2009 Dutch (NL3) Summer Tour

NL 3 organized by the R.C. Alblasserwaard and Regio Purmerend Waterland

Period:Saturday 13 June until Saturday 27 June 2009.

Age: 17 - 19 year; so at arrival in Holland not younger than 17 and

not older than 19 and be able to swim and bike

Group size: max.18 participants

Conditions:able to swim and bike

Program:

Alblasserwaard – First week:

In 2005 we organized a Summer tour also. It was a grateful time for our guests and for the guest-families as well. The Alblasserwaard is a polder (we live below sea level!), in the province South Holland. It is mainly known for the windmills of Kinderdijk, a village in the northwest of the Alblasserwaard. The Alblasserwaard is bordered by rivers on all sides with several villages with a total of 195.000 inhabitants. Extensive parts of the Netherlands are below sea level, and the Alblasserwaard is no different. Most of it has been won from the water through land reclamation, using the windmills on the Kinderdijk. This process led to the area being full of dikes alongside the rivers. Most of the Alblasserwaard is grassland, where in the spring and summer one will find herds of cows, sheep and goats. Our program will contain a lot of different elements. Some elements: a visit to the windmills at Kinderdijk (World Heritage List), the Delta Works, a visit to (main port) Rotterdam, swimming, etc. Because of these elements it is necessary to be able to swim.

Purmerend Waterland - Second week:

Purmerend Waterland is also a very interesting region. It contains world famous places, among others Edam, Volendam and the Beemster. Edam gave its name to the world-famous cheese, but if you visit this destination you will see that it is not only cheese, which is the main sight there.  In fact, Edam is a very peaceful and colorful settlement, which seems to be created for calm life and simple occupations. Just make some steps along its narrow streets - and you will feel the slowness of minutes and the serenity of people taking their time. The silence of Edam seems strange after a loud megapolis like Amsterdam and Volendam situated not far away and easy reachable by bus or car.  Volendam is a world-famous old fishing village on the IJsselmeer, boasts traditional costumes, sports, music and, of course, fish. The harbour backs onto numerous tiny cottages. During holidays and on the Volendammerdijk some people still wear their traditional costumes. The Beemster Polder, dating from the early 17th century, is the oldest area of reclaimed land in the Netherlands. It is on the World Heritage List. It has preserved intact its well-ordered landscape of fields, roads, canals, dykes and settlements, laid out in accordance with classical and Renaissance planning principles. It is a masterpiece of creative planning. The creation of the Beemster Polder marks a major step forward in the interrelationship between humankind and water at a crucial period of social and economic expansion.

Our program will contain: a visit to a cheese making factory in Edam, a visit to the old harbour of Volendam, a sightseeing tour through The Beemster and Amsterdam. There also will be plenty of time for shopping and relaxing and doing things together.

We hope to meet you!

Transport - if you travel:

by air -arrival at and departure from Amsterdam/Schiphol Airport or Rotterdam airport;

by train - arrival at Rotterdam Central Station and departure from C.S.Amsterdam

by bus - arrival at and departure from Rotterdam Central Station or C.S.Amsterdam.

Rotarians will meet you where you will arrive and bring you from where you will depart