Students will learn about life under Nazi rule, the devastation of the Holocaust, and WW2 combat.
School trips to the Netherlands can be a great option for many subjects, including art, science, history and religious studies. Plus, the short journey times from the UK make educational tours to the Netherlands ideal for groups with a limited budget or timeframe.
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Why visit the Netherlands?
The liberal, tolerant society
The Netherlands has a long history of social and religious tolerance. In fact, from the 16th century, the Netherlands were a haven for Jews who were being persecuted elsewhere in Europe. This changed during the Holocaust – it's estimated that around 75% of Dutch Jews were murdered.
On a school trip to the Netherlands, your students will learn more about the religious tolerance within Dutch society before the Second World War. They’ll hear the personal stories of those like Anne Frank who were persecuted by the Nazis during the Holocaust. And they’ll find out how the Netherlands has revived its spirit of multiculturalism and tolerance.
The fascinating history
Most school groups who choose to visit the Netherlands do so to learn more about what life was like under Nazi occupation. They’ll learn about the experiences of the Jewish communities, most of whom were deported and murdered in Nazi concentration camps.
They’ll also learn about the Dutch Resistance and will hear the stories of the personal risks taken with a visit to the Dutch Resistance Museum in Amsterdam. The museum also features reconstructed streets where your students can feel and hear the atmosphere of Nazi-occupied Amsterdam.
The rich, diverse culture
The Netherlands boasts a rich, diverse culture, and is famous for its egalitarian and liberal society, making this a wonderful destination for any school trip.
For example, for art students, there is an exciting opportunity to discover the Dutch Golden Age. The many fantastic museums and art galleries in Amsterdam offer students the chance to see works by many of the Dutch Masters, including Rembrandt, Vermeer and many more.
And during December, why not give your students an unforgettable festive treat with a trip to the Christmas Markets in Valkenburg? Home to Europe’s largest underground Christmas market, which is held in a cave, this is one your students will never forget!
Browse our trips
The Nazis & the Holocaust School Trip to Amsterdam & Arnhem
School Art Trip to Amsterdam
Inspire your art students with the works of Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and more in Amsterdam's museums.
£420PP
School Science Trip to Amsterdam
Bring science to life with a visit to Space Expo, the visitor centre of the European Space Agency.
£229PP
School Religious Studies Trip to Amsterdam
Discover the tragic consequences of religious hatred during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands.
£550PP
School Christmas Markets Trip to Bruges & Valkenburg
Your lucky students will experience a Belgian and Dutch Christmas with a school trip to Bruges and Valkenburg!
£245PP
Activities in The Netherlands that your school group will love
Anne Frank House
Take your students to the building (now a museum) where Anne Frank and her family hid during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands.
Amsterdam Canal Cruises
Enjoy a cruise along Amsterdam's famous canals and take in the photogenic streets with full commentary.
Resistance Museum Amsterdam
The permanent, bilingual exhibition of the Resistance Museum contains artefacts that tell the story of the Dutch Resistance.
The National Liberation Museum 1944-1945
Ideal for history students, this museum brings the historical events of Operation Market Garden and the liberation of the Netherlands back to life.
Jewish Historical Museum
The Jewish Historical Museum collects objects and works of art associated with the religion, culture and history of the Jews in the Netherlands.
Rembrandt Museum
The Rembrandt House Museum owns an almost complete collection of Rembrandt’s world-famous etchings. Ideal experience for groups interested in art.
Van Gogh Museum
Holding the world's largest collection of works by Vincent van Gogh, this museum charts the development of van Gogh's artistic style and has a wide range of activities for pupils.
Valkenburg Christmas Market
Valkenburg's annual Christmas Market is held in an underground grotto, offering a special, seasonal atmosphere for visitors.
Rijksmuseum
With close to one million exhibits, Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum is the largest museum of art and history in the Netherlands.
Where to visit in The Netherlands
Amsterdam
In Amsterdam, your students can explore a truly diverse and fascinating city.
Amsterdam is a popular choice for several subjects, including art, religious studies, science and history, and particularly for groups focusing on the Nazis. The sheer number of educational visits and activities makes Amsterdam ideal for cross-curricular trips too.
Valkenburg
Allow your students to explore Valkenburg, a lovely city known for its historic buildings and beautiful scenery.
Valkenburg is very popular among school groups keen to experience the atmospheric Christmas markets. Most groups choose to combine this with a visit to Bruges for a multicultural Christmas experience.
Learn more
01 May 2018
Here's why Amsterdam makes a great choice of destination for a school trip.
03 May 2018
Why should you include a visit to Anne Frank House on your school trip to Amsterdam?
Why choose Halsbury?
We build your trip around you
Tell us your learning objectives, curriculum and budget and we’ll do the rest.
Contact usWe’re trusted for a reason
We’re members of ABTA, ABTOT and the School Travel Forum. We also hold an ATOL and the LOtC Quality Badge.
Read moreOur Education specialists
Laura Lucas
Tour Consultant
Paul Hudson
Tour Consultant
Laura Martin
Language Sales & Product Manager
Emma Gray da Silva
Tour Consultant
Meet our education specialists and get to know more about the people committed to making your school trip the best it can be.
FAQs
I can’t see the destination I’m looking to travel to, can you still help me with my trip?
Of course.
We've got great relationships with suppliers all over the world, so we should be able to arrange something for you to suit your budget and trip objectives in your preferred destination.
Just get in touch with us and we'll let you know what we can do.
Do you offer travel insurance?
We do. Travel insurance is an optional extra and you can find out more about it in our travel insurance resource (which includes the policy documents and FAQs).
If you decide against arranging this insurance through us (which is absolutely fine, by the way), please just remember you must have suitable travel and medical insurance to cover your group.
What accommodation options are available?
The accommodation options that are available vary depending on the destination but we're usually able to arrange everything from hostel-style accommodation to more luxurious hotels.
On each of the trip pages, you'll see some accommodation options - these are usually the most popular for those destinations, but we often have plenty of other options available. You'll discuss accommodation options (and budget) with your Tour Adviser when they're putting your quote together, so don't be afraid to let them know if you want something different.
We only work with accommodation options that are suitable for schools. As a member of the School Travel Forum (STF), you can be certain that all accommodation contracted by us complies with local legislation with respect to fire and general safety, is contracted by trained Halsbury Travel staff or reputable agents, receives a standard audit and risk assessment prior to use by Halsbury Travel and receives a supplementary audit if it is used on five or more occasions in a year.
Can the trip itinerary be adapted to my curriculum and requirements?
Every single trip we arrange is tailor-made, so yes, the itinerary can be adapted.
Our Tour Advisers and Itinerary Coordinators are all experienced school travel specialists. They'll work closely with you to make sure your itinerary supports your learning objectives. They'll be able to offer suggestions and advice to make sure you make the most of your time.
So, when you're browsing through our school trips, just remember that the itineraries and activities you see are there for inspiration only - your own itinerary can look as similar or as different as you want.
Equally, we've suggested trip durations based on what groups usually request - if you want to go for a shorter or longer duration, just let us know.
How far ahead should I start planning my trip?
As a general rule, we recommend that you start planning your trip 12-18 months before you want to travel. This gives you plenty of time to get it approved and launched to students and parents.
Planning early will mean you have a greater choice of accommodation and travel options - and it will make paying for the trip easier for families, as they'll be able to break it down into smaller, more manageable payments.
You can check out our trip-planning timeline for a better idea of the process and when you should expect to be doing things.
If you are looking to travel sooner than this, it is possible. It will depend on availability and you may find prices are a bit higher, but get in touch and we can see what's possible.
Let's chat!