42 of our Year 9 geography students have headed off to the Netherlands. The visit will offer students a broad cultural and geographical understanding of the Netherlands through first-hand experiences of its history, traditions, cities, water management and tourism.

They are accompanied by Mr Barnes, Miss McDonagh, Miss Shandulovska, Miss Ridley-Hammond and Mr Embers.

Day 1

Our students met at school bright and early at 4:30am this morning, ready for an exciting few days ahead!

After making excellent progress, we managed to catch an earlier ferry crossing, giving us more time to explore the authentic First World War trenches at Sanctuary Wood Museum in Belgium.

We are now on the long drive from Belgium to the Netherlands, where we will check into our accommodation and get settled for the evening. A brilliant start to the trip! 

Day 2

Today, students enjoyed seeing how traditional Dutch clogs are made before watching a demonstration of Gouda cheese production. They also had the chance to sample a range of different flavours, including chilli and truffle. 🧀

We then headed into Amsterdam for a cruise along the River Amstel, taking in many of the city’s famous sights from the water. The day finished at This is Holland, where students experienced a virtual flight over the Netherlands.

Another busy and enjoyable day! 

Day 3

Today was all about how the Netherlands manages water and supports one of the world’s busiest ports.

We began at the Keringhuis Water Management Information Centre, where students learnt how the enormous Maeslant storm-surge barrier protects Rotterdam and the surrounding area from flooding. Seeing the scale of the barrier up close was particularly impressive!

We then travelled into Rotterdam for a boat tour of its huge working harbour. From the water, students saw docks, shipyards, cargo terminals and some of the city’s best-known landmarks, including the SS Rotterdam and the Euromast. 

It has been another busy day, with students getting a fantastic first-hand look at Dutch engineering, flood management and industry. 

Day 4

Today was all about letting our students enjoy a well-earned day at Walibi Holland!

There were smiles from start to finish as students tackled some of the park’s biggest attractions. Many braved UNTAMED, the world’s first hybrid coaster, featuring a 36.5-metre drop, five inversions and speeds of 92 km/h! Others took on Goliath, one of the tallest and fastest roller coasters in the Benelux, reaching speeds of 106 km/h, while Lost Gravity had students laughing (and screaming!) with its beyond-vertical drop and moments of weightlessness. 🎢

Whether they were chasing thrills on the biggest rides or enjoying the park with friends, it was fantastic to see so many smiling faces throughout the day. After several days of exploring Dutch culture, engineering and geography, today was a great opportunity for everyone to relax, make memories and simply enjoy themselves.

One final adventure awaits tomorrow before we head back home.

Day 5

Our final day in the Netherlands took us to Deltapark Neeltje Jans, where students saw more of the country’s impressive flood defences and renewable-energy infrastructure.

Students were able to get up close to the wind turbines and see some of their classroom learning come to life. They also used a pulley demonstrator to understand how the giant concrete blocks were lifted into position during the construction of the storm-surge barrier.

It was a brilliant final visit and a great way to bring together much of the geography we had explored throughout the trip. The students asked thoughtful questions and made the most of their last experience in the Netherlands.

We are now on our way to Calais, where we will board our ferry back to the UK. It has been a fantastic five days filled with learning, new experiences and plenty of happy memories! 

Mr A Barnes, Deputy Head of Geography