Canoeing in the Weerribben-Wieden National Park

What it is

Giethoorn is on the edge of De Wieden, the southern half of the Weerribben-Wieden National Park: almost 11,000 hectares of lakes, reedbeds, hay meadows and swamp woodland born, like the village, from centuries of peat extraction. In a canoe or kayak you enter narrow canals where motorboats cannot go, and in a short while you leave the traffic of the Dorpsgracht behind. It is the way to see the natural side of the park: some 140 to 150 species of birds nest here, north of Giethoorn, in De Auken, there is a colony of purple herons and spoonbills, and with luck you may see an otter.

The Dwarsgracht route

Natuurmonumenten, which manages De Wieden, publishes the Dwarsgracht canoe route: 14 km and about 3 and a half hours. It starts from the Kanodorp Dwarsgracht, in the hamlet of the same name, on the outskirts of Giethoorn. On leaving you turn left, at the end right and right again to enter the Dwarsgracht canal, and from there you follow the route points in their free app.

You pass through Dwarsgracht, a former peat-cutters' settlement with houses on tiny islands, where the oldest ash tree in the Netherlands stands; through Jonen, another hamlet that can only be reached by water or by a small ferry; and beside the Grote Otterskooi, a former duck decoy of 30 hectares that is visited in summer on a guided boat tour. Nearby is the site of the submerged village of Beulake. The route has two points where you have to lift the canoe out of the water to carry it from one canal to another. You can extend it as far as the De Wieden visitor centre, in Sint Jansklooster.

If you prefer something shorter, the Kanodorp itself describes two routes, from Dwarsgracht to Giethoorn and from Dwarsgracht to Belt-Schutsloot, among villages, lakes and reeds.

Who hires them out

• Kanodorp / Camping Dwarsgracht, at Cornelisgracht 42: canoes, kayaks and SUP boards, from €25 a day, with free parking. Natuurmonumenten recommends booking in advance. It also offers multi-day trips with a night in a cabin.
• Grachthof Giethoorn, at Binnenpad 54, in the centre: a one- or two-person kayak and a Canadian canoe for two, from €20, with no deposit, a short explanation before you set off and free parking for customers. It is currently closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

When to go

From spring to early autumn, with long days and birds in the reedbeds. In summer, the village fills up at midday, but the canals in the park remain quiet. On the open lakes the wind raises short waves that are very tiring in a canoe: check the forecast and, in strong wind, stay on the narrow canals. If the weather changes suddenly, head for the bank and wait; the canals are always close by.

Who with

With teenagers it is the thing to do: they paddle, read the map and decide the route. With children of around 10 it works in a Canadian canoe with an adult, on short stretches. Ask for life jackets for everyone when you hire. Bring water, sun protection and something to eat. Natuurmonumenten does not admit dogs in De Wieden except on a limited basis: ask at the visitor centre beforehand. Drones are not allowed.

How to get there

Dwarsgracht is a few minutes by bike or car from the centre of Giethoorn; the Kanodorp has parking. If you come by public transport, the bus 70 drops you in Giethoorn and hiring at Grachthof saves you having to move around. To combine water and land, see the bike route to Dwarsgracht and Jonen.