WELCOME
ON AN EXTRAORDINARY TOUR
CELEBRATING THE
65TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
LIBERATION OF THE NETHERLANDS
May
2 –
10, 2010
Sunday
May 2
Amsterdam
Guests from
different gateways will arrive in Amsterdam and tonight we will meet for a
welcome drink and group dinner in the Carlton
Hotel lobby at 7:00 p.m. We then wish you a restful night (in Dutch: Welterusten). (D)
Monday May 3
Scheveningen – The Hague – Delft – Amsterdam
After breakfast we depart for Scheveningen, a
real tongue twister for the non-Dutch. When the weather is nice, we can
dip our toes into the North Sea; otherwise we visit the famous Kurhaus
Hotel with its magnificently painted ceilings and eat a fresh herring
before continuing on to The Hague, also called Den Haag or 's-Gravenhage. We will view the Houses of
Parliament, the Inner court of Queen Beatrix' working palace, Queen Beatrix' house and Carnegie's Peace Palace. Our last stop today is at a
popular Delft Blue Pottery factory for an exhibition and tour. We return
to Amsterdam for dinner and overnight. (B, D)
Tuesday
May 4
Amsterdam –
Remembrance Day
Today
is a day to spend as you wish. We gladly make arrangements for those who
would like to attend a commemoration service at the Canadian War Cemetery
in Holten or Bergen op Zoom, the Polish Cemetery in Breda, the US Cemetery
in Margraten or the British Cemetery in Oosterbeek. Others may like to
visit the Anne Frank House, the Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh Museum to meet the
famous Dutch Masters on canvas, take an optional excursion to the cheese
market in Alkmaar, visit a diamond factory or join Ineke on a walking
tour. At 8:00 p.m. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands is expected to be
at the Dam Square, close to our hotel, to commemorate those who sacrificed
their lives for the freedom of the Netherlands during the Second World War
1940-1945. Flags will be at half mast and two minutes of silence for the Dodenherdenking
will be observed throughout the country. (B)
Wednesday May 5 Day
to Celebrate Freedom and to Thank Canadian Troops
Today is a National Holiday to celebrate the Liberation of the
Netherlands. Flags are raised and many festivities take place in Amsterdam
and throughout the country. We will be immersed in the music and
entertainment of this grand city that celebrates freedom in a spectacular
way –
a day to remember as long as we live. (B)
Thursday
May 6
Amsterdam
–
Wageningen –
Ede
After
breakfast we will check out of the Carlton Hotel and board our coach. Our
first stop is in Wageningen at Hotel
De Wereld where the terms of surrender ending World War II in the
Netherlands were negotiated. We are now amidst a most beautiful piece of
nature, unparalleled in the Netherlands. Many restaurants in this area
specialize in pancakes –
offered on our included lunch menu today. We will then check into our
hotel De Paasberg in the town of
Ede, a quaint town where bicycles are available and where we can go for a
ride or on a nature hike or rest and relax. Tonight you may wish to search
out a local restaurant for an authentic Dutch meal. (B, L)
Friday
May 7 De
Hoge Veluwe –
Voorthuizen –
Ede
After
a leisurely breakfast we venture out to the nearby Kroller Moller Museum
located in the National Park De
Hoge Veluwe. The museum centers on the extensive collection of
works by Vincent van Gogh, has a magnificent sculpture garden and, what I
always enjoy, the interactive Museonder,
an underground museum about everything that lives and has lived below the
surface of the earth. There is a pleasant restaurant where you may enjoy
lunch before we board the coach to Voorthuizen to attend the matinee two
hour performance of the Military Tattoo with the theme: Tribute
to the Veterans.
Our much loved local Lincoln
& Welland Regiment will
perform as well as the Band of the Canadian Armed Forces, the Regimental
Band and Pipes & Drums of the 48th Highlanders of Canada, and bands
from England, Australia, France, the Netherlands and Poland. We return to
our hotel for dinner and overnight. (B, D)
Saturday
May 8 Twello –
Deventer
At
ten o'clock Ineke's family has coffee and cake ready and welcomes you
to the Brinkman Equestrian Centre in Twello. Before lunch family members
and their friends will demonstrate dressage and jumping for the
Canadian/North American guests, while my sisters in law are busy preparing
us a hearty lunch. Saturday is
market day in Deventer; a hanseatic pearl located on the IJssel
River and full of history. While our driver takes the luggage to our
hotel, we meet a local guide at the main square on the Brink. She will
show us the Gothic weigh house built in 1528, the medieval Bergkwartier
with restored old houses, St. Lebuinus Church and Town Hall. We will
also visit the famous Bussink shop, where the Deventer Bussink's
gingerbread is still sold. We then have some leisure time to buy cheese
and liquorice at the market or relax on one of the many terraces, taking
in the atmosphere. We take the ferry across the river to reach the IJssel
Hotel, a magnificently restored neoclassical 19th century
building, our home for two nights. Dinner is on your own; you may wish to
take the ten minute ferry crossing back into the city or dine in this
fine boutique hotel. (B, L)
Sunday
May 9 Apeldoorn
–
Deventer
After
breakfast you will have the opportunity to attend a Sunday morning church
service; afterwards we will bring a lunch box and drive to Apeldoorn to
view and salute surviving veterans and their families marching by in the
65th Anniversary National Liberation Parade. Extraordinary
expressions of gratitude from the Dutch to the Canadians over a period of
65 years will move us to tears. Tonight we enjoy a farewell dinner at
the IJssel Hotel in Deventer and pack our suitcase to prepare for the
flight home. (B, L, D)
Monday
May 10 Deventer –
Amsterdam –
Toronto
After
our last Dutch buffet breakfast and a farewell to new found friends, a
coach will transfer us to the Amsterdam/Schiphol airport where we part
ways.
Tour
Cost, May 2 –
May 10, 2010: CA $2075 or US $1975
Price
per person based on double occupancy;
single supplement: CA $645 or US $615 (limited availability; book early!)
Included
in the Brinkman Travel Land Tour, May 2 –
10
All
touring in the Netherlands as per program
-
Eight nights accommodation in fine hotels with private facilities, hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling fees and local taxes: Amsterdam 4 nights, Ede 2 nights, Deventer 2 nights
-
Thirteen meals: 8 breakfasts (B), 2 lunches (L); 1 specialty dinner, as well as a welcome and a farewell dinner (D)
-
All sightseeing, including entrance fees where applicable, as per program
-
Services of local tour guide in De Hoge Veluwe and Deventer
-
Services of your full time hostess and Holland Travel Professional Ineke Brinkman, CTM
You
will receive at no charge
The
warm hospitality of the Dutch people, which is priceless!
Not
included
-
Roundtrip airfare from the airport nearest to you to Amsterdam. Brinkman Travel gladly assists you with making the best available arrangements for you from your closest gateway and provide you with the best value.
-
Optional but highly recommended insurance package, which can be obtained through Brinkman Travel. Premium is pending upon package price, age and duration
-
The meals that do not show as included in the program
-
All personal expenses
How
to book
Please complete the
attached booking form and submit with a $1000 non refundable cheque deposit made
payable to Brinkman Travel and deliver or mail to Brinkman Travel. Final
payment is due by March 1, 2010
Terms and Conditions
Booking
Please
complete the registration form and submit with a copy of your current
valid passport and a $1000 deposit to Brinkman Travel Inc, 8 Duke Street, St. Catharines,
L2R 5W3. The day of receipt will confirm your registration. The premium
for the optional but highly recommended insurance is also due upon
registration. Please contact Ineke for the premium, as this differs upon
age of passengers, duration and non refundable amount. Payments can be
made using cheque, cash or money order. If credit card payment is
preferred 3% must be added to the cost. Final payment is due no later than
March 1, 2010. Notification will be sent prior to the final payment date
to remind you of the balance owing.
Group
Size The
air and land tour is limited to a maximum of 44 people. To guarantee the
excellent group pricing for the land tour, a minimum of 25 passengers is
required.
Cancellation Fees and
Refunds
Cancellations are subject to the following maximum cancellation
charges:
-
For cancellations up to and including March 1, 2010: the deposit will be forfeited
-
Foe cancellations after March 1, 2010: 100% of the total price
All
cancellations, changes or refund requests must be received in writing and
shall be considered in effect as of the date notice is received. If you
need to cancel, Brinkman Travel Inc will refund all money paid towards
tour only less the applicable cancellation fee.
Insurance
We strongly recommend you purchase insurance coverage through
Brinkmen Travel to protect you in the event of trip cancellation,
protection to baggage, possessions and valuables, and to cover against
personal accident, as well as complete medical coverage. The insurance
premium is non refundable.
Pricing
All prices are based on August 4, 2009 exchange rates and supplier
quotations. In the event that significant changes take place (7% or more)
due to circumstances beyond our control, we receive the right to adjust
the prices.
Unused
tour arrangements
Portions of tour arrangements, or any other service or feature of
the package, which are not used, are neither refundable nor exchangeable.
Passport
Canadian and U.S. citizens must be in possession of a passport,
valid for at least three months from return date, to visit the
Netherlands. No visa is currently required for Canadian and U.S. passport
holders to visit the Netherlands
Travel
Documentation The
tour documents –
passenger list, hotel vouchers, suggested packing list and other
information material –
will be handed out/mailed three weeks prior to departure.
Change
in Itinerary Itineraries/hotel
accommodations and restaurant reservations are subject to change. Changes
are at the sole discretion of the tour organizers.
Responsibility
Brinkman Travel Inc of St. Catharines, Ontario acts as an agent for
the various companies, owners and contractors providing means of
transportation, accommodation or other services. Brinkman Travel Inc
assumes no responsibility or liability in connection with the service of
any aircraft, vessel, carriage or other conveyance which is used wholly or
in part, in the performance of this duty to the passengers, neither will
Brinkman Travel be responsible for any act, omission or error, or for any
injury, loss, accident, delay or irregularity, or any neglect or default
of any company or person engaged in carrying out the purposes for which
tickets or coupons have been issued. Brinkman Travel assumes no
responsibility or liability for errors or omissions resulting from acts of
God, strikes, weather, quarantines, sickness, government regulations or
any loss or expense resulting from the above contingencies. Expenses for
said losses shall be borne by the tour members. In the event it becomes
necessary or advisable for any reason to alter the itinerary or
arrangements, Brinkman Travel retains the right to do so. Additional cost
for such alterations shall be borne by the passengers.
Notice to Travelers Be aware that different living standards and practices and different standards and conditions with respect to the provision of utilities, services and accommodations might exist outside of Canada. Travel with an open mind and allow us to surprise you!
Brinkman Travel Inc, 8 Duke
Street, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada L2R 5W3
Phone: 905.988.9100 Email: mail
[at symbol] brinkmantravel.com
Website: brinkmantravel.com
TICO Reg. 4396230
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