Visitors on a boat trip through the flower-lined canals of Giethoorn in Overijssel, Netherlands

🇳🇱Overijssel & Waterland

Explore Giethoorn by boat, cycle through national parks, and discover medieval Hanseatic towns in Overijssel, one of the Netherlands' most rewarding family destinations.

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Your family guide

Boats, bikes, and medieval towns: exploring Overijssel with your family

“Skip the crowded Randstad entirely; Overijssel delivers everything families want from the Netherlands without the queues.”

— San & Jo

Overijssel is one of those regions that quietly surprises you. Tucked into the eastern Netherlands, it swaps the tourist crowds for thatched farmhouses, glassy canals, and forests that feel genuinely wild. If your family loves being outdoors without the chaos of a busy resort, this is your kind of place.

The variety here is what makes it so good for families. You can drift through Giethoorn's car-free canals in a flat-bottomed boat, cycle through the heathlands of Sallandse Heuvelrug, or wander the cobbled streets of Deventer and Zwolle where Hanseatic history is written right into the architecture. One day feels nothing like the next.

And the pace is wonderfully gentle. Overijssel rewards slow travel: packing a picnic, following a cycle path through the peatlands, or spotting otters at National Park Weerribben-Wieden. It is the kind of trip children remember not for the big ticket attractions, but for the freedom and the quiet adventure of it all.

Eastern NetherlandsProvince of Overijssel

April to OctoberBest time to visit

Euro (EUR)Local currency

Cities and places in Overijssel & Waterland

1 place

Giethoorn

Giethoorn is the Netherlands' car-free canal village with thatched farmhouses, 176 bridges, three family-friendly museums, and a national park on its doorstep.

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What makes it special

Why families love Overijssel

Giethoorn: the village with no roads

Giethoorn is genuinely unlike anywhere else in the Netherlands. The historic centre has no roads at all, so you explore entirely by boat, bicycle, or on foot along narrow footpaths. Children love the novelty, and the thatched farmhouses reflected in the canals make for some truly special family photos.

National Park Weerribben-Wieden

One of the largest lowland peat bog areas in northwest Europe, this wetland park is a brilliant place for families who love nature. Kayak through reed-lined channels, cycle the quiet paths, and keep your eyes open for otters, marsh harriers, and bitterns. It is uncrowded, beautiful, and genuinely wild.

Medieval towns your kids can actually explore

Deventer and Zwolle are two of the best-preserved Hanseatic towns in the Netherlands. Deventer has riverside walks and one of Europe's largest book markets. Zwolle has a historic city centre, St. Michael's Church, and the Museum de Fundatie with its striking architecture. History feels alive here, not just behind glass.

Heathlands, forests, and wide open space

Sallandse Heuvelrug National Park brings a landscape that surprises many visitors: forested heathland with gentle hills, perfect for walking and cycling. The Twente sub-region in the southeast adds more rolling terrain, while the Vechtdal and Reestdal valleys offer quiet, stream-fed nature walks away from any crowds.

A region built for slow, safe family travel

Overijssel has excellent cycling infrastructure, calm waterways, and uncrowded natural areas that make it genuinely easy to travel here with children. There is very little traffic in the places you will want to explore most, and the region has a safe, unhurried atmosphere that lets families actually relax.

Your kind of holiday

Cycling and outdoor adventure

Overijssel has hundreds of kilometres of well-marked cycle routes through polders, heathlands, forests, and along river banks. Hire bikes, pack snacks, and follow the knooppunt (numbered node) network at your own pace. It is one of the best cycling regions in the Netherlands for families.

Boating and waterland exploration

The canals of Giethoorn, the wetlands of Weerribben-Wieden, and the rivers of the Kop van Overijssel region are all best explored by water. Hire a small electric boat, join a guided canoe trip, or simply walk the towpaths and watch the world drift by. The whole region has a wonderfully watery, timeless quality.

History and heritage towns

Deventer, Zwolle, Enschede, and Staphorst each offer a different window into Overijssel's past. From Hanseatic trading history and open-air museums to medieval churches and riverside markets, there is genuine depth here for families curious about how people lived in centuries gone by.

Did you know?

Things to know about Overijssel & Waterland

Giethoorn has no roads at all

In the historic centre of Giethoorn, there are zero roads. Every house is reached by boat, bicycle, or on foot. It is one of the only places in Europe where you genuinely cannot arrive by car, and that makes it feel completely different for children.

Joppiesaus was invented here

That bright yellow sauce you see on chips all over the Netherlands? It was invented in Glanerbrug, a small village in Overijssel. If your kids are fans of dipping their fries, they are eating a little piece of Overijssel history every time.

Overijssel is home to rare wetland wildlife

National Park Weerribben-Wieden is one of the last places in northwest Europe where you can still spot otters in the wild. The park is also home to marsh harriers and bitterns, two birds that are rarely seen elsewhere. Bring binoculars and see who spots one first.

Taste Overijssel

What to eat with your family in Overijssel

Zwolse blauwvingers

These sweet pastry treats from Zwolle are a local favourite and great for curious kids. The name translates to 'blue fingers from Zwolle', which is a fun talking point in itself. Pick some up from a local bakery when you are exploring the city centre.

Kids love it

Stip

Stip is a thick buckwheat porridge traditional to Overijssel, served with butter and syrup. The traditional way to eat it is by dipping from the edges toward the centre, which kids tend to find surprisingly fun. It is warming, filling, and very much a local thing.

Must try

Humkessoep

This hearty pea and vegetable soup is specific to Overijssel and reflects the region's farming heritage. It is the kind of wholesome, comforting dish that hits the spot after a long day cycling or boating. Look for it on menus in local cafes and traditional restaurants.

Local favourite

Rye bread with local cheese

Overijssel has a strong dairy farming tradition, and local cheeses paired with dense rye bread are a staple you will find everywhere. It is an easy, fuss-free option for family lunches, especially if you are packing a picnic for a day out in the national parks.

Safe choice

Balkenbrij

A traditional meat-based dish rooted in Overijssel's farming past, balkenbrij is made from pork offcuts and buckwheat, typically sliced and fried. It is an acquired taste and more of a grown-up dish, but adventurous eaters in your family might enjoy giving it a try.

Local favourite