Private Tour to Giethoorn see the enclosing dyke from Amsterdam

Learn more about the history of the Dutch enclosing dyke and visit the Zuiderzee museum where you will find the largest museum collection of ships in the Netherlands. These ships, which once sailed the former Zuiderzee, can now be seen in the Museum. The iron ships are in the harbour of the Outdoor Museum and the most important wooden ships in the Ships' Hall. Thereafter you will driver over the enclosing dyke to Giethoorn. Giethoorn is by far the most romantic town of the Netherlands. Located in Overijssel in the east of the country, it is surrounded by nature and water. So much water indeed, that the village of Giethoorn doesn’t have any cars riding around. Many houses are only reachable by boat and this is exactly how the inhabitants of Giethoorn travel. You will have a guided canal cruise underneath the linden trees, admire the typical wooden bridges and the old farmhouses. There is a possibility to drive a boat by yourself. There is also a possibility to have a nice lunch.

In this exhibition, get to know both the former and current residents of the Zuiderzee region, who tell about their daily lives, work, clothing, houses and leisure activities. About their customs and their celebrations from then and now. And about their eternal battle against the water and the construction of the dike that changed everything: the enclosing dyke. In the Zuiderzee Museum you will find the largest museum collection of ships in the Netherlands. The iron ships are in the harbour of the outdoor museum and the most important wooden ships in the Schepenhal. By means of audiovisual presentations you imagine yourself 100 years back on the Zuiderzee; once a wild open sea full of fish, salt water and wild waves - where around 1900 two thousand fishing boats sailed every day. Experience how a fishing boat holds its ground when it thunders and lightning and how an ice floe with scratching irons is pushed across the frozen Zuiderzee to and from Urk.

History of the Afsluitdijk 32 km the length of the Afsluitdijk: Due to the many dike breaches, there were already ideas in the 17th century to close off the Zuiderzee, but these did not become serious until the end of the 19th century. In 1891, the young engineer Cornelis Lely worked out the first plans for the Afsluitdijk. In 1913, as Minister of Water Management, he ensured that the project was put on the cabinet's agenda. Nevertheless, it was decided to postpone these plans. During the First World War, many Dutch people went hungry, which increased the demand for self-sufficiency in terms of food. Creating agricultural land was therefore given priority. Unfortunately, things went badly wrong in 1916. A flood occurred in the Zuiderzee area, later known as the Flood Disaster of 1916. There were deaths, injuries, thousands of people lost their homes and the economic damage was enormous.

The adoption of Lely's Zuiderzee Act occurred in 1918. The Zuiderzee Works, which resulted from the Act, radically changed the appearance of the Netherlands. The Afsluitdijk would become a hydraulic engineering project that was unparalleled. Thanks to this enormous project, the Netherlands could show the world what it was capable of. The Zuiderzee Works Service was established and 2 years later (1920), work began to close off the Zuiderzee. On 28 May 1932, the last closing gap, the Vlieter, was closed. The closure was a fact, the Zuiderzee was henceforth called the IJsselmeer. A year later, traffic was able to drive over the dike, the current A7 motorway, again.

Visit the nice and most beautiful places in The Netherlands: Giethoorn the Dutch Venice village. Enjoy the peacefulness and nature of this idyllic village. Take a guided boat tour of 1c hour underneath the linden trees, admire the typical wooden bridges and the old farmhouses. You can also drive a small boat by yourself. If you prefer to drive the boat by yourself please inform your driver so he can arrange that for you. After the canal cruise you can have a nice lunch in one of the nice restaurants in town or you can stroll in the nice Giethoorn village.

Possibility to stroll in the old town and explore this great Dutch Venice village.

Possibility to have a nice lunch in Giethoorn.

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• We provide 24/7 services and to confirm bookings or for questions please contact us during our opening times from Monday - Friday from 08:30 AM till 06:00 PM CET. Saturday and Sunday our office is closed.

• Private Tour to Giethoorn see the enclosing dyke from Amsterdam
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  Pickup included

• Possibility to drive a boat by yourself
• Wifi and bottled water on board
• Professional driver/host
• Entrance tickets for the Zuiderzee museum
• Guided canal cruise tickets
• Transport by a private air-conditioned Mercedes sedan/minivan

• Tip (optional)
• Professional guide

Please be advised..

• This Tour is Provided by VIP Travel & Limousine Services.
• Tour Timezone & Starts at Europe/Amsterdam.
• Mobile or paper ticket accepted.
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
• Minimum 1 Travelers is required to book.
• Maximum 7 Travelers is accepted for booking.