorn our bus takes you to fort Bourtange, a star-shaped fortress in the province of Groningen. The fortress was built in 1593 in order to control the only existing road connecting Germany and the city of Groningen. Fort Bourtange currenly serves as a historical museum. Buildings that previously had a military function are now revamped into restaurants, cafes and museum buildings. You will learn all about the interesting history of the fort on a guided tour. Late in the afteroon we drive back to Amsterdam along the Enclosing Dike, one of the most inventive waterworks in the entire world.
