Under and on the bridges
More than 176 wooden bridges. From the water you frame the arch with the house behind it; from the bridge you shoot down the length of the canal.
Home›Photo spots in Giethoorn
Village guide
Photo spots in Giethoorn
The best pictures are taken from the water, in the morning or in the golden hour before sunset. These are the places and the moments.
From the water
The best vantage point is a boat
Almost every famous image of Giethoorn was shot from the water: the farmhouse with the bridge in front, the reflection in the canal, the reeds along Lake Bovenwijde. From the Binnenpad you look at the houses head-on; from a boat you look along them.
With your own whisper boat you decide where to pause. The boat is electric and vibration-free, so longer exposures work too. On the canal cruise your hands are free while the captain steers.
- Whisper boat from €24 an hour
- Rental until sunset, so you can catch the golden hour
- Canal cruise €10 per person
Photo spots
Six spots that always work
Thatched farmhouses
The humpback farmhouses along the village canal, at their best mirrored in still water in the early morning.
Lake Bovenwijde
Open water and reed beds. This is where the sun sets, so it is the place for golden hour from the boat.
Zuidervermaning
The only church tower in the village, at Binnenpad 48/50. A distinctive silhouette above the thatched roofs.
The tjaskers
Three small wooden peat mills in the village: classic Dutch motifs without the crowds of the big windmills elsewhere.
From the cruise boat
From the higher deck of the cruise boat you look out over the gardens. Handy for overview shots of the canal.
Timing
The light in Giethoorn
Early morningBefore 10:00 the village is quiet, the water is calm and the light is soft. Boat rental opens at 09:00.
Golden hourAround 21 June the sun sets at about 22:05, around 21 December as early as 16:27. Rental runs until sunset, so plan your last hour on the lake.
Overcast is fineSoft cloud gives even colours on the reed and the roofs. Only in strong wind does the water get choppy.
Drones and privacy
Giethoorn is a protected conservation area and borders Weerribben-Wieden National Park. Flying a drone here is subject to rules; exactly which rules apply depends on your drone, your registration and the location. Check the current information from the Dutch government and the drone zone map before you travel, and follow the instructions of Natuurmonumenten and Staatsbosbeheer in the park.
The houses along the canal are people’s homes. Photograph the facades and bridges, but not the people in their gardens, and do not step onto docks or private property.
What it looks like
Questions about photography
Where do you take the best photos of Giethoorn?
From the water: at the bridges on the village canal, along the thatched farmhouses and on Lake Bovenwijde at sunset. On foot, from the bridges on the Binnenpad.
What is the best time of day?
Early morning before 10:00 for still water and few people, and the hour before sunset for warm light. Our rental is open from 09:00 until sunset.
Can I fly a drone in Giethoorn?
Drones are subject to rules above the protected village and the nature reserve. Check the current rules and flight zones with the Dutch government before you come; we cannot grant permission.
Can I stop the boat for a photo?
Yes, pausing briefly in a quiet stretch or on the lake is no problem. Do not block the canal, keep away from the bridges and give way to the cruise boats.
Can a photographer join a private tour?
Yes. On a private tour the captain steers and you choose the stops. Ideal for photo shoots, proposals and weddings.
Catch the golden hour on the water
Book a boat for the end of the afternoon and head out onto Lake Bovenwijde as the sun goes down.