Where can we go instead of Giethoorn to avoid the crowds?
Stay in the same corner of Overijssel and think smaller. When a traveler asked in July 2026, locals named Dwarsgracht ("similar scenery as in Giethoorn, minus all the tourists"), Belt-Schutsloot ("a small version of Giethoorn without the hordes of tourists"), the old harbor town of Blokzijl, and the reed lands of the Weerribben-Wieden National Park, best explored by boat. All lie within half an hour of Giethoorn and roughly 1 hour 30 to 1 hour 45 from Amsterdam. An eight-hour day costs €520 in Business Class or €640 in a Van, which seats a family of six with room for coats and picnic bags.
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With a chauffeur by the hour: prices per vehicle
| Option | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Business Class, with a chauffeur by the hour | €65 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · E-Class, EQE, EQE SUV, BMW i5, BMW 5 Series · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
| Van Class, with a chauffeur by the hour | €80 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · V-Class, EQV · up to 7 passengers, 7 bags |
| First Class, with a chauffeur by the hour | €100 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · S-Class, EQS, EQS SUV, BMW i7 · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
By the hour: minimum 2 hours, 40 km included per hour, starting and ending in the same city. The chauffeur waits between stops. Prices are per car, not per person, with 9% Dutch VAT included, and the same day and night. During ADE week (pickups October 20 to 26, 2026) fixed ADE-week prices apply, shown before you book; promo codes cannot be used that week. Booked less than 12 hours before pickup: +10%. At an airport or an intercity station the first 60 minutes of waiting are free, elsewhere 15 minutes; after that waiting is charged per minute at the class's hourly rate (Business €65 an hour). Free cancellation up to 1 hour before pickup.
What is included in the price
- A fixed price confirmed at booking, with VAT included: no meter and no surge
- The chauffeur’s name, car and phone number before pickup, plus e-mail reminders 24 hours and 2 hours ahead
- Water and phone chargers (iOS and Android) in the car
- Status updates to the person who booked, if that is not the passenger: confirmed, chauffeur en route, guest in the car, arrived
Pick your village
| Place | What it is | Do this | Pair it with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dwarsgracht | Thatched farms along one canal, next to Giethoorn | Lunch or a drink by the water | An early hour in Giethoorn itself |
| Belt-Schutsloot | A small canal village | Hire a quiet electric boat | Zwartsluis |
| Blokzijl | A 17th-century harbor town with a lock | Walk the harbor and lock | Vollenhove |
| Weerribben-Wieden | National park of reeds and peat lakes | A boat trip from the visitor center at Ossenzijl | Kalenberg |
| Schokland | A former island, now a UNESCO site in the polder | The small museum and the old church | Blokzijl or Vollenhove |
If Giethoorn is still on the list
Go early: forum regulars say the crowds become manageable "really early". Boats in Giethoorn are booked with the boat company at its own prices; see Giethoorn boat prices.
Related questions
Anything similar closer to Amsterdam?
Broek in Waterland, about 15 minutes north by car, has wooden houses and small canals.
Can we add a Hanseatic town?
Hasselt and Kampen are nearby; see the Hanseatic towns.
Can a woman chauffeur drive our group?
On request, confirmed by dispatch on WhatsApp; see female chauffeur for a day trip.
Sources
- TripAdvisor: Alternatives to Giethoorn (July 2026) (checked October 31, 2026)
- UNESCO: Schokland and surroundings (checked October 31, 2026)
Book it, or ask dispatch first
Book online in a few minutes (no account, no app), or send your flight number and address on WhatsApp and dispatch replies in English, 24 hours a day.