Football Tour of Holland

May 2018

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Students in Holland with one of the accompanying members of staff, Mr Raitt.

A group of 32 students in Years 7, 8 and 9 have recently returned from a football-inspired trip to Holland. Organised by our PE Department, the trip was designed to inspire a passion for sport, health and fitness, whilst giving students the opportunity to experience Dutch culture.

The group travelled by overnight ferry to Amsterdam, which was a first-time experience for many, and the schedule of activities began immediately with a tour of the ultra-modern Amsterdam Arena, home to the Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax. Constructed over a two-year period the arena cost around €140 million and is famous for having a retractable roof.

Suitably inspired, the group then travelled to the Sportpark Duinwetering where they enjoyed the first of two football training sessions on Dutch ground, and on days three and four they were given the opportunity to try out their newly-perfected skills on the pitch in a number of age-rated fixtures against local youth teams VV Katwijk and Hazerswoudse Boys. All matches were an excellent display of skill, teamwork and good sportsmanship.

Although the overall theme of the trip was football, the well-planned itinerary also included opportunities to take part in a variety of activities such as Ten Pin Bowling, sightseeing in Amsterdam and a visit to the Duinrell Theme Park.

Combined with chances to sample the local cuisine and learn a little Dutch, the trip provided a complete cultural experience much enjoyed by everyone, so much so that participants are already requesting that the trip be organised for 2019.