Amsterdam Live Guided Giethoorn Boat Tour and, like, the Cheese Platter: An Actual Review
So, you’re probably considering escaping Amsterdam for a day, right? And maybe Giethoorn, the “Dutch Venice,” popped up on your radar. That sounds cool, doesn’t it? Perhaps you’ve, in a way, looked at one of those guided boat tours from Amsterdam, the one with the cheese platter. Let’s talk about that; is that whole shebang really worth your time and, indeed, your money?
What You Might Get Yourself Into: Booking the Tour
Alright, there’s generally a bunch of ways to book this tour, and it’s usually pretty straightforward. Commonly, you can find this excursion offered by many different tour operators, sometimes on sites like GetYourGuide or Viator. I’d argue that’s where many end up beginning. Basically, shop around a bit; there could be, like, price differences and various options. Some tours might have different pickup points in Amsterdam, which is something you actually want to check, too; also, look at what kind of boat is being used. Is it that comfortable, or is that more like a basic canal boat, you understand?
Pro-tip: Book in advance. Giethoorn is very popular, especially during the summer, so things can book up quickly!
Getting There and Back, Sort of: The Transfer from Amsterdam
Usually, they bundle the bus transfer in with the tour, so that bit’s done for you, really. It’s almost a drive of about one and a half to two hours from Amsterdam to Giethoorn. This means there’s probably a good chance to catch a bit of a snooze or look at the scenery. One consideration is, you see, whether the bus is air-conditioned – it is a factor, particularly in the warmer months. Also, take into account traffic conditions. Traffic around Amsterdam could get pretty hectic at times. Seriously, it’s worth packing a water bottle and some snacks for the drive, because, as I was saying, you just might get a bit peckish.
Personal Anecdote: One time, there was almost a tour, the bus was stuck in, like, crazy traffic. So, anyway, we ended up arriving much later than planned. It didn’t ruin the day, as it turns out, but it certainly compressed it a little!
Gliding Through Giethoorn: The Boat Tour Bit
Okay, this is clearly the heart of the experience: floating along the canals of Giethoorn. Basically, the boats are usually electric “whisper boats,” and they are indeed really quiet, too, and they are helping keep the peace and quiet. Usually, these tours take about an hour. As a matter of fact, that may or may not be long enough for you, depending. On one hand, an hour’s just fine; on the other, you might want just a little more to seriously soak it all in. Giethoorn’s beautiful, alright? Little thatched-roof houses, tons of flowers, it’s a super photogenic place. I mean, seriously. The tour guide, seemingly, points out spots and shares information about the place, so, yet, it depends on the guide. Are they that engaging, or are they pretty monotone? Did they actually know what they’re talking about, anyway?
Potential Gotcha: The boats might be crammed during peak season, just so you know. Is it the most comfortable way to see Giethoorn then? Maybe not.
That Cheese Platter, is that Good Though? Let’s Talk Cheese.
Okay, so, the cheese platter, the million-dollar question! Does it actually hold up? Honestly, it does seem to really vary. Commonly, they often include a few different kinds of Dutch cheeses, maybe some Gouda (old and young), some Edam, that sort of thing. Some platters add some crackers and maybe a dab of mustard. Overall, it’s just usually pretty simple. Sometimes, frankly, that’s okay. In other words, you get a taste of local cheese, like your getting an extra layer onto the experience. However, sometimes people do say that it doesn’t feel like all that much cheese, so to speak, particularly if you happen to really adore cheese, alright?
Things to consider:
- Quality of the cheese: Is that seemingly good-quality stuff, or does that taste fairly mass-produced?
- Portion size: Do you maybe just get a sliver of each cheese? Or a respectable chunk?
Exploring Giethoorn and, perhaps, Getting Away from the Crowd
Usually, the tour throws in some free time in Giethoorn too. This may well be one of the best parts. Yeah. Giethoorn attracts, understandably, quite the crowd; being able to step away a little can make all the difference. Is there a spot somewhere that seems more interesting? Go wander. Like to take photos? You get the chance to, in fact, set them up properly and seemingly take your time. One cool thing you can actually do is rent a bicycle. That gives you way more scope to discover things further out of the village center. It is really just nice to stroll around and actually explore the shops; many of them sell pretty touristy stuff, of course, yet there are quite a few selling some pretty unique things, you know.
Off-the-beaten-path suggestion: Head to Museum Giethoorn ‘t Olde Maat Uus for a glimpse into the history and culture of the region. Is history of any interest? Then, that may appeal!
The Live Guidance; Is It Any Good?
It sort of hangs on the tour guide themselves, doesn’t it? Actually, a fantastic guide, and really, one who is enthusiastic, may bring Giethoorn and its region properly to life. A so-so guide; well, is that going to add as much value? So, if you get the chance, you should perhaps check reviews focusing particularly on that aspect. How that actually engaging and informed did folk find they were? Basically, a big perk here’s they should handle the Giethoorn side, answering questions as your floating along the canals, because, actually, there’s plenty to ask.
Don’t hesitate to: ask loads if anything is particularly interesting. Even that opens that door for deeper insights and better local experiences, if that all makes sense.
Food and Drink, Other than Just Cheese
Whilst that cheese is fun, obviously, its not much if its lunch. So then Giethoorn certainly has a few spots where one can grab a proper meal, a lunch stop perhaps, you see? Is that, though, an issue that the time that’s actually alotted doesn’t tend to stretch to an extensive meal out. It actually may just need to be more of a snack stop rather than proper sit down situation unless you plan a proper and disciplined use of time, alright? Street food then or snacks are worth considering if, say, time management becomes an actual factor.
What’s it Going to set You Back? Cost and All That
One consideration would be price – the prices do vary rather by operator, by what specifically they’re throwing in, and if it’s low or high season, or course. A price like that usually includes transport, tour guide (who is basically with you on the trip there too), the boat tour portion and maybe, as a bit of bonus (and what we’ve basically gone though this document!) then a smidge of cheese and a cracker, hah! Does the cost overall give proper good value? Really you want weigh against the ease versus tackling the public transportation options yourself, how many other day-trip options you could use that money on instead if time is short (other cities near Amsterdam?) plus how interesting (that is, literally) you genuinely expect finding Giethoorn’s canals, hah!
Budget Tip: Look carefully for discount options and combined-deal opportunities, they might have deals.