Giethoorn and Afsluitdijk Day Trip

Discover the picturesque town of Giethoorn and the impressive Enclosing Dike on a full-day small group tour from Amsterdam. Experience Dutch water management and enjoy a boat cruise along restored farm houses.

Duration: 9 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Giethoorn - First stop is the picturesque village of Giethoorn, where people live with and on the water. Enjoy a boat cruise along the restored farm houses. You will have some free time for lunch and to explore the place on your own.
  • Afsluitdijk - The tour will continue on to the Enclosing Dike (Afsluitdijk), the 32 kilometer dike connecting the provinces of North Holland and Friesland. The Netherlands is famed the world over for the way it deals with water management. The Afsluitdijk, built to tame what was formerly the Zuiderzee (now the Ijsselmeer lake) is a prime example of Dutch water prowess.
  • Amsterdam - The tour will end back in Amsterdam
What's Included
  • Photo stop at Enclosing dike
  • 1-hour boat tour of Giethoorn (Please note: weather conditions could have influence on the boat trip)
  • Transport in an airconditioned coach
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Personal expenses
  • Food and drinks
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional Information

On this day-long, intimate group journey, explore Giethoorn, a charming town where residents coexist harmoniously with water. Indulge in a boat ride amidst the rehabilitated farmhouses. There will also be a leisure break for lunch and self-guided discovery of the area. The expedition proceeds to the Enclosing Dike (Afsluitdijk), a 32-kilometre protective barrier linking the regions of North Holland and Friesland. The Netherlands is globally celebrated for its exceptional water control methods. The Afsluitdijk, constructed to regulate the erstwhile Zuiderzee (currently the Ijsselmeer lake), is a quintessential exhibit of Dutch hydrological mastery. The day concludes with a return trip to Amsterdam.

Location
Tours & Tickets Amsterdam
De Ruijterkade
The Tours & Tickets Shop is located in the IJ hall of Central Station on the far eastern side. Show your (smartphone) ticket at the Tours & Tickets office, where you'll be guided to the bus across the street.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.2
(128 Ratings)
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Mitri_m
Jul 6, 2024
The paradise - We spent a great day. The scenes were unbelievable and Giethoorn village is unforgettable. The food is delicious and people were so welcoming and friendly. A big thank you for our tour guide.
Review provided by Viator
Yukpuipeggy_t
Jun 29, 2024
Enjoyable - Experienced and responsible tour guide, punctual for departure of the tour, we enjoy a lot. The boat trip worths a lot.
Review provided by Viator
Anna_h
Jun 25, 2024
Nice tour - Everything was very well organized. The tour guide was very knowledgeable about the history of Giethoorn.
Review provided by Viator
Saleh_a
Jun 1, 2024
Must see location - A very dreamy place. I really like it and I believe it is a must see location in Holland. Love the whole experience.
Review provided by Viator
Gloria_f
May 12, 2024
Little gem you must visit in your trip to AMS - The boat trip on the canals and the excellent food in the restaurant. Is a must to visit. Highly recommended. This
Review provided by Viator
Jaishri_k
May 1, 2024
Beautiful Geithroon - The trip was very good, worth taking it. They could've added a Tulip farm stop for pictures! It was so beautiful ride, beautiful Geithroon village and Dykes on the way!!
Review provided by Viator
Sajab2022
Apr 27, 2024
Charming - Wonderful trip led by tour guide Ian and I think driver was Stefan very good driver Ian was exceptionally helpful, knowledgeable and taught us historical things about Netherlands in a funny way that you will never forget , and waited us all and led us to the cheese shop and the old church We loved this tour all, but especially the delightful cruise through the lovely canals past the thatched homes.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
K9982cgandreap
Jul 14, 2024
Pueblo encantador / Charming village - El guía Adrian no pudo hacerlo mejor. Se nota su pasión por la arquitectura y lo bien que conoce el manejo del agua en los Paises Bajos. A pesar de que los trayectos en bus son de unas 2 horas, se pasan rápido con sus explicaciones.Giethoorn es un pueblo encantador que merece la pena visitar. Sin embargo, a nosotros nos llovió todo el día y no pudimos sacarle el mejor partido. No os preocupéis porque el paseo en barco se hace igualmente al disponer de botes cubiertos. De todas formas, creo que 3h de tiempo libre aún con buen tiempo son demasiadas para Giethoorn. Poder ver el dique de cierre es una experiencia única y muy curiosa que recomiendo. A pesar de q la excursión es bilingüe, Adrian traduce a la perfección todos los detalles. The guide Adrian could not have done better. You can see his passion for architecture and his knowledge of water management in the Netherlands. Although the bus ride takes about 2 hours, it goes by quickly with his explanations, Giethoorn is a charming village and well worth a visit. However, it rained the whole day and we couldn't make the most of it. Don't worry because the boat trip is still possible as there are covered boats available. However, I think that 3 hours of free time, even in good weather, is too much for Giethoorn. To be able to see the closing dyke is a unique and very curious experience which I highly recommend. Although the tour is bilingual, Adrian translates all the details perfectly.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kathy_l
Jun 1, 2024
Okay! - Only Giethoorn is a beautiful village to visit, Dikes wasn’t interested at all. Little long ride on bus.
Review provided by Viator
Juliesingapore
May 18, 2024
Consider going on your own via public transport - The guide departed from meeting area at 945am, we were glad we arrived just in time, any later we would have missed the 10am tour. The drive to Giethoorn took 3.5hrs, inclusive of a 30mins stop at the Enclosing Dike. We boarded the canal boat at 1.45pm. The boat owner who was sharing with us the history of Giethoorn did not use any mic so we could not hear him much, esp with other tourists speaking aloud. He should have used a mic like what the other boat operators did. We departed at 4.45pm and returned to AMS at 630pm. We paid €79/pax for this trip. I felt that we should have taken our own public transport which would cost €60/pax to/fro AMS (approx 2hr per way). The canal boats rental starts from as low as €20. The savings is marginal but we would have made better use of our time. We decided to book a tour as we wanted to learn more from the local guide, but as we couldn't hear him, it was disappointing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
October 2024
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