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Thatching is the craft of building a roof with dry vegetation such as straw, water reed, sedge

(Cladium mariscus), rushes, or heather, layering the vegetation so as to shed water away

from the inner roof. It is a very old roofing method and has been used in both tropical

and temperate climates. Thatch is still employed by builders in developing countries,

usually with low-cost, local vegetation. By contrast in some developed countries

it is now the choice of affluent people who desire a rustic look for their home,

would like a more ecologically friendly roof, or who have

purchased an originally thatched abode.

These are a few of the hundreds of wonderful houses

with thatch roofs that we saw in The Netherlands.

Many of these houses were located in the Weerribben,

which is part of the national park Weerribben-Wieden.

The whole of Giethoorn is a highlight in itself. It’s located in the Wieden, which is part

of the national park Weerribben-Wieden. The people of the village are proud of their

characteristic houses with thatched domes overlooking the canals.

These were dug in past centuries for the transport of peat.

This industry has created major lakes that lie to the east and south of the village.