Chapter Euro Weekend Tour. LET’S GO DUTCH (AGAIN)

STENA HARWICH FERRY TO HOEK VAN HOLLAND

DEPARTS : THURSDAY 5th SEPTEMBER 2024 at 2300 hrs

RETURNS : SUNDAY 8th. SEPTEMBER 2024 at 1345 hrs departure

(Arrives Harwich UK at 19:45hrs)

HOTEL : HOTEL VAN DER VALK ,DEN HAAG – WASSENAAR

ZIJDEWEG 54, 2245 BZ

FRIDAY 6th. SEPTEMBER 2024 – SUNDAY 8th. SEPTEMBER 2024

2 NIGHTS

Please note the Address of our hotel as there are other VAN DER VALK hotels in the immediate area .

There will be more info to come nearer the time but if you need to clarify any details , please come back to be using the chapter Treasurers contact email address.

Looking forward to it.

There will be a return of the 2016 Tour and travelling back to the newly refurbished Van der Valk Hotel in Wassenaar. (Lets hope they have forgiven us and forgotten all that happened on our original Tour ! )

Thursday 5 September . Early evening Dinner meet-up at the Cricketers , Eight Ash Green for those who can make it and anyone else skiving and for us to then make our way to Harwich for the Stena ferry to Hoek van Holland .An alternative for the conscientious workers would be to make your own way later ,after work, to Harwich, planning to arrive around 2100hrs for the 2300hrs departure . We shall be staying at the Van der Valk Hotel in Wassenaar , a suburb of Den Haag and approximately 40 minutes from the ferry port . Please note always refer to Wassenaar as there are other Van der Valk hotels in the Den Haag area. The hotel is currently closed for refurbishment but is taking bookings.

Friday 6 September Ferry arrives Hoek van Holland around 0800 and weather dependent (otherwise we shall reschedule the next day, Saturday) and as we are on our Harleys , there will be an organised ALL DAY ride to the Afsluitdijk ,located in North Netherlands and the main Dyke protecting Amsterdam. The Dyke is 20miles (32kms) long with a cafe half way across and where we shall stop for lunch . It is a spectacular engineering feat to view. It is important, however, that everyone is fully aware that this ride is around 145 kms (90 miles) EACH way riding on mainly motorways at 60-70 mph . We shall need to make good progress on the day .I am well aware this may not be to everyones choice , so there will be other options for those who may wish to explore other more local venues , some of which are mentioned below.

Saturday 7 September . If the Friday ride had been cancelled due to poor weather then we would consider running the ride leaving the hotel around 9.00am . The Tour weekend is all about options for everyone . Some in the past took the train from Den Haag to Amsterdam for a full day trip. You could ride the Harleys but the parking and in particular security can be particularly poor in Amsterdam . I would chose the 40 mins Train as the easier option, but that is my opinion .

There is Madurodam….. an spectacular model village …trains, boats etc and it is huge . Located approx 30 mins ride away from Hotel . There is also the Louwmans Motor Museum with a worldwide reputation for their collection of classic cars and all things relating to motor vehicles including motorcycles …. . About 1 mile from hotel …..would be walkable .( I suggest you Google these venues for more details)

There is Den Haag .. Capital city of the Netherlands …10 mins by taxi ..either for a day trip or for Dinner in the evening . Rotterdam is also accessible for a day visit . Our Hotel also has a restaurant .

Sunday 8 September….We shall be taking the 1345 hrs departure ferry from Hoek having had hotel breakfast and , if time permits , an ‘on the way brunch’ in Schevengen , the seaside resort of Den Haag and close to the ferry at Hoek Van Holland . The Ferry arrives in UK approx 2000 hrs for those to then return home ….and back to work on Monday . The Ferry is large with restaurants and cinema .

If this outline is of interest, could you could email me with your contact details. I shall be publishing Ferry and Hotel booking details during January to those who have registered an interest . I show my Chapter contact email address below. I shall not be collecting any money from you as your bookings will be direct. I am just using my Chapter email address .

Simon McKay
Essex Chapter contact via the Treasurers email link on our Website or the link below.

Summary
Date of Rideout: Sat/Sun 18/19th May 2024
Destination: Cambridge
Other costs: DGR registration and hotel
Other Information: DGR pre-registration compulsory. o/n hotel stay.
Email Simon Mckay (treasurer@essexchaptergb.com) for further details