Giethoorn is a small village in the province of Overijssel that has earned the nickname "Venice of the North" — though the comparison flatters both cities in different directions. Giethoorn is genuinely pretty, with thatched farmhouses sitting along narrow canals threaded through the peatlands of the Weerribben-Wieden National Park. There are no cars in the old village: boats, bikes, and your own feet are how you get around.
The village is a popular day trip from Amsterdam (about two hours by train and bus via Steenwijk) and from Zwolle (30 minutes). On summer weekends it can feel overrun; visit on a weekday or in the shoulder seasons (April-May or September-October) for something closer to the peace it's known for.
Hire a whisper boat (a small electric punt) from one of the many rental places on arrival and spend a few hours drifting through the canal system past old farmhouses and wooden bridges. The experience is genuinely lovely. For a longer perspective on the landscape, rent a bike and cycle out into the wider peatland countryside — the national park around the village is flat, quiet, and beautiful. Several small local museums document life in the village over the past century.