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Image: People on boats going down a canal in Giethoorn

How This Little Town Survives without Roads or Cars

What if you never again had to sit in traffic or hear the sound of a loud engine?  In Giethoorn, you wouldn’t have to! With an intricate system of canals connecting the town, you’d grab your groceries, get your mail, and go out to tend your cows all by boat. It’s a quieter way of life we may all find ways to adopt.

So many of us live in places where roads are king and idling engines and horns rule the air. But what if there weren’t any? What if, instead of the sound of passing traffic, you heard water and waves from boats passing outside your window? Today, we get to see for ourselves what that fantasy would be like as we visit the very real town of Giethoorn in the Netherlands!

Image: People on boats going down a canal in Giethoorn
Source: Wikimedia

This idyllic town has been noted to be so quiet, the loudest sound may be the quack of a duck. Can you imagine?

In a world where silence is becoming a rare commodity, the way Giethoorn has stayed true to their calm, roadless way of life is all the more special. With “whisper boats” that have silent engines, canoes, kayaks, punters (a boat originally from Giethoorn), and over 150 wooden bridges across their 4 miles of shallow canals, people have plenty of other, quieter ways to get around.

As I look out my window to the paved street below with cars parked along it, I can’t imagine just how much more pleasant it would be to see someone paddling by.

For a taste of this lovely town, we’re turning to one of our favorite channels, Great Big Story!

Via: Great Big Story 1

If you’d like to see more from Great Big Story, head on over to their YouTube channel!

Wondering what they do in the winter? Sometimes, the canals totally freeze over and they’re able to skate to work! (Sadly, this is becoming less and less frequent as the climate changes.)

Image: People ice skating down the frozen canals in Giethoorn
When the canals freeze over, people can skate to work!
Source: Pixabay

If you’d like to learn more about Giethoorn, I suggest this quick piece over on Atlas Obscura.

Isn’t it lovely to go on these mini vacations?

Sometimes, it’s just nice to know that a different way of life is totally possible. Just imagine, the next time you’re sitting in your car in traffic, that you’re in a boat in Giethoorn, probably hanging out with a duck.

Giethoorn shows us that we don’t always have to change what’s already been happening in our towns to match the times. While the rest of the world connected itself with concrete and gasoline, Giethoorn stuck to their boats and hand-dug canals. (They were dug in the 13th century in order to transport peat. 2)

New innovations are amazing, and they can take us to unimaginably brilliant places. But sometimes, the best places they can take us are back to our roots.

While cars and roads may be unavoidable in your life, what else can you do to find more quiet?

Maybe try planting a garden—either in planters or right in the soil if it’s safe—or seeing if there are any nonprofit bike shops in your area who can hook you up with a new ride! Getting back to basics in these ways can help you slow down and relax. Because what’s more annoying than a line at a grocery store or hours of traffic in a hot car?

To see how more people are slowing down and finding more quiet in their lives, check out these articles!

The Simplest Way to Train Your Brain! 

This routine has been shown to boost our memory, combat depression and anxiety, and reduce pain—all without expensive equipment, special skills, medications, or taking hours out of our day. But is meditation really a practical addition to our busy lives? One of our favorite creators puts it to the test. 

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The Tiny Town That Became a Kingdom of Books

In the 70s, the UK gained a new, independent kingdom: a kingdom of books! Explore Hay-on-Wye, a tiny town in Wales that is every book lover’s dream!

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The Joy of Sharing! New Wisdom On An Age-Old Cycle

Whether you’re just starting out on your journey or you’ve become a master of your craft, you can be a part of a cycle that goes back millennia. What is this ancient cycle and how can it apply to our lives today? Let’s head to the hills of Colorado and find out!

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As always, my friend, stay open to new possibilities!

  • Sam

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Notes:

  1. Great Big Story. “No Roads, No Cars, Just Boats.” YouTube, 13 June 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3t1cg2ZOxc. Accessed 11 Mar. 2021.
  2. “Giethoorn.” Atlas Obscura, 29 Apr. 2014, www.atlasobscura.com/places/giethoorn. Accessed 11 Mar. 2021.
Image: Samantha Burns

Sam Burns

Former Editor-In-Chief

Sam wrote and edited hundreds of articles during her time on the Goodness Exchange team from 2016-2021. She wrote about topics from the wonders of nature to the organizations changing the world and the simple joys in life! Outside of the Goodness Exchange, she’s a part-time printmaker, collector of knick-knacks, and procurer of cheeses.

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