Museum Giethoorn ’t Olde Maat Uus
Binnenpad 52. 1 April to 31 October daily 11:00–17:00; 1 November to 31 March Friday to Monday 11:00–16:00. Entry € 7.50, children 4–12 € 2.50, up to 3 free. Also bookable as an extra with your boat.
Home›Opening hours and entrance fee
Plan your visit
Opening hours and entrance fee
Giethoorn is free and open every day. Boat rental from 09:00 until sunset, canal cruises daily, the restaurant on the water and the museums in the village.
Is Giethoorn free?
Yes, the village costs nothing
Giethoorn is a normal Dutch village, not a theme park. There is no entrance fee, no ticket and no gate: you can walk along the Binnenpad, cross the bridges and look at the thatched farmhouses whenever you like, day or night, all year round.
You only pay for what you do: a boat, a canal cruise, a museum or a meal. That is why the best way to see the village is from the water, where the cars cannot go.
- No entrance fee, open 24/7
- Boat rental from € 24 per hour
- Canal cruise € 10 per person
Our opening hours
The rental closing time follows the sunset, so it changes through the year.
| What | When | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Boat rental, Zuiderpad 14A | Daily 09:00 until sunset | About 21:30 in summer, 16:30 in winter; start every half hour |
| Canal cruises, Hylkemaweg 7 | Daily departures | Heated boats, also in winter; times in the booking form |
| Our restaurant | See the food & drinks page | Lunch, dinner and terrace on the canal |
| Phone and WhatsApp | Daily 09:00–21:00 | +31 521 360 606 |
Full day rental means six hours of sailing; the last start is six hours before closing time. Exact times per date are shown when you book.
Last start times
You can start every half hour. The last start is the closing time minus your rental time: for a one-hour rental you can leave until an hour before sunset, for a full day (six hours) until six hours before. In midsummer that means a full day can start until about 15:00.
Early and late starts are cheaper too: up to 20% off the midday price on weekdays. See the prices page for the full table.
Museums and sights
Opening hours in the village
Museum hours as published for 2026. Check the museum website before a special trip.
Quiet or busy?
Opening hours are the same all week, but the village is not.
Early morningBefore 10:00 you have the canals almost to yourself, and the rental price is lower.
WeekdaysMonday to Thursday are the calmest days, also outside the school holidays.
SeasonBoats sail all year; the cruise boats are heated. See our weather page and the best time to visit.
Questions about opening hours and entry
Is Giethoorn open on Sunday?
Yes. Giethoorn is open every day, including Sundays and public holidays. Our boat rental and canal cruises run seven days a week; shops and museums keep their own hours.
Is Giethoorn free to visit?
Yes. The village is public and there is no entrance fee. You only pay for activities such as a boat, a cruise or a museum.
Does Giethoorn have an entrance fee or tickets?
No. There are no tickets for the village itself. Tickets exist for boats, canal cruises and museums; ours you book online in a few clicks.
What are the opening hours of Giethoorn?
The village is always open. Our boat rental opens daily at 09:00 and closes at sunset, canal cruises run daily and the museums are open roughly 10:00 or 11:00 to 17:00 in season.
Until what time can I rent a boat?
Until sunset, about 21:30 in summer and 16:30 in winter. The last start is closing time minus your rental time; the booking form shows the exact options for your date.
Are you open in winter?
Yes. Self-drive boats sail on dry winter days until sunset, and the canal cruises run daily on heated boats. See the winter page.
Can I visit in the evening?
Yes, the village is open. In summer you can sail until about 21:30, and the light on the water in the last hour before sunset is beautiful.