Steenwijk
Giethoorn's railway gateway, with its star-shaped fortress ramparts and cathedral preserved; a worthwhile hour to explore while changing trains.
Steenwijk is the railway station you must pass through on the way to Giethoorn, and it is also a historic fortified city. During the Eighty Years' War in the 16th and 17th centuries it was besieged several times, and today the old town is still surrounded by well-preserved earthen ramparts and a moat. Walking paths along the walls let you circle the town, and there are remains of fortifications near Rams Woerthe. The main sights are the old market square and the Great Church of St Clement (Grote of Sint-Clemenskerk), and the church tower can be climbed in summer. It takes about 10 minutes to walk from the station to the old town, and a visit takes 1–1.5 hours.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Bovenwijde
- Giethoorn
- Museum De Oude Aarde
- Giethoorn Village Canals (Dorpsgracht)
- Museum Giethoorn 't Olde Maat Uus
- Colonies of Benevolence – Frederiksoord
- Hunebed D53 Havelte
- Dwarsgracht