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School Trips to the Netherlands

The Netherlands continues to be one of our most popular school trip destinations for students of all ages.

The country’s unique culture, rich history and wealth of world-class attractions make it a perfect place to bring learning to life outside of the classroom. Whether the focus of your group is art, music, history, geography or a more general learning experience, NST can help tailor the perfect itinerary for you.

What better place to start than Amsterdam. The tall, narrow houses of the nation’s capital are a hallmark of Dutch architecture, as is the sprawling canal network that ranges over 30 miles in total and features 1281 bridges! Amsterdam is also home to several of the most prestigious museums in the Netherlands, including the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk and the Amsterdam museum.

For classes focussing on art and design, the city is also home to a number of specialist museums dedicated to Dutch masters such as Rembrandt and Van Gogh. With fascinating exhibits on all year round, students have the chance to experience great works of art first-hand, as well as understanding more about the artists who created them.

If you’re looking to give your class a firmer grasp of World War II history, the Anne Frank museum is a moving experience that serves to remind us of the extreme hardships facing Jewish people during Nazi occupation and the Holocaust. NST also offer a guided walking tour of the former Jewish district that allows groups to visit a number of famous monuments, memorials and synagogues.

For geography classes, the fact that more than half of the Netherlands is technically below sea level means that the country is an incredible case study for how people can deal with extreme geographical conditions. A day trip to the Deltapark Neeltje Jans and Delta Works theme park on the west coast offers unique insight into the issue of flooding, whereas the famous harbour cruise in Rotterdam shows how tourism and business can thrive together on a huge scale.

The Netherlands is also a fantastic choice for music teachers that are looking to arrange a school tour. The areas of Valkenburg and Maastricht in particular are renowned for their range of quality performance venues, such as the Kasteelruine, the Mondriaan and St Jan Church.

Browse our curriculum-linked school trips to the Netherlands

Amsterdam

Amsterdam 

What better place to start than Amsterdam. The tall, narrow houses of the nation’s capital are a hallmark of Dutch architecture, as is the sprawling canal network that ranges over 30 miles in total and features 1281 bridges!

Find more information about our school trips to Amsterdam here

The Dutch Coast 

The Dutch Coast 

The Dutch coast is wonderful affordable destination which offers a great range of beach resorts and attractions. 

Find more information about our school trips to the Dutch Coast here​


Netherlands school trip experts

Hundreds of students travel with NST to the Netherlands every year, and members of our team regularly visit Amsterdam and the Dutch Coast to really get to know the ins-and-outs of the area, from logistics and visits to our range of student-friendly accommodation.

Your dedicated Tour Co-ordinator will use their knowledge to create an itinerary that’s tailor-made, perfectly timed and meets your exact school travel needs.

They’ll be able to share their first-hand experience, suggest options you might not have considered and give you insight into the feedback other teachers have given us too.

Planning your first school trip?

If you're planning your first school trip, our essential guide will take you through each step of the process...

  • Choosing your destination
  • Gaining approval from your Local Authority and/or your Head
  • Promoting your tour in school
  • Confirming your booking
  • Tailor-make your tour
  • Completing your risk assessments (including a sample risk assessment)
  • Quick reference timeline
  • Pre-tour checklist

Additional support, resources & information

Tour planning service

Tour planning service

With NST, you’ll get your own dedicated, knowledgeable Tour Co-ordinator who’ll work with you from start to finish. You’ll benefit from their unrivalled destination knowledge, and their experience gained from working with many other groups too. They’ll tailor-make your itinerary from scratch and take care of everything for you: 

  • Pulling together an itinerary that runs smoothly 
  • Planning the right balance of visits every day with realistic timings 
  • Pre-arranging and pre-booking your visits, entrance tickets, passes and meals 

 

You’ll receive your final itinerary a full 4-weeks before you travel too.

Free school trip promotion pack

Free school trip promotion pack

We’ll support you and provide everything you need to advertise your school trip around school and to parents. Our free school trip promotion pack consists of: 

  • Parents’ letter & permission slip template for you to complete A3 posters to promote your trip around school 
  • PowerPoint presentation templates which you can tailor to your own needs 
  • Online parents’ video which showcases the benefits of taking a school trip 

Risk assessment support including preview visits

Risk assessment support including preview visit

Risk assessment plays a vitally important part in the planning and organisation on any school tour.

Our risk assessment guide aims to help you understand more about your obligations and how you can more effectively manage group safety on your next educational visit and provide you with risk assessments for your trip.

Planning first school trip

Planning first school trip

Organising your first school trip can appear to be a daunting process. 

If you're planning your first school trip, our guide will help to take you through each step of the planning process, answering frequently asked questions and providing tips and support along the way. 

Our helpful guide covers the following: 

  • Choosing your destination 
  • Gaining approval from your Local Authority and/or your Head 
  • Promoting your tour in school 
  • Confirming your booking 
  • Tailor-make your tour 
  • Completing your risk assessments (including a sample risk assessment) 
  • Quick reference timeline 
  • Pre-tour checklist 

 

View our essential guide to a successful school trip here

Get live updates on your group's tour location

Get live updates on your group's tour location

Locate My Trip uses GPS technology and is the easy, convenient way for your school to follow your location whilst on tour. Specifically designed to provide reassurance to both parents and teachers, NST will know where your group are 24/7. If your schedule needs to change, we’ll put plans in place to keep your tour on track. 

With Locate My Trip your group can also share photos and videos with the school and parents, via a secure link, to keep them updated on your experience whilst you’re away.

Watch our short Locate My Trip video here

Your online school trip organiser - My Tour Manager

Your online school trip organiser - My Tour Manager

Save time and stay on track with your school trip admin with our online orgnaniser - designed to help busy teachers like you. 

With My Tour Manager, you'll be able to download FREE resources and access trip paperwork online and in one place. Your personalised checklist details what you need to do and by when, plus you'll receive fortnightly reminders too. 

What's more, you can take all your trip documents on the go whilst on your tour with our app, My Tour Manager-On-the-Go. 

Find out more and watch out short My Tour Manager video here

Free classroom resources

Free classroom resources

We've created a range of free geography resources and educational posters to brighten up your classroom!

Take a look at our downloadable posters here

Why choose NST...

Here's why hundreds of teachers choose NST each year...

  • Unrivalled knowledge

Your dedicated tour co-ordinator will use their unrivalled local knowledge and expertise of the Netherlands to create a tailor-made, curriculum-linked itinerary to meet your group’s exact needs.

  • Making it easier for you

With our online school trip organiser, travel app, free classroom posters to support in-school promotion.

  • FREE group leader inspection visits

We offer a free inspection visit to your chosen destination to support your risk assessment planning. 

  • Value for money

We’re committed to bringing you the best possible value trips to help make every penny count.

 

  • More than 20 years’ experience

With over 20 years’ experience, with NST you can rest assured that your group is in safe hands.

  • Risk assessment guidance

Our risk assessment guidance will help you to manage group safety on your next educational trip. 

  • Peace of mind

Your group’s location can be followed with our trip tracking device - Locate My Trip - plus you’ll have 24/7 support from us whilst you’re away.

  • Offsetting carbon emissions

For every trip taken, we'll plant a Maya nut tree in Peru to support reforestation, local communities & biodiversity. Plus, we'll offset an additional tonne of CO2 to guarantee carbon emission reductions. 

Looking for protection on your next school trip? 

Booking with a school travel company is the best way for you to protect parents’ money and give yourself peace of mind.

Financial protection from the moment you book

NST are fully bonded & licensed:

  • ABTA
  • ATOL
  • IATA
  • Commission for Aviation Regulation

 

Managing safety on school trips

For your protection, NST's independently audited Safety Management System covers:

  • 24-hour emergency cover
  • Audited accommodation & transport
  • Excursions & school visit assessment
  • Group leader preview visits to assist with risk assessment planning

Package Travel Regulations 2018

Don't forget - if your school arranges transport, accommodation and other services directly, you’ll be liable under the Package Travel Regulations – meaning you’ll have all the responsibilities of a travel company, both legal and financial. 

We're LOtC Council’s Quality Badge assured

For groups travelling from Northern Ireland... the Department for Education advises schools to always look for the LOtC Quality Badge when choosing a school travel provider.

Learn more here