Hidden Gems: Giethoorn & Elburg

This private Amsterdam shore trip trades the city for two of the Netherlands' most distinctive small towns, Giethoorn and Elburg. It is an excellent way to avoid the crowds of central Amsterdam on a full 8-hour day built entirely around the Dutch countryside.

After meeting your guide, you drive about 75 miles (120km) northeast into the province of Overijssel to reach Giethoorn, often called the Venice of the Netherlands. The village was settled in the 13th century by peat diggers, and the ponds and channels left behind by centuries of peat extraction became the canals that define the village today. Giethoorn still has no roads in its historic center, only canals, footpaths, and small wooden bridges, so you park outside the village and walk in. Bicycles and canal punts are the way to get around, and a canal cruise past the thatched-roof farmhouses is the classic way to see it. Giethoorn tends to draw crowds by early afternoon, so your guide plans this stop for the quieter part of the day.

From Giethoorn you continue to Elburg, a fortified Hanseatic town that received city rights in 1233. After a series of floods in the 14th century, the town was rebuilt in 1392 on a rare, regular grid plan and enclosed with walls and a moat, which is largely why its medieval street pattern still survives today. You have free time for lunch (meal not included) and to walk the cobbled streets past the old harbor and the town's fortifications; if you are interested, your guide can also show you the Elburg Museum, the historic city gates, and St. Nicholas Church.

Later in the afternoon you return to the pier in Amsterdam, having spent the day in two of the Netherlands' most picturesque towns.

• Mobility: Due to uneven surfaces, steps, and walking distances, this itinerary is not suitable for guests using wheelchairs. Please contact us for alternative sightseeing options, including private driving tours that may better accommodate your needs.