Most primary schools in the Netherlands go on a school trip every year. Finding a suitable destination for a school trip can be quite a difficult task; especially because a destination should preferably be fun, educational, affordable and original. This article therefore contains a number of ideas and tips.
Theme park
It may no longer be very original, but an amusement park can be a good destination for a school trip. Children often love to go to an amusement park, and it can really be called a fun and enjoyable outing. Many theme parks have special packages for school trips, so that you do not have to pay the full price or that food and drinks are included in the price. By the way, an amusement park does not necessarily have to be as big as ‘the Efteling’ (more suitable for the upper grades); There are numerous smaller amusement parks such as ‘Koningin Julianatoren’ or ‘Speelstad Oranje’.
The Nature School
The school trips organized by the ‘Nature School’ are becoming increasingly popular. The Nature School organizes school trips ‘by the sea’, such as in Schoorl or Lauwersoog, but also in the forest, for example. During the school trips, children actively work in nature and also learn a thing or two. Schools that have previously organized a school trip through the Natuurschool are often positive. The trips are well supervised by Nature School staff. For more information, please visit www.natuurschool.nl.
Zoo
Educational and fun can be combined by going to the zoo for a day with students. The Netherlands has numerous zoos, such as the ‘Noorderdierenpark’ in Emmen, the ‘Safaripark’ in Beekse Bergen or ‘Burgers Zoo’ in Arnhem. Just like amusement parks, zoos often offer special packages for school trips. Sometimes a guide at a zoo can give a tour to the children. An alternative option to a ‘large’ zoo in the Netherlands could be a smaller zoo (or animal park) in the Netherlands or just across the border. In addition to the smaller zoos in the Netherlands, there are numerous zoos (just across the border) in Germany that are definitely worth a visit. Zoos in Germany are often well known for their price-quality ratio and their cleanliness.
Museums
Children often experience a visit to a museum with the class as great fun. A large number of museums in the Netherlands are completely aimed at children, such as ‘Nemo’ in Amsterdam, the ‘Veenpark’ in Barger-Compascuum or ‘the Railway Museum’ in Utrecht. Museums are usually not that pricey and often have a large playground where children can play.
Nice and active
Do something together and exercise; it can be a suitable option for a school trip. Activities such as building rafts, making a catapult or survival can help children work together. When it comes to exercise, the possibilities are endless; think of canoeing, mountain biking, swimming, climbing or even skiing. You can eat and drink together between all activities (for example during a picnic).
Playground
A school trip does not necessarily have to be grand. A visit to an (indoor) playground can be worthwhile, especially with smaller children. The Netherlands has quite a few large playgrounds where children can spend a whole day to their heart’s content. For example, consider ‘Drouwenerzand’ in Drouwen, or the ‘Spelerij’ in Dieren. But covered indoor playgrounds can also be a great success; especially when it rains. Of course it is also possible to combine a playground with, for example, a visit to the swimming pool, a museum or a treasure hunt.
The (petting) farm
What could be more fun than visiting a petting zoo with (young) children? On farms, children learn all about animals and the countryside, and they can also cuddle their favorite animals such as cows, chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs. Some farms offer special workshops for children or give guided tours. For more information, you can contact a local petting zoo or look online to see what options are available.
sail
Many children do not regularly take a boat trip. That is why it can be fun to go sailing for a day (for example in Friesland) or to go sailing in a tour boat. In large cities such as Amsterdam and Utrecht, a tour on a tour boat can be a lot of fun. Another option is sailing in a small boat (motor boat or whisper boat) in Giethoorn.
More ideas
There are many websites where information about school trips can be found. Some websites:
- www.schoolreis.startpagina.nl
- www.schoolreisjes.nl
- www.schoolreis.startkabel.nl