The spirit of Amsterdam:  beautiful canal houses, clogs, bicycles, winding waterways, old masters, Anne Frank – some of the images we conjure of the historic city. GCSE and sixth form RS students discovered these and more for themselves this April. Who could fail to be struck by Anne Frank’s courageous story? The girls loved the Anne Frank House – and being challenged to think about and vote on modern xenophobic and racist issues; a real eye-opener! They were very taken with the wonderful guide who carefully explained Corrie Ten Boom’s story and let them stand in the “hiding place” in her house. The Jewish Historical Museum, situated in a renovated synagogue (defunct since the Nazi era)  was especially helpful for the Year 11’s who’d liked to have been able to spend more time there;  the sixthformers wished they’d been able to go before their GCSE.

Other lasting impressions? The lovely canal cruise, sampling lots of cheeses, watching clogs being made and petting the animals at the farm, an hour or two playing on the beach adjacent to the hotel on the last eve, in the wonderful weather, and the surprise stop-off at a Belgian chocolate factory on the way home!  Click here for more photos.