This place is one of the sought after sights to see - or rather, the supposed hidden gem of Holland. Perhaps you've seen posts about this tiny village on the north of Zwolle, called Giethoorn. It has been said as the Venice of the North. Does it live up to the expectations? Honestly, I was very skeptical to go here. It was so famous to a point that I began to doubt its hype. It was perhaps beginning to be overrated, but when I was presented with the chance, on a good Saturday, I can't pass it. 

To get to this village, you have to get a train to Steenwijk Station, then get a bus. The station is prepared to receive English speaking tourists so don't worry, you won't get lost. What you should do is invest in an OV Chipkaart, a universal transport card which you can top up. 

Leading up to the centrum of Giethoorn, there will be several boat company offering a diverse variety of boats and even guided tours. Try to rent a boat and steer the boat yourself. I was personally terrified of boat rides. The first few minutes were horrible, I was screaming (yes, oh Lord) but it got better. We rented a boat for EUR25 for two hours, shared with seven people. 

It was very beautiful, straight out of fairy tale book. On the outskirts of it, it was very peaceful and I can honestly see why some people would live here, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. And it's true that they use only boats, or perhaps a bike. Their houses are located in a collection of islands. Their backyard is a huge lake. Some houses have to be accessed with a bridge! It was beautiful.