Sport Challenge Series in the Netherlands

14th-17th July 2025

Welcome to the inaugural Halsbury Sport Challenge Series in the Netherlands – a fun, inclusive football festival that will challenge your teams both on and off the pitch.

The beautiful game is never more fun than when played in the Netherlands on top-quality 4g pitches. Hosted in Utrecht (just south of Amsterdam), this two-day tournament will see schools from the UK and overseas mix it up with some local Dutch teams for a football festival that will last long in your students’ memories.

On the pitch, you'll round off your season against new and varied opposition. Off the pitch (when they’re not forging new friendships and taking part in our off-pitch football challenges), your team can enjoy a range of cultural and sightseeing activities in nearby Amsterdam. Or why not add a day on and include some top tier training at Feyenoord?

However you use your time, the Halsbury Sport Challenge Series in the Netherlands is the perfect way to round off your year.

Suggested Itinerary

The Sport Challenge Series will take place between 14th-17th July 2025.

Day 1

Morning

Meet coach and depart for the Netherlands

Afternoon

Arrive at the accommodation

Evening

Evening meal at the accommodation

Day 2

Morning

Enjoy some sightseeing in Amsterdam, including a canal cruise

Afternoon

Sport Challenge Series event day one - matches as per tournament schedule

Evening

Sport Challenge Series event continues

Evening meal at festival venue

Day 3

Morning

Rotterdam canal cruise

Afternoon

Afternoon at the beach

Evening

Sport Challenge Series event continues

Closing party

Day 4

Morning

Check out of accommodation

Afternoon

Depart for return travel to the UK

Evening

Arrive back in the UK

3 nights' half-board accommodation in Rotterdam
Executive coach hire throughout
Return Channel crossings between Dover and Calais or Dover and Dunkirk
Sport Challenge Series entry
Fixtures against UK and local schools
Halsbury Skills Zone
End of tour awards ceremony and disco
Professional referees
Event T-shirt
Free staff place ratio 1:10
Detailed information pack
Travel and medical insurance
Itinerary planning service
VAT

Sports Facility Venue

SV Parkout

SV Parkout in Nieuwgein offers fantastic facilities for teams, including a seated stand, top-quality 4g pitches and modern changing facilities.

Easily accessible from both Amsterdam and Rotterdam and with plenty of indoor and outdoor space for the post-festival socials, SV Parkout is the perfect location for our Netherlands Sport Challenge Series.

SKILLS ZONE

Between matches and training sessions, players can visit the Halsbury Skills Zone to participate in various challenges, from ball skills and footwork to teamwork activities. They can test themselves against teammates and opponents, all under the guidance of a Halsbury Skills Coordinator. The Skills Zone offers a fun and engaging break from competition, designed to improve individual skills, enhance team bonding, and sharpen their competitive edge. Even teachers can join in the fun!

Accommodation

a&o Rotterdam City

Right in the heart of Rotterdam, this hostel is ideal for your school trip to the Netherlands' second-largest city. WiFi is available throughout the property and guestrooms all benefit from private bathroom facilities. There is a 24-hour reception, as well as meeting rooms that can be booked for evening activities.

Meininger Amsterdam City West

The Meininger Amsterdam City West is located in Sloterdijk, part of the Westpoort area of Amsterdam. From the nearby Sloterdijk train station, it's just one stop to Central Station and all of Amsterdam's main attractions, and 10 minutes to Schiphol Airport. The hotel boasts fantastic facilities including a 24-hour reception, a lounge, a games zone and free WiFi throughout. Students will stay in shared rooms and dormitory-style rooms with teachers in singles or twins. All guestrooms have private bathroom facilities. And a healthy buffet breakfast will ensure your group are ready for a day spent exploring the Dutch capital!

Excursions

Rijksmuseum

With close to one million exhibits, Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum is the largest museum of art and history in the Netherlands.

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.

Space Expo

Space Expo, the visitor centre of the European Space Agency, is Europe’s first permanent space exhibition.

Walibi World

Walibi World guarantees a day full of exciting moments for everyone.

A'DAM Lookout

A’DAM LOOKOUT is an observation deck with an unrivalled panoramic view of Amsterdam.

Feyenoord Stadium Tour

Enjoy a tour of Feyenoord's stadium - De Kuip.

Supporting you every step of the way

Creating your perfect sports tour

Your quote will be put together by an experienced Tour Adviser who’ll be an expert in school sports 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 to parents and students

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

After you’ve booked

Once you’ve booked, your dedicated Itinerary Coordinator will start working 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 tour (making the whole process a lot less stressful for you).

Support while you’re away

While you’re out on tour, we’ll be at the end of the phone 24 hours a day to provide support should you need it. We’ll also send you a final info pack before you go and you’ll be able to access all your tour documents via the free Vamoos app.

After your trip

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