Giethoorn in 3D: A Village With Canals Instead of Roads

In the Dutch countryside, Giethoorn has almost no roads — its thatched cottages are linked by canals and arched footbridges, earning it the name 'Venice of the North'. Here's how to explore every corner of Giethoorn in 3D with live Street View — right from your iPhone.

In the Dutch countryside, Giethoorn has almost no roads — its thatched cottages are linked by canals and arched footbridges, earning it the name 'Venice of the North'.

But here's the catch: most people will never stand here in person. The flights, the crowds, the sheer distance — Giethoorn stays firmly on the someday list. The good news is that you no longer have to wait for someday. You can explore Giethoorn today, in full 3D with live Street View, right from your phone.

The canals were dug centuries ago by peat harvesters, and the village grew up along the water they left behind. That history is exactly what makes it worth seeing up close — and worth scouting properly before you go.

What makes Giethoorn special

A few sights define Giethoorn, and you'll want to find each of them when you explore in 3D:

• Canal Village — A car-free village of thatched farmhouses lining glassy canals, explored only by boat or on foot.

• Wooden Bridges — The delicate wooden footbridges — more than 170 of them — arching over the waterways.

• Thatched Cottages — The picture-perfect reed-thatched cottages set among gardens and willow-lined water.

• The wider setting — half the magic of Giethoorn is the landscape around it, which reads best from above in a 3D view.

Together, these sights give Giethoorn its unmistakable character. Exploring in 3D lets you move between all of them in seconds — comparing the angles, judging the distances, and deciding which ones deserve the most of your time when you finally visit in person.

How to explore Giethoorn in 3D with MAPAS

You don't need a plane ticket to walk these streets. Here's the fastest way to experience Giethoorn from your sofa:

1. Open MAPAS and search for Giethoorn, Netherlands — the map drops you straight into the region.

1. Switch to 3D view and tilt the map so the terrain, buildings and landscape rise into relief around you.

1. Drop into Live Street View near Canal Village, the view most visitors travel here for, and look around in every direction.

1. Fly across to Thatched Cottages to see it from an angle few travellers ever reach on foot.

1. Turn on GPS navigation to trace the real walking route between the sights — so the day you arrive, you already know it by heart.

The best viewpoints to look for

When you're exploring in 3D, aim for these spots — they're the exact angles photographers wait all morning for:

• Canal Village — 52.7386° N, 6.0781° E

• Wooden Bridges — 52.7400° N, 6.0800° E

• Thatched Cottages — 52.7375° N, 6.0770° E

Line any of them up in 3D first, and you'll know precisely where to stand — and which hour of the day gives you the light — long before you travel.

Why see it in 3D before you go

Scouting a destination virtually isn't just fun — it saves real time and money. You'll spot which viewpoints are worth the climb, how the sights connect, and where the crowds gather, so your actual visit is spent seeing rather than searching. You arrive already oriented, instead of burning your first morning getting lost.

And if a trip to Giethoorn isn't on the calendar yet, the 3D tour stands on its own — a genuine way to experience one of the world's most remarkable places from wherever you are.

Good to know

A few essentials before you dive in:

• Cost — MAPAS is free to download on the App Store, with no sign-up required to start exploring.
• Best for — trip planning, virtual travel, and scouting photo spots like Canal Village before you commit to a route.
• Works on — iPhone and iPad, so you can plan on the couch and navigate on the road.
• Part of — our "Hidden Places You Must See" series, a growing collection of the world's most surreal destinations in 3D.

Plan the real trip (when you're ready)

Giethoorn is about 90 minutes from Amsterdam. Rent a quiet 'whisper boat' and glide the canals; go early or late to have the village to yourself.

Whenever you do go, a little virtual scouting means you'll spend your time on the ground soaking it in rather than working out where to point the camera. Until then, the 3D version is open 24/7 — no crowds, no flights, no queue for the viewpoint.