European Couture Design and Sewing in the Netherlands

Day 1, Saturday, Oct. 5: Welcome to Amsterdam: Join us for a delightful dinner at our hotel, the DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station.

Day 2, Sunday, Oct. 6: Amsterdam shopping excursion (Knopenwinkel, Stephen and Penelope, A. Boeken); lunch; and chocolate-tasting.

Day 3, Monday, Oct. 7: Rijksmuseum; Kantjeboord, Silk Route, Nanucci Tessuti; and the Albert Cuyp street market.

Day 4, Tuesday, Oct. 8: Knitwit Stable wool farm; Centraal Museum, Utrecht

Day 5, Wednesday, Oct. 9: Lalique Museum and walking tour, Doesburg; free afternoon.

Day 6–8, Thursday thru Saturday, Oct. 10–12: 3-day intensive workshop with Saskia ter Welle at the Dutch Couture Academy.

Day 9, Sunday, Oct. 13: Textielmuseum, Tilburg; Harrie Bosch Modestoffen, Eindhoven; farewell canal cruise and dinner in Amsterdam.

Day 10, Monday, Oct. 14: Departure from Amsterdam.

Day 1, Saturday, Oct. 5

Arrival: Tour members arrange their own transportation to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and to the DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station. Get to know your fellow participants and hosts with dinner at the hotel (included in the tour price).

Day 2, Sunday, Oct. 6

Dive into the heart of Amsterdam, to take in the neighborhoods encircled by the city’s famous canals. We’ll start with a shopping trip to some favorite Amsterdam shops: Knopenwinkel, where you’ll find buttons of every kind, plus accessories; A. Boeken, a fully stocked fabric store with notions, trims, and more; and Stephen and Penelope, a boutique yarn shop with everything you need for colorful, unique knit and crochet projects. After lunch, enjoy a special chocolate-tasting workshop.

Day 3, Monday, Oct. 7

Start the day by finding inspiration in the collections of the Rijksmuseum, where you’ll see art from around the world. Dutch and Flemish painters of the Golden Age excelled in the depiction of textiles, and you’ll enjoy viewing paintings with sumptuous satins, rich brocades, and intricate lace. Next, we’ll visit the De Pijp neighborhood, home to the renowned Albert Cuyp Markt. The street market and local boutiques offer all sorts of intriguing treats—including wonderful fabric options. If you’re interested in trying your hand at sewing lingerie, you’ll love Kantjeboord: Bring a shopping list of fabrics, lace, and findings so you can choose matching supplies for custom intimates. Silk Route offers stunning designer fabrics, as does the nearby Nanucci Tessuti.

Day 4, Tuesday, Oct. 8

In the Netherlands most destinations are a short ride away, and we’ll be traveling in a comfortable coach. In the morning, we’ll board the bus and venture out of the city to appreciate the craft of sustainable wool and knitwear manufacturing at Knitwit Stable. After lunch, we’ll take in the treasures of the Centraal Museum in Utrecht, including art from the 16th to 20th centuries, and fashion and costume displays. From Utrecht, we’ll proceed to Doesburg and to the Fletcher Landgoed Hotel Avegoor, on the edge of a national park. There’s an indoor pool as well as gardens to explore.

Day 5, Wednesday, Oct. 9

You can appreciate glass art at the Lalique Museum in the town of Doesburg. We’ll have a guided walking tour, followed by free time to wander on your own. Stroll along the IJssel River, visit boutiques, and absorb the centuries-old charm of the historical Hanseatic town. Or find a café where you can simply relax and people-watch.

Day 6–8, Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 10–12

Settle in with Saskia ter Welle, founder of the Dutch Couture Academy, in Doesburg, for a three-day intensive workshop, created especially for Threads travelers. You’ll learn to create a moulage on a half-scale dress form (yours to keep—bring a suitcase that is at least 20 inches in one dimension so you can bring your new design partner home). Saskia is trained in couture embellishment techniques and will teach you how to design with lace, as well as to craft stunning silk flowers. For this workshop, be sure to pack your favorite scissors (shears plus small, sharp embroidery scissors), and a box of sharp pins.

Day 9, Sunday, Oct. 13

On our final day together, we’ll head south by bus for more inspiration and shopping. You’ll gain insights into textile creativity at the Textielmuseum in Tilburg. From exhibitions of textile arts to a state-of-the-art textile lab, you’ll see the latest in fabrics and fibers. Gear up for a visit to Harrie Bosch Modestoffen, Eindhoven—your last chance on this trip to add the finest European fabrics to your sewing stash. In the evening, we’ll return to Amsterdam to enjoy a farewell canal cruise, complete with dinner.

Day 10, Monday, Oct. 14

Bid farewell to the Netherlands as you depart for your onward journey. No doubt, you’ll cherish this enriching learning experience and your new sewing friends—and the meaningful souvenirs that will elevate your future sewing.

Don't miss this extraordinary opportunity to explore the craftsmanship and heritage of European textile traditions. Secure your spot today. Places are limited.

Tour price includes:

• 4-star hotels (DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station, 4 nights; Fletcher Landgoed Hotel Avegoor, Doesburg, 5 nights)
• All breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 8 dinners (2 nights Amsterdam, 5 nights Doesburg and farewell dinner cruise)
• Coach transportation
• 3-day workshop at the Dutch Couture Academy, with Saskia ter Welle
• Admission to Rijksmuseum, Knitwit Stable, Centraal Museum Utrecht, Lalique Museum, and Textielmuseum Tilburg
• Chocolate-tasting workshop
• Town walk with local guide in Doesburg
• Professional tour leader

Tour price excludes:

• Airfare: Each tour member books their flight individually to arrive at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport on Oct. 5, 2024
• Travel Insurance (required)
• 1 dinner, 3 lunches, and all drinks and snacks
• Tips to coach driver and tour coordinator

Payment Schedule:

Deposit payment of $1,800 per person is due Aug. 10, 2024. Payment in full is due Sept. 7, 2024 for each tour member based on the prices stated above.

Copies of Tour Member Reservations:

Due Sept. 7, 2024. Reservation forms must include full name, full address, email address, home phone number, cell phone number, emergency contact name with cell phone number, room type (single or double with bed type preference), roommate name, and special meal needs (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free).

Copies of Tour Member Travel Insurance Purchase Confirmation/Declarations Page:

Due Sept. 7, 2024, for each tour member. See final item in Terms & Conditions.

Hotel Accommodations:

Each evening, we will retire to the comfort of 4-star lodging.

Oct. 5–7: DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Central Staation
Oct. 8–12: Fletcher Landgoed Hotel Avegoor, Doesburg
Oct. 13: DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Central Staation

Coach Travel:

Daily transportation will be provided by a modern, comfortable coach operated by an experienced driver.

Price:

The tour prices in this agreement are based upon current exchange rates, tariffs, and taxes. Fluctuations in these rates could result in a price adjustment with a 7-day prior notification until the tour is paid in full. Once the price for the tour is paid in full, the fee will not be adjusted due to any later change in exchange rates, tariffs, or taxes.

Liabilities & booking conditions:

Our tour company, Garden Tours, is established in the Netherlands, and rights and responsibilities for all tours operated by Garden Tours will be governed by Dutch laws only. Garden Tours will have responsibility only for the proven negligent acts and omissions of its employees or agents and suppliers, subcontractors, servants, and/or agents of the same while acting within the scope of or in the course of their employment in respect of claims arising as a result of death, bodily injury, or illness caused to the signatory to the contract and/or any other named persons on the booking form.

Smoking:

All participants in tours operated by Garden Tours agree to comply with a non-smoking policy on all coaches, in restaurants, gardens, and in all lodging places.

Liability:

Garden Tours has no responsibility or liability to any person for loss of baggage, money, or other property whatsoever. Garden Tours has no responsibility or liability for any loss or additional expenses caused by delay or interruption to travel services through weather conditions (such as rain, wind, or fog) civil disturbance, riot, illegal acts of third parties, strikes, wars, floods, sickness, or any circumstances amounting to Force Majeure.

Complaints:

In the unlikely event that you or your tour members have a complaint, you or they must promptly inform the Garden Tours tour guide directly, so he/she can take remedial action on the spot. If the matter cannot be solved directly, any complaints must be submitted in writing to Garden Tours within 7 days after the last day of the tour.

Your tour canceled by us:

Garden Tours aims to provide your tour as booked. We reserve the right to cancel your tour under any circumstances, but if we cancel your tour, except where this is because you have not paid, you will receive a full refund.

Cancellations:

If a tour member should need to withdraw from the tour for whatever reason you must notify Garden Tours in writing. Cancellation becomes effective when written notice is received. After Aug. 10, 2024, there will be a 75% refund from Garden Tours due to cancellations. After Sept. 7, 2024, there will be no refunds from Garden Tours due to cancellations. See “Insurance” item below.

Insurance:

Travel insurance is required for each tour member in case they must cancel their trip, have health emergencies while traveling, personal property lost or stolen, and other unforeseen issues arise that prevent them from joining or staying on the tour. Medical costs will not be paid for by your national medical insurance. Your travel insurance will give you peace of mind and should cover the costs of medical treatment, repatriation, loss of property, and cancellation charges.
Squaremouth and Insure My Trip are two travel insurance search sites. If you are under 70 years old, World Nomads is usually an economical travel insurance choice. You will be required to provide your travel insurance declarations page to Travel with Threads by Sept. 7, 2024.

Health & Safety:

Travel with Threads follows COVID-19 safety updates from the CDC and our destination countries.

Photography notice:

Travel with Threads will be taking photos and videos of the locations and activities for future editorial and promotional use. Tour participants may occasionally appear in these images.