Forget the waterways of Venice, there is a peaceful village in the Netherlands that is based entirely on water - and life there looks like its straight out of a fairytale.
The idyllic Giethoorn has no roads or cars, and the only access to the area's quaint houses and public buildings are by cruising its beautiful canals or walking across over 176 wooden arch bridges. Even the postman reportedly does his rounds via boat.
Around 2,600 citizens dwell in the area, with island homes backing straight onto the water highways - perfect for ice skating in winter when the water freezes over.
The magical village's four miles of canals and thatched-roof farmhouses date back to the 18th century, and unsurprisingly lure many tourists who are keen to witness the settlement for themselves.
Visitors are forced to leave cars outside the village, and then travel by whisper boats, which have noiseless engines, by foot or on bike, leading to the area getting the nickname of Venice of the Netherlands.
Located in the province of Overijssel, the rustic settlement was founded by a group of fugitives from the Mediterranean region around AD1230. The metre-deep canals were later constructed by monks who needed a network to transport peat.
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