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Holland and Borkum Steam Railway Holiday

A Load of Borkum

A Load of Borkum

Come party with the Dutch

Holiday date: Friday, 19th July 2024
Europe
Holland
6 days for  £1289 per person
£2578 for two people sharing
Single supplement £180
Tour reference: LB6/1
Price, based on 1.1 Euro to the £. (see Booking Conditions for currency fluctuation clause)

Up in Northern Holland there are attractions galore in an overlooked area of Europe as far as tourism goes. We mix it up big style and are confident that we are the only railway holiday company that even visits some of these places – read on

Holiday Highlights

A day trip, with steamy nostalgia, to the German island of Borkum
Ride Holland’s most famous steam railway and cruise across Ijsselmeer
Veendam’s “local” steam railway, the “STAR”
A steam driven windmill and bakery, as well as a canal trip by steamboat
Train rides in a peat bog!
A hotel with it’s own brewery

Holiday Itinerary

Day 1 - Friday

Our adventure begins when we meet at St Pancras in time to catch the mid-morning Eurostar direct to Amsterdam and change into Dutch railways to a place called Lelystad. Here we meet our coach and it’s an hours trundle up to Sneek. Arriving at about 18.30 we’ll get to know each other with a welcome meal (included) this evening.

By Agnes Monkelbaan - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=116795233
Day 2 - Saturday

We call this day our “Historic Triangle Circular” because using steam train, national railways, and coach we can link three delightful towns called Medemblik, Hoorn and Enkhuizen. This is a highlight day out, during which you can enjoy the dramatic drive over the Afsluitdijk Dam, visit the towns, ride Holland’s most famous steam railway and cruise across Ijsselmeer – wow!

Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 - Sunday

With luggage on board our coach goes ahead as we take to the rails travelling from Sneek, via Leeuwarden and Meppel, to a place called Hoogeveen. A short drive away from here there are two absorbing attractions. We will relax with trains, tea/coffee, beers and Dutch cake in “peat country” near Erica. Enjoy a narrow gauge railway and learn the Dutch way of life at Veenpark and sample pancakes, in a pancake house, at Barger-Compascuum. We then drive north for an hour to Veendam which is in the middle of nowhere but boasts two railway stations and is our home for the remainder of the holiday.

Meals: Breakfast
By Joost Pals - Veenpark Barger-Compascuum, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=71167309
Day 4 - Monday

The joy of this part of Holland (the most densely populated country in Europe) is that there are no crowds up here. Everything and everywhere, is easy going, by the end of today’s itinerary you’ll know what we mean. Our “local” day will introduce you to a steam driven windmill and bakery, a gorgeous little steamboat & canal trip, and the local steam railway (STAR). All great fun and very “local”.

Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 - Tuesday

We need to do something different today, so here we go, the highlight of the holiday we think! – to the German island called Borkum. A lovely boat trip to get there is followed by some classic Inside Track events, including our privately chartered steam train and hauled by “Borkum”, plus an island tour, and surprises organized and hosted by our lifelong friend, Wilfried. Another unforgettable day!

Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 - Wednesday

We return to London today via Rotterdam and Brussels, arriving back late afternoon, having spent the journey reflecting on a most extraordinary holiday.

Meals: Breakfast

Railways

Coming soon!

Our Hotel(s)

3 Star

The Parkzicht Hotel, Veendam

Situated in the middle of a very quiet town – Veendam. The hotel is family run (The Appies!) and is a very happy place to stay! It is unusual but then most of Northern Holland is. The hotel features very pleasant rooms with TV, telephone and private facilities, and a very good restaurant for meals and snacks. It also has its own brewery so one can enjoy the fantastic selection on offer. On a pleasant evening nothing could be finer than dining on the town square.

Features and Facilities

Bar / lounge
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Bicycle rental
Air conditioning
Flatscreen TV
Room service
Non-smoking rooms
4 Star

The Hotel Van der Valk, Sneek

A modern hotel and spa built beside a lake on the outskirts of historic Sneek. This place oozes class with spacious bedrooms, a large restaurant and bar overlooking the lake, and full spa facilities. Its situation makes it ideal for our historic triangle day to the south of the north!

Features and Facilities

Airconditioning
Bathtub
Free WIFI
Desk with chair
Blowdryer
Small fridge
Phone
Walk-in rainshower with separate handshower
Coffee and tea facilities
Nespresso coffee machine
TV 50 inch

What's included

Transport

All heritage railway rides
All public transport journeys, in standard class accommodation
Private coach transfers throughout the holiday

Entertainment

All entrances
Detailed itinerary/information pack
Services of courier throughout

Accommodation

Hotel accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis

What's not included

Travel to/from the holiday start point
Personal holiday insurance
Porterage
Other meals
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