Bentheimers International Society
Tour of The Netherlands, Belgium, France & Germany
13 days from September 14 – 26, 2017
Organized by Friends of Bentheimers, Pathfinders Travel in Holland Michigan and
Richters Reisen in Nordhorn Germany, as agents for the tour participants.
Day 1 (Sept. 14) Thursday: Depart from Michigan
Depart from Grand Rapids airport in the afternoon and fly to Detroit Metro Airport. Connect in
Detroit to an overnight flight to The Netherlands. Dinner will be served on the flight shortly after
departure from Detroit. Overnight on the flight.
Day 2 (Sept. 15) Friday: Arrive in The Netherlands; visit Delft and Rotterdam
Arrive at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in the morning, clear customs and board your private
touring bus from Richters Reisen, with Rolf Seel as your driver. Rolf has been the driver for the
group on past trips and happily will be with us again for this tour. Travel about an hour south of
Amsterdam and stop in Delft, famous around the world for their blue-and-white china. Take a
tour of the Royal Delft factory, to see a demonstration of how they hand paint the china and
displays of beautiful tiles and other works of art. Enjoy a break with coffee & cake before some
free time to visit in the town center. You could stroll and shop in the local stores, and visit the
New Church with its tall bell tower and the impressive tomb of William the Silent. Continue a
short distance to Rotterdam, where you will check in at the hotel. Free time for shopping on
your own in central Rotterdam, or optionally choose to visit the War Resistance Museum, which
shows how local people lived and what they did during World War II. Dinner is included at the
hotel this evening. Overnight at the hotel in Rotterdam.
Day 3 (Sept. 16) Saturday: Travel to Brussels, Belgium
This morning travel across the Dutch border into Brussels, Belgium, the capital city and seat of
the European Union. This afternoon meet a local guide for a sightseeing tour of the city, to see
such sights as the Royal Palace, the Atomium, the Grand-Place and medieval City Hall, and St.
Michael’s Cathedral. Part of the tour will be on the bus and part will be walking. There will also
be time for sightseeing and shopping on your own – be sure to try some delicious Belgian
chocolate! Settle in at the hotel in Brussels following the tour. An optional evening stroll will
follow dinner. Overnight in Brussels.
Day 4 (Sept. 17) Sunday: Travel to the Normandy region in France
Travel a short distance outside of Brussels this
morning to Waterloo, to visit the site of the famous
battle that defeated Napoleon in 1815. A 130-foot
mound was erected on the site and is topped with a
statue of a lion, symbolizing the monarch’s victories.
Visit the interactive museum inside the mound and the
panoramic painting of the battle nearby. Many sons of
Bentheim fought in this battle. Continue traveling to
the Normandy region in northwestern France. Check
in at the hotel in the historic city of Caen later in the
day. After dinner, take a stroll through the central
pedestrian zone, and see the massive walls of William
the Conqueror’s castle. Overnight at the hotel in
Caen.
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Day 5 (Sept. 18) Monday: Visit the Normandy Coast and D-Day sites
A local guide will join the group today for a tour of World War II sites associated with the
German occupation and D-Day liberation of Normandy.
We will visit the moving American Cemetery, which
overlooks Omaha Beach; walk on the sands of Omaha
Beach and visit Pointe du Hoc, which was taken by
American soldiers, although with heavy casualties. See
the remains of the artificial “Mulberry Harbor” at
Arromanches, and German gun emplacements. Lunch
will be included today during a break in the tour. Return
to Caen later in the day, where there will be time to relax
and have dinner on your own this evening. Overnight at
the hotel in Caen.
Day 6 (Sept. 19) Tuesday: Travel to Paris, France
This morning visit the Mémorial de Caen, a World War II
museum and memorial on the outskirts of Caen. Travel
from Caen to Paris this afternoon, stopping on the way
to visit Claude Monet’s beautiful house and gardens in Giverny. The water lily pond and
surrounding gardens were painted many times by this famous impressionist painter, and the
house still looks much the same as when he lived there with his family in the late 19th century.
On arrival in Paris later in the day, check in to the hotel and settle in for two nights in “The City
of Light”. After dinner, enjoy a “bâteaux-mouches” boat tour on the Seine River through the
heart of the city, seeing famous sights such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Notre Dame
Cathedral. Overnight at the hotel in Paris.
Day 7 (Sept. 20) Wednesday: Paris, France
Spend the day in Paris. A local guide will join the group in the morning for a
panoramic tour of the city, to introduce you to the sights that have made the
city so famous. Drive up the Avenue des Champs-Elysées; circle the Arch
of Triumph; stop to take pictures of the Eiffel Tower; admire the gilded dome
of the Invalides and enjoy the beauty of this elegant city. The afternoon will
be free in Paris to pursue your own interests. You might like to shop at the
large department stores and boutiques near the Opera Garnier, visit one of
the world-class museums, such as the Louvre or the Orsay, marvel at the
stained-glass windows in Notre Dame Cathedral, or simply find a sidewalk
café and watch the world go by. This evening dine at a restaurant on the
first level of the Eiffel Tower, with sweeping views of the Seine river and the
Champ de Mars park. Overnight at the hotel in Paris.
Day 8 (Sept. 21) Thursday. Travel from Paris via Reims to Bastogne, Belgium.
Travel out of Paris this morning and stop in the French city of Reims, home to a soaring Gothic
Cathedral and central to the Champagne wine region. Join a local guide for a sightseeing tour
of the city, to include a visit to the Cathedral, which was the coronation church for the Kings of
France. You will also stop at a local winery, where you will tour the cellars and enjoy a taste of
champagne. Continue traveling over the border into the Ardennes region of eastern Belgium,
and check in at the hotel in Bastogne. Bastogne was at the center of the Battle of the Bulge, a
turning point during WWII, and there are still many references to the battle in the town. This
evening take a stroll to McAuliffe Square in the center of town to examine a Sherman tank and
statue of General McAuliffe. Dinner and overnight in Bastogne.
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Day 9 (Sept. 22) Friday: Travel from Bastogne to the County of Bentheim, Germany
Spend the morning in Bastogne to visit the star-shaped Mardasson Memorial and the Bastogne
War Museum. The museum exhibits trace the origins of World War II leading up to the Battle of
the Bulge in December 1944. The memorial is a moving tribute to the American troops that
were killed or wounded during the month-long battle. In the afternoon travel to Nordhorn,
Germany, in the County of Bentheim. Stop for dinner at Niermann Gasthaus in Gildehaus,
and then check in at the Hotel am Stadtring in Nordhorn, your comfortable home for the next
three nights.
Day 10 (Sept. 23) Saturday: Visit the County of Bentheim
Today you will visit the County of Bentheim, with possible activities to include the weekly
market in Nordhorn, where stands the 500-year-old Reformed Church, the baptismal church for
some 70 families who emigrated to West Michigan; drive through the area to see Bentheimer
family farmsteads and/or local churches; or a visit to Burg Bentheim, the largest hilltop castle in
this part of Germany. Dinner for the group will be in the village of Wietmarschen at Gaststätte
Heilemann. This evening there will be a Joint Meeting of the Bentheimers International
Society, with the opportunity to talk with German members from the area. Return to Nordhorn
after the meeting; overnight at the Hotel am Stadtring.
Day 11 (Sept. 24) Sunday: in Nordhorn
The day will be free to spend with families and friends in the County of Bentheim. If you do
not know or have relatives in the area, the German members of BIS will pair you up with a local
family, so you will have the unique opportunity to experience local life and to connect in
community and friendship. Overnight at the Hotel am Stadtring in Nordhorn (an organized
group dinner is not included this evening).
Day 12 (Sept. 25) Monday: leave Nordhorn and travel into The Netherlands.
This morning say goodbye to old and new friends in Nordhorn and return to The Netherlands.
Make a stop in Overloon to visit the Oorlogsmuseum Overloon, a museum exhibiting a large
collection of military vehicles and highlighting the history of WWII, leading to the liberation of the
area following the intense Battle of Overloon, fought mainly with German Panzer tanks and
American Sherman tanks. Continue traveling to either Utrecht or The Hague and check in at
the hotel. There will be free time on your own in the town center for shopping and sightseeing.
Dinner and overnight in either Utrecht or The Hague.
Day 13 (Sept. 26) Tuesday: Fly from Amsterdam back to Grand Rapids
After breakfast at the hotel, travel a short distance to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and check in
for the flight home. Fly from Amsterdam via Detroit to Grand Rapids, arriving in the late
afternoon or evening.
Please note:
Luggage handling is not included in the tour arrangements. You must be able to carry
your luggage from the bus into the hotel and back, plus you must be able to keep up
with the group on walking tours.
There will be a pre-departure meeting for all tour members in August 2017, to coincide
with the annual BIS picnic.
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ESTIMATED Tour Price, including airfare: $3,620.00 per person. This is the per person cost,
based on two persons sharing a room at the hotels and a minimum of 40 persons in the group.
If there are fewer than 40 persons in the group, the price will increase.
The Tour Price includes all of the following services:
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Round-trip economy air transportation from Grand Rapids, Michigan to Amsterdam, The
Netherlands via scheduled air carrier. Inquire for departure from other cities. Please note
that the airfare is estimated at this time; definite airfare will be available in November 2016.
All current taxes, government fees and fuel surcharges associated with international air
travel (taxes are subject to change until the tickets have been purchased).
Transportation in Europe as outlined in the itinerary by chartered, First-Class motor-coach
with WC/washroom and reclining seats. The motor-coach will be provided by Richters
Reisen, a company located in Nordhorn, Germany.
Accommodations for eleven (11) nights in excellent mid-range hotels, based on double room
occupancy (two persons sharing one room); all rooms will have private bath facilities. Single
room occupancy is available for an additional cost of $478.00 per person.
Eleven (11) Continental breakfasts at the hotels
Nine (9) Dinners either at the group’s hotel or in local restaurants, as outlined in the
itinerary. Dinner will be a 3-course set menu (appetizer, main course and dessert) including
water. Other beverages are available for individual purchase.
One (1) lunch included in Normandy on September 18
All tax and service charge for included hotels and meal arrangements.
Joint Meeting of the Bentheimers International Society in Grafschaft Bentheim
Sightseeing as outlined in the itinerary, including entrance fees where needed:
 Royal Delft factory tour, including coffee break with cake
 Guided half-day sightseeing tour of Brussels, Belgium
 Entrance fee for the Waterloo monument, panoramic painting and museum
 Full-day guided tour of World War II sites in Normandy, France
 Entrance fee to the Memorial de Caen museum
 Entrance fee to Monet’s house and garden in Giverny, France
 Ticket for a “bâteaux-mouches” boat tour on the Seine River in Paris
 Guided half-day panoramic tour of Paris, France
 Access to the First Level of the Eiffel Tower for dinner on September 20 in Paris
 Guided half-day sightseeing tour of Reims, France
 Champagne cellar tour and tasting in Reims, France
 Entrance to the Bastogne War Museum in Belgium
 Excursion in the County of Bentheim for one day
 Entrance to the War Museum Overloon in The Netherlands
Pre-tour planning information
Printed travel itineraries and two luggage tags for each tour participant
A representative of Pathfinders Travel will escort the group throughout the tour, from
departure from Grand Rapids to return to Grand Rapids.
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The tour price does not include:
General exclusions to the tour prices include, but are not limited to, expenses for a passport
and/or entry visa (no special entry visa is required of U.S. citizens); all baggage handling;
gratuity for the Coach Driver (recommended amount for this tour is about $30.00 per person);
optional travel insurance; beverages, wines or liquors; any meals not specifically included in the
tour package; additional food not included as part of a set meal for the group; laundry;
telephone calls; any other expense of a personal nature and any item not specifically mentioned
under the inclusions above.
PLEASE NOTE
1. You must have a valid passport to travel to Europe and your passport must be valid for a
minimum of 6 months beyond the duration of this tour. A photocopy of your passport’s
information page will be needed by Pathfinders Travel by March 2017.
2. Baggage per person is limited to one (1) suitcase and one (1) carry-on bag. The checked
bag must weigh 50 lbs or less; the maximum size is 62 inches (measure the length, width
and height of the suitcase and add these three numbers together. The total cannot exceed
62 inches). Any charges levied by the airline for excess, oversize or overweight baggage
will be the responsibility of the individual tour participants.
3. Any changes to the travel itinerary may incur additional charges.
4. Any deviation from the air transportation arrangements as scheduled for the group will incur
an additional charge.
5. The price of the tour is based on the international exchange rate between the Euro and the
U.S. Dollar at €1.00 = $1.13. The price of the tour may increase or decrease, if the
exchange rate between these two currencies changes more than 3% between now and the
final payment date.
SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS
 Deposit: $500.00 per person to secure your place on the tour, along with a completed
registration form (see page 7). Enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis!
 Second Payment: $500.00 per person is due by February 1, 2017
 Third Payment: $1,000.00 per person is due by May 1, 2017 to finalize air tickets
 Final Payment is due no later than August 3, 2017
Please make checks payable to: Pathfinders Travel
Payment may be made by check or money order, or you may bring cash to Pathfinders Travel.
However, please note that credit cards cannot be accepted as payment for this tour.
CANCELLATION POLICY
 All notice of cancellation must be received in writing by Pathfinders Travel.
 If cancellation is received prior to February 1, 2017, $200.00 per person is nonrefundable.
 If cancellation is received between February 1, 2017 and May 1, 2017, $400.00 per person
is nonrefundable.
 If cancellation is received between May 2 and August 2, 2017, $1,500.00 per person is
nonrefundable.
 If cancellation is received on or after August 3, 2017, the land portion of the tour is
nonrefundable. The airline tickets are nonrefundable once they have been issued.
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RESPONSIBILITY
The responsibility of the Friends of Bentheimers; Pathfinders Travel, Inc., 25 West 9th Street, Holland,
Michigan 49423 USA and its suppliers is limited. Pathfinders Travel, Inc. acts only as agent for the
participants in regard to travel, whether by railroad, motor-coach, private car, boat, aircraft or any other
conveyance, and assumes no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity which may
be occasioned either by reason of any defect in any vehicle or conveyance or through the acts of default
of any company of persons engaged in conveying the participants or in carrying out the arrangements of
the tour. Pathfinders Travel, Inc. assumes no responsibility for loss or additional expenses due to any
delay or changes in schedules. Pathfinders Travel, Inc. reserves the right to decline to accept or retain
any person as participant in the tour and to make substitutions or change or withdraw the tour in the
interest of the participants, as circumstances may demand.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Information for travel insurance, to include coverage for trip cancellation, medical expenses and
more will be provided to each person who registers for the tour. The purchase of insurance is
optional, but recommended to protect your investment in this trip and for possible medical
emergency while traveling.
FOREIGN CURRENCY
The Euro is the official currency in all of the European countries visited on this tour. Pathfinders
Travel will be able to help with orders for cash in Euros prior to the tour.
REGISTRATION FOR THIS TOUR IS ON A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED BASIS!
To sign up for the tour, please complete the registration form on the following page and return it
to Susan Hunter at Pathfinders Travel with your check for the deposit payment.
Please note: you are encouraged to have current membership in BIS to participate in this trip.
Membership is currently $15.00 per year. If you do not have a membership, we will help you
with these arrangements.
For more information
Travel arrangements and payments will be managed by Pathfinders Travel. Please contact
Susan Hunter with questions. Susan’s email is [email protected] or you may also
reach her by telephone at (616) 396-1983 or toll-free at (800) 250-2210.
Mailing address:
Pathfinders Travel
25 West 9th Street
Holland, MI 49423
You may also contact Ken Rabbers at telephone (616) 396-6460 (or call (941) 483-9077 from
October 2016 through April 2017) or via email at: [email protected]
Information prepared on 8/1/2016
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Registration for Friends of Bentheimers’ 2017 European Tour
September 14-26, 2017
Please print clearly, and return this registration form with your deposit to Pathfinders Travel.
NAME(S) -- Full Name (first, middle, last) as it appears in your passport
Gender
If you already have a valid passport, please send a copy of the photo/info page with this form
1. __________________________________________________________________
M
F
2. __________________________________________________________________
M
F
ADDRESS: __________________________________________________________________
CITY: ________________________________ STATE: ________ ZIP: _________________
TELEPHONE: Home: (______)_____________ Cell: (_____)__________________________
EMAIL(S): ___________________________________________________________________
BIRTH DATE(S) (Month, Day, Year): 1. ____________________2. _____________________
ROOMING PREFERENCE (please choose one):
 I will share a hotel room with: ________________________________________
 I do not have a roommate, but would like to be paired up with another group member of
the same gender, so we can share a hotel room.
 I prefer a single room (and understand there is an additional charge)
Do you have relatives or friends in County of Bentheim?
YES
NO
If yes, please indicate their name: _________________________________________________
What is your preferred departure airport near your home? ______________________________
Do you plan to extend your stay and fly back to Michigan at a later date? YES NO
If YES, please let us know the date you would like to return from Amsterdam to Grand Rapids:
________________________________________________________
Would you like assistance with train travel, car rental, hotels, etc. after the tour? YES NO
A deposit payment of $500.00 per person is needed to confirm your place on the tour. I have read,
understand and agree to the terms of tour participation. The agreement will be effective when my
deposit is received by Pathfinders Travel, Inc. and shall be governed by the laws of the State of
Michigan.
Please make your check payable to Pathfinders Travel and send it with this form to the attention of
Susan Hunter at Pathfinders Travel, 25 West 9th Street, Holland, Michigan 49423
Signature of Tour Participant(s): __________________________________________________
Date: _______________________
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