Giethoorn and the Hanseatic medieval city of Deventer

The little water village of Giethoorn is often referred to as "Venice of the North. " Small houses along small canals still witness the times when the peat moor was exploited. Harsh work in harsh conditions resulted in a now well preserved and lifely setting worth visiting. From poverty to prosperity the village displays itself in a setting that can be best described as a pleasant, picturesque, romantic and photogenic. Several Dutch cities in the east were major players in the medieval Hanseatic trading union which was a cooperation of traders and cities along the North and East Sea shores. It's a story about wealth and success in the east of Holland, where the West of Holland was more, and later in time, into trade with the Orient. The city of Deventer probably was the most important city among those cities and that reflects in its decorum. The city has been beautifully restored. Experience the daily pace of life in a typical Dutch city that is not crowded with tourists.