Giethoorn
Netherlands
The first stop on my motorcycle tour around Scandinavia was Giethoorn, a chocolate box village in the Netherlands reminiscent of the Cotswolds, however famous for having no roads. The locals either walk, using the little bridges to cross the canals, or they make use of electric whisper boats to travel along them in silence.
Thanks to the fishermen's strike in Amsterdam delaying my ferry's arrival in port, I didn't have long to explore. I parked the bike up at the local supermarket and wandered into the village on foot. The village is laid out just like any other, only with chocolate-brown water instead of tarmac connecting a network of centuries-old thatched roof cottages, cafes and restaurants.
Unfortunately, I didn't have time to hire a boat and explore Giethoorn from the water, but it didn't take long to stroll along the banks from one end to the other and there was a stunning picture around every corner. No roads means no cars, which in turn means no polution. They might call this place "the Venice of the North", but in truth the only thing Venice has in common with Giethoorn is the muddy colour of its canal water.
It'd be worth an overnight stay just to see what it looks like at golden hour, but I don't think there would be enough to do here to justify a longer holiday.
These photographs were taken with my Sony A7R IV and the Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM. Of course, shots like these need a circular polariser to really make them pop; I'm currently using Kase Wolverine magnetic filters.
Equipment used
- Camera
- Sony A7R IV
- Lenses
- Sony 24mm f/1.4 GM
- Filters
- Kase Wolverine Magnetic
All images © Alex Nichol 2022 - all rights reverved.
