School Music tour to Bruges & Flanders

Experience the beauty of Belgium and take part in the famous Last Post ceremony!

This small region of Belgium has it all, from picturesque cities such as Bruges and Ghent, through to coastal resorts, such as Blankenberge and Ostend. Add to this the WWI battlefields centred around Ypres, and it is clear to see that Flanders is full of unique and memorable performance experiences. Most importantly, your ensemble will have the opportunity to pay your respects by participating in the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate.

School Music tour to Bruges & Flanders

From

£419^PP

4 days, 3 nights

Performance Venues

Ghent Festival

The annual Ghent Festival takes place towards the end of the third week in July - the place to be at this time of the year whether you are a local or a visitor! Many groups ranging from bands to choirs are welcomed to perform, and be part of the celebrations, soaking up the fantastic Flemish atmosphere.

Band

Orchestra

Choir

Ypres Cloth Hall Colonnade

Perform an open air concert in the Ypres town square known as 'The Market Place'. Numerous markets and special events take place here throughout the year attracting many visitors to the town.

Band

Orchestra

Choir

Last Post Ceremony, Menin Gate

Every evening since 1928 the Last Post has sounded at the Menin Gate at 20:00 in homage to the fallen British and Allied soldiers of World War I.This poignant and moving service is attended by numerous visitors wishing to pay their respects each evening. Music groups are permitted to perform as part of the service, either singing or playing two hymns.

Band

Choir

St Rochus Church

This church is located in the centre of Blankenberge, perfect for concerts for your group.

Orchestra

Choir

The Cathedral of Saints Michel and Gudule

A Roman-Catholic church in Brussels, which was given cathedral status in 1962, this building offers a Gothic interior with a Baroque pulpit. The cathedral provides amazing acoustics for choir and orchestra performances and is often available for afternoon recitals for visiting choirs.The special attraction, however, are the Peregrine Falcons that nest on the top of the towers of the Cathedral. A live stream of the birds is available via the RBINS website.

Choir

Church of Our Lady

The Onthaalkerk Onze-Lieve-Vrouw, with its 122-metre brick steeple, dominates the skyline of the city. It is quite literally the ‘high spot’ of the stonemason’s art in medieval Bruges. The church also plays host to a rich collection of art treasures, of which the crowning glory is definitely the beautiful ‘Madonna and Child’ by Michelangelo. The choir aisle is also a treasure trove of exceptional pieces: paintings and exquisite woodcarving, the 16th-century ceremonial tombs of Maria of Burgundy and Charles the Bold, as well as other painted tombs from the 13th and 14th centuries, etc.Music groups are allowed to be part of their Mass or perform a concert there. Sacred/Secular repertoire only.

Choir

Wapenplein Bandstand, Ostend

Perform at this charming bandstand in the heart of a lively central square in Ostend!

Band

Bruges Grote Markt

Perform in the centre of Bruges' atmospheric Grote Markt.

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1

Morning

Early departure from school Ferry crossing

Afternoon

Arrive in Blankenberge Time to explore the resort

Evening

Rehearsal at the accommodation before or after evening meal

Day 2

Morning

Depart for Ghent to enjoy some time in this wonderful city

Afternoon

Late afternoon concert at Gentfest (late July only)

Evening

Travel back to accommodation and evening meal

Day 3

Morning

Travel to Bruges, visit the chocolate factory and climb the Belfry

Afternoon

Visit WW1 battlefield sites followed by concert in the Ypres Cloth Hall colonnades

Evening

Participate in the Last Post Ceremony and return to the hotel

Day 4

Morning

Depart after breakfast for Calais

Afternoon

Ferry/Eurotunnel crossing

Evening

Arrive back at school

3 nights' half-board accommodation
Return executive coach travel (TV/video/WC/seatbelts)
Return ferry crossings
Free staff place ratio 1:8
Organisation of 2 x concert performances
Participate in the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate (subject to acceptance)
Detailed information pack
Comprehensive travel and medical insurance
Motorway tolls and taxes
VAT

Accommodation

Brugges Youth Hostel 'Europa'

This comfortable and modern hostel is set in its own grounds and is non-smoking throughout. Most the rooms are en-suite. Groups are accommodated in multi-bedded rooms and group leaders in twins. Rooms have private lockers and there are extra ones at the reception.A buffet style breakfast is servded every morning and packed lunches are available on request. Evening meals can be provided in the hostel's restaurant.Facilities include a meeting area, cosy bar, TV room, table tennis, garden, boardgames, and free WiFi.

Ypres Lodge

Ypres Lodge is one of the top choice hotels for school groups travelling to the battlefields. It consists of 3 wings; all rooms are en-suite and have televisions. Students are in multi-bedded rooms while staff are provided with twins.Breakfast is served every day, and both packed lunches and the evening meal are available on request from the hotel's on-site restaurant.Hotel facilities free WiFi, pool tables, football pitch, table football, vending machines, karaoke facilities (on request) and a meeting room for group activities. There is also a bar for group leaders to relax in during the evening.

Excursions

Canal Boat Trip

When visiting Bruges, you simply cannot miss a boat trip on the canals - a trip that will make you

Belfry of Bruges

One of the city's most prominent symbols, the Belfry formerly housed a treasury and the municipal archives, and served as

Vivaldi Restaurant

Lovely restaurant situated in the market square in Ypres. Perfect for groups. Situated directly opposite the Flanders Fields Museum.

Bobbejaanland Theme Park

Bobbejaanland is a renowned theme park in Lichtaart, Belgium. It was founded by Bobbejaan Schoepen, a Flemish singer, guitarist, and entertainer who enjoyed international popularity in the fifties and early sixties.

In Flanders Fields Museum

This interactive museum mixes artefacts with documentary film, audio-visual presentations and contemporary artwork to vividly portray the horror and brutality

Tyne Cot British Cemetery

Take your students to the largest cemetery for Commonwealth forces in the world, and let them reflect on the sheer number of lives lost.

Sea Life Centre

Sea Life Centre Blankenberge is a popular visit for schools, with aquariums and an underwater tunnel where North-Sea animals can be seen. The Sea Life centre has various educational packages on offer, please enquire for details.

Supporting you every step of the way

Creating your perfect tour

Your quote will be put together by an experienced Tour Adviser who’ll be an expert in music tours and will know the destination really well too. They’ll work with you to create a tour to suit your group’s needs and meet your tour objectives.

Launching your tour

The next step is to get your tour approved and then get your musicians signed up to it. Our ‘Trip Launch Pack’ will help you with this step. This is full of resources (all free to download) designed to make your life easier at this crucial point in the tour planning process.

After you’ve booked

Once you’ve booked, your dedicated Itinerary Coordinator will start work on the finer details. They’ll make sure your itinerary makes the most of your time and they’ll take on most of the admin tasks for your trip (including making sure your concerts are well promoted).

Support while you’re away

Throughout your music tour, we’ll be just a phone call away (24/7). Before you go, we’ll send you a final info pack and you’ll be able to access all your tour documents via the free Vamoos app.

After your tour

When you return from your tour, we’ll ask you to complete a detailed feedback survey, so we can continue to improve the service we offer. And we can start planning your next tour, so you can give your musicians and their families plenty of time to pay for it (and so it’s less stressful for you).