Located in the municipality of Steenwijkerland within the Netherlands is the Dutch village Giethoorn. History in Giethoorn dates back to when fugitives of the Mediterranean region founded the village centuries ago. Once referred to as the "Venice of the North," Giethoorn has gained notable fame after appearing in the 1958 comedy "Fanfare" and has become an internationally familiar tourist attraction in the Netherlands.

Early History of Giethoorn

The village of Giethoorn was founded by a group of fugitives from the Mediterranean region in 1230. The first thing the fugitives noticed upon arrival was a large mass of goat horns which had been left over after an immense flood destroyed the area a few years earlier. Because of this discovery, they named the settlement Giethoorn, meaning "goat horn."

Mennonites in Giethoorn

By the 16th century, Giethoorn had a predominantly Mennonite population. During this time the congregation of Giethoorn was divided in 2 congregations, known as North Giethoorn and South Giethoorn. The North congregation belonged to the conservative Hulskoopers during the 16th century, and then to the Danzig Flemish Mennonites during the 17th and 18th centuries. Elders from Danzig often traveled to Giethoorn to perform baptisms and the Lord's Supper.

The much larger South Giethoorn congregation belonged to the Flemish branch and was sometimes referred to as the New Flemish Church. While it was less conservative than the North congregation, it was considered more conservative than other Dutch congregations. Silent prayer was used until 1780, and in 1811 the South Giethoorn congregation asked for complete freedom from military service.

Giethoorn's old meetinghouse was remodeled in 1856, and a new meetinghouse was built in 1871. The church was very active in the village during the mid-20th century and Giethoorn was one of the first Mennonite congregations to establish a Sunday school for children. In 1955 there were 2 Sunday schools in Giethoorn, together consisting of 200 children. A choir in Giethoorn was founded in 1914 and was composed of 40 members in 1955.

Modern History of Giethoorn

Today, Giethoorn's main attraction is the village itself, which is a peaceful and relaxing settlement. The bridges, boats, and waterways of Giethoorn are also some of the village's main attractions and are considered trademarks of the region.