In Europe’s flattest country, where a fifth of the land has been reclaimed from the sea, small cities, iconic windmills, windswept coastlines and castle ruins are never more than a few hours apart. Holland’s diverse attractions and compact size make it an ideal destination for school groups.

Anne Frank’s house, Van Gogh’s paintings and South-Africa’s diamonds - Amsterdam’s banks are bursting with world-class museums. Visit the seat of the Dutch government and the European Court of Human Rights in The Hague, and walk across the largest land reclamation project in Europe, at Rotterdam. Travel south through fertile polders and tulip fields to visit turreted castles, Roman catacombs and underground coal mines in Valkenburg.

Students have the opportunity to investigate the relationships between humans and the natural environment and visualise interconnectedness of our global community. Alongside a wealth of curriculum objectives, students are able to compare lifestyles in the Netherlands with those in the UK, enriching their understanding of Europe’s diverse landscapes and cultures.

Key Information

Travel: Getting to Holland is quick and easy - groups can travel by coach or by air. Holland’s extensive public transport system is one of the best-connected in the world.

Accommodation: STS offers a range of coastal and town-centre hotels, youth hostels and family-run chalets to suit all budgets.

Weather: A maritime climate of cool winters and mild summers, Holland can be visited throughout the school calendar.

Spending money: A mid-range Euro destination, students will find the Netherlands neither dirt-cheap nor super-expensive.