There is tangible warmth that the Dutch exude towards the English when they visit their country and this affable trait is a characteristic that can only enhance your sports tour in the Netherlands.
Culturally the Dutch Masters give rise to high quality fine art galleries showcasing the works of Rembrandt and Vermeer who revolutionized the art world with their brush strokes in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Gastronomically, cheese haters beware, Holland has been manufacturing cheese for over a thousand years and it dominates their cooking.
The Hague
The Hague is the third largest city in the Netherland and houses the Dutch government as well as the international Criminal Crt and many other international head-quarters. As a result of this The Hague’s population of 500,000 is extremely cosmopolitan with up to half of it made up of foreigners, making it a city of many faces. It is extremely rich in culture with a rich assortment of museums and art galleries as well as an eclectic mix of modern and ancient architecture. There are 11 km of sea front alive with sea food restaurants and many things to do including bungee jumping of the pier!
Amsterdam
As a tour destination this vibrant city of flowers is hard to beat. Hockey girls may be easily persuaded to visit the Tulip Museum or the Van Gogh Gallery but footballers will be happier jumping off canal boats and sampling the hamburgers in the many fast food outlets and cafes that surround its beautiful waterways and squares. Hiring a bike and joining the millions of other bike riders here is one means of seeing the city, or a canal boat will weave you through the beautiful eighteenth century town houses that cheer the city up with their bright pastel colours. Try touring on a Segway to rest those tour weary legs!
Rotterdam
The Euromast in Rotterdam’s harbour stands at 185 metres high and with its mast top restaurant is an excellent venue to discuss the wins and losses of your team’s Rotterdam tour while enjoying the splendid panoramic views. Take a boat trip around the harbour or visit the Delft museum before enjoying a shopping trip in one of the world’s most luxurious shopping centres. No trip to a Dutch city would be complete without a trip to a windmill, go to Delveshaven and visit the one there for that memorable final team photograph.
Tilburg
A great place for a sports tour Tilburg is home to the biggest funfair in Europe with over 230 attractions! Visit the Trappist monastery of Koningshoevem and take a tour of the brewery there. The Efteling theme park just outside the city is well worth a visit too. Tilburg is famous for its textile industry and is surrounded by beautiful countryside as well as splendid parks to warm up the calf muscles in before hitting the playing fields of your tour hosts.
Eindhoven
Eindhoven was founded in the 13th century and yet is linked with the modern world through the establishment here of the world renowned Phillips electronic company. Many of the city’s modern attractions reflect this. As you walk out from the train station for instance, look back and enjoy the sight of the station building designed to resemble a Phillips radio of the 1950s. The Blob is a modern glass building that houses a shopping centre and has become an attraction in its own right. For Sci Fi fans, the building with the most allure has to be the Evoluon which resembles a typical image of a UFO. One of the great things about Eindhoven is its size: the city centre is largely car free and small enough to get around on foot. If you're headed for the outskirts or surrounding villages, take the bus or rent a bike.
