Hi Everyone

Please see below the proposed tour for our visit to Holland. Please let me know if you are interested in coming along. Please book the hotel and eurotunnel yourself using the below links.

Thanks Sarah (Mazda Chick) and Martyn (Navman)

 MX-5 Owners Club   

South East Area Dutch Bulb and Windmill Tour April 2012

Friday 20^th April 2012

07:20 take Eurotunnel Shuttle from Folkestone to Calais. Cost £90 return www.eurotunnel.com

08:55 drive from to Rotterdam arriving at for a cruise of the historic Kinderdikj which is a preserved area of 19 traditional Dutch windmills. 190 miles. 3 hours with stops

14:15 take the Rebus excursion boat for a tour of the Kinderdijk.  Departure is from the "De Boompjeskade" quayside (between Erasmus and Willems Bridge.

http://www.rebus-info.nl/main_en.htm

The cost is €14.00 each

Rotterdam has for many years been called the "Gateway to Europe". From this gate of Europe we welcome you on board the passenger ship 'Nehalennia', to take you, from the centre of the city, on a special trip. During the trip an explanation of all highlights is given. Whilst cruising on the river "The Nieuwe Maas" you can relax and enjoy the view of the Rotterdam skyline. Typical for this skyline are the various beautiful bridges.

Via the river 'Lek' the cruise continues to Kinderdijk. Kinderdijk, as one of the cultural items on the United Nations world monument list, is definitely worth the visit. Here you will disembark, and have the opportunity to explore this unique site for more than an hour. You can visit, on your own, one of the windmills where you will hear about the history of this unique spot.

Kinderdijk

The Netherlands is famous for its windmills. Today there are still more than 1.000 mills. Nowhere in the world you will find as many windmills as near (the Dutch village) Kinderdijk. In about 1740 no less than 19 sturdy mills were built here. They have been well preserved to the present day.

The mills drain the excess water from the Alblasserwaard polders - which are situated below sea-level - after which the water is sluiced into the river Lek (the Rijn).

The powerful mill sails serve to transmit the force of the wind on to large paddle-wheels which scoop up the water. Nowadays power-driven pumping engines do the job, including one of the largest water screw pumping-stations in Western Europe.

17:30 Drive from Rotterdam to the Ibis Hotel, Elisabethhof 50
2353 EZ - Leiderdorp - 26 miles – 35 minutes

http://www.ibishotel.com/gb/hotel-0745-ibis-leiderdorp/index.shtml

Alternative Hotel if the above is booked up

http://www.ibishotel.com/gb/hotel-8087-ibis-leiden-centre-opening-january-2012/index.shtml

Dinner in Leiderdorp centre or hotel

Saturday 21^st April 2012

08:30 drive to the Keukenhof gardens in Lisse, arriving at 09:00

www.keukenhof.nl/

This is an early start so that you get to the gardens ahead of the crowds. The gardens open at 08:00.

Entrance €14.50 each + parking €6 per car. Tickets and parking can be purchased online in advance or on the day.

What is Keukenhof?

A historic park filled with blooming tulips, hyacinths, daffodils and other spring bulbs.

A feast for the eye, and so are the unique flower shows in the different pavilions. And in the midst of this magnificent spectacle of colour you will also find exquisite works of art. At Keukenhof you can gain inspiration and relax in the beautiful surroundings. The 32-hectare park has 15 kilometres of footpaths. Keukenhof has surprises in store for visitors of all ages. Be sure to bring your camera along on this unique experience.

The theme we have selected for the coming year is “Poland - heart of Europe”.

Classical music and romance form an excellent combination with flowers. Besides, Poland is becoming an increasingly important market for Dutch cut flowers and bulbs and the number of tourists visiting from Poland is growing. 

Sail around Keukenhof

You have been able to cycle around Keukenhof bulb fields for years, but you can also sail in the so-called ‘whisper boats’. These boats are driven by electric engines, are environmentally friendly and are almost silent as they sail through the beautiful surrounding Dutch landscape. The boats that are used are perfectly suitable for sailing through the often shallow water. They are, in fact, old boats that used to be used by gardeners, growers and farmers for all types of work.

The boat trip lasts 50 to 75 minutes and guarantees you nice photographs. Per tour a limited number of seats available. Be there in time!

The price is € 7.50 p.p. (excl. Keukenhof entrance)

During the afternoon, leave the gardens to see the passing flower parade, but beware, the crowds will be enormous.

Drive back to Leiderdorp for dinner

Sunday 22^nd April 2012  Updated

Wheels have been set in motion.

Graham & Joke (Madhatter) are planning a Bloembollen day tour for Sunday 22th of April.

Starting and finish will probably be the town of Lisse. We will arrange a leading and trailing car from your hotel at Leiderdorp to the startpoint.

Sunday evening after the tour we propose an Indonesian buffet diner for all UK and NL tourers. Ask Keith about how jummy that is :-)

Yesterday I drove past your hotel in Leiderdorp. It is located in a business park. So from your hotel to any place good to eat will either be a short drive or a long walk. I could arrange coach transport, but that will be fairly costly for such a short distance.  I suggest driving or cabbing if one likes to have a few pints.

Cost indication for the day:

Euro 15 for lunch on Sunday (at the beach, if we can get garanteed parking space)

Euro 25 for Indonesian dinner buffet in down town Leiderdorp, excluding drinks.

Euro 5 for parking fees and other costs.

Return to Leiderdorp and hotel.

Monday 23^rd April 2012

09:00 check out of the hotel and drive to Bruges city centre for lunch - 140 miles 2hours 30

mins. Nothing booked find own parking and restaurant in city centre.

13:30 Leave Bruges and drive to Calais 70 miles 1 hour 20 mins

15:50 Eurotunnel to Folkestone

 Important Notes for driving in France

Hi all

We're coming!!  Many thanks to Sarah & the Dutch MX5 Owners Club for putting this together - the itinerary looks great and its not a mega thrash to do the miles to get there either. Excellent!

Paul & Jenny

As honorary members of the South East Area, Dee and I would like to register for this one.

Cheers

 Hi Everyone

The update from the Dutch as follows for our itinery for Sunday 22nd April 2012

 Hi folks

Please can you let me know once you have booked your Eurotunnell and hotel booking, so I can add you to the list.

Looking forward to a fun 4 days.

Cheers

Sarah (Mazda Chick)

Hi Sarah

We have reserved the hotel for the 3 nights B&B. 

No going with this idea now .....see below for details of the Ashford Travel Lodge at £19 with thanks to Drew for spotting it!

If there are any other folk coming from the West of our Area who would like to shorten the 1st days drive we could travel over on the Thursday afternoon and all meet up on Friday morning with those travelling by the Tunnel. There is a Ferry to Dunkirk on 19th at 1600hrs departure arriving at 1900hrs local time and add an extra night in France on 19 April staying at the Premierre Classe at Dunkirk Port. Cost is about the same at £90.

If anyone is interested in this option, please post here or pm me to discuss further.  If not, we will book the Tunnel and start out early on the 20th April to meet up at the Tunnel. 

Many thanks again to Sarah for putting together another action packed MX5 weekend!

With regards - Paul & Jenny

 Hi Paul and Jenny

We are going to stick with the tunnel on the 20th as I am not good on boats

Cheers

Sarah and Mart xxx

 Hi Folks

Okay we have booked the Ibis Leiderdorp hotel  http://www.ibishotel.com/gb/hotel-0745-ibis-leiderdorp/index.shtml from 20th to 23rd April for 2 adults with bed and breakfast for 362.92 euros and also booked Eurotunnel  www.eurotunnel.com leaving  Folkstone at 7.20am 20/4/2012 and return from Calais 15.50pm 23/4/2012 for total £90 (£45 each way)

If you are coming along please book your hotel and tunnel journey to avoid disappointment, it gets very booked up in Holland around this time due to the bulb and flower parades. Please confirm once you have booked.

We will be handing out booklets with all the driving instructions on the day and information on where we are meeting, times and suggested alternatives so hope you will come along and enjoy the trip, not to mention on the Sunday we will be looked after by our friends in Holland who have organised a drive and meal extravaganza for us all.

I know it is an early start for many travelling from other areas but Kent has some lovely B&B places you could stay overnight in prior to our journey Friday morning.

Thanks and see you soon

Sarah (Mazda chick)

Hi, Dee & I have booked the hotel and tunnel.

We have also booked a £19 room at the Ashford Travelodge, if you want one be quick!

Well spotted Drew and Dee with the Travel Lodge - we have now booked in the Ashford Travel Lodge too on the Thursday night and booked the Tunnel and Hotel.

Sorted!

Regards to all

Paul & Jenny

 Hi folks

Some folk have tried booking at the Ibis Leiderdorp and this is now fully booked for the above dates, please use alternative hotel Ibis Leiden Centre opening in January 2012 which is only 10 mins away from the Ibis Leiderdorp

Please book using the following link

http://www.ibishotel.com/gb/hotel-8087-ibis-leiden-centre-opening-january-2012/index.shtml

It is important if you wish to come on this trip that you book up as soon as you can as all the hotels in the area are getting booked up very quickly due to the time of the year and the flower parade and tulips

Please let me know once you have booked and confirm by email or forum.

Thanks and Best Wishes

Sarah (Mazda Chick)

MX-Drew:

Hi, Dee & I have booked the hotel and tunnel.

We have also booked a £19 room at the Ashford Travelodge, if you want one be quick!

Same for Brenda and I. We are actually in the Ibis at Leiden with Drew & Dee.

 Hi Drew and Dee and Eric and Brenda

Excellent glad you all got booked up and look forward to our stay in Holland

See you soon

Love

Sarah (Mazda chick) xxx

 Hi everybody,

Looks like things are coming together for your trip over.

See you in Holland in April,

Joke & Graham.

 Hi Joke and Graham

Yes a few booked already, had to split the hotel stays as getting booked up but looking forward to seeing you all again.

Can't wait for April  and Holland and hope a few more book up before hotels run out of space.

Love

Sarah (Mazda Chick)