Smit Giethoorn — Attraction in Steenwijkerland

We had an amazing experience here! From the moment we arrived, the staff was incredibly welcoming and even allowed our dog, which made us feel right at home.

We ordered sweet potato fries, nachos with cheddar cheese, salsa, and jalapeño sauce, along with gyoza. Every dish was absolutely delicious! The sweet potato fries were perfectly crispy on the outside and soft inside, with just the right amount of seasoning. The nachos were loaded with cheese and had the perfect balance of flavors with the salsa and spicy jalapeño sauce. The gyoza had a great crispy texture with a tasty filling.

We also had hot chocolate and cappuccino, both of which were rich and comforting just what we needed in the cozy atmosphere. The ambience of the restaurant is perfect peaceful, warm, and with a beautiful view.

On top of that, the service was excellent! The staff was friendly, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed. Everything about this place is top-notch. If you’re in Giethoorn, this is a must-visit!...

Bottom line - not recommended.

Longer story:

The young man handling boat rental for us was very rude. We understood that we paid extra for a boat with a steering wheel and he insisted he “explained it five times” (which he didn’t) “and was perfectly clear”. Very condescending and without real reason, while we were very polite and just trying to understand what we’re getting. He ended up refunding us which is fair but the unpleasant attitude was very unnecessary.

The boat wasn’t very convenient to maneuver with the stick (we took a different one a week ago - also with a stick - and it was much easier to control).

Otherwise, maybe it’s August, but the boating route was way too crowded (and it was too hot…)

Generally, in this situation I’d recommend joining a bigger boat where someone can drive you around in the shade, and not drive a boat yourself.

And if you’re taking a boat for yourself, maybe find a place with a...

Arrived at about 11plus in the morning rented the smaller electric boat for €15/hr. it is easy to operate the boat. Just throttle and go. Swing left and right for directions. Just need to be careful of other tourists who drink and steer the boats as it could impair their judgement as it had happened to us. The waterways are not deep with some areas only waist deep. It has been a hot summer and thankfully we brought umbrellas as it was scorching. The boat doesn’t have a shelter. Along the way, we stopped at a restaurant for lunch for about an hour and continued the rest of the journey. The people at Smit were friendly and the prices are the same throughout the day. I was informed by one of the staff that if you arrive early in the morning and book the boat for the whole day, they will work out a special price for you. It is possible to spend the whole day at Giethoorn or even stay for a short 3 day vacation. Overall a...