Since 2006
Utrecht
Utrecht is the Netherlands' fourth biggest city and has been described by Lonely Planet magazine as one of the 10 world’s unsung places. The city was built on the foundations left by the Roman Empire and its ancient city center features many buildings and structures from the Early Middle Ages. Utrecht’s old town is encircled by a medieval canal, and it is possible to hop on a boat tour to visit the city’s bustling, vibrant wharves, which are filled with bohemian cafes, shops and restaurants. Utrecht is host to Utrecht University, the largest university of the Netherlands, as well as several other institutes for higher education. It has the second highest number of cultural events in the Netherlands, after Amsterdam, and will be the players’ destination for sightseeing and entertaining during their free time.
Houten
Houten is a town located about 9km southeast of Utrecht. This town, with about 49,000 inhabitants, is famous by its traffic structure. If the Netherlands is heaven for the bikers, then Houten is the heaven of heaven. In Houten there are more bikes than people and about 26 percent of the commuting trips are taken by bicycle. The likelihood of getting injured in a bike accident in Houten is amongst the lowest in the world, about five times less than in the United States. The players will be based in Houten, where the Racket Centrum is located. The hotel, Van Der Valk Houten Hotel (http://www.hotelhouten.nl/en/), is located just a few minutes from the squash club. The players will head by rental bikes to the training sessions, as a healthy warm-up and a form of interaction with the Dutch culture.
Our Destinations:
Cologne
Cologne, which lies on the banks of the river Rhine, was founded by Romans in 38 bC and is one of Germany’s oldest cities. This city was heavily damaged in the World War II, when 90% of the city center was wiped out by bombings. Today, Cologne is again the fourth biggest city in Germany with over a million inhabitants and an interesting mix of restored historic buildings and modern post-war architecture. Cologne is famous for its massive cathedral, the Kolner Dom, and one of Europe’s oldest universities, as well as its vibrant contemporary art scene. The city is proud to have more than 30 museums and 100 galleries with world-class collections.
Located about 2 hours away from Houten, Cologne will host the Pioneer Junior Open. The players will be based in this city during the tournament, in one of the hotels recommended by the tournament organizers. A bus transfer service will be available for the commute to the tournament’s venue. In their free time, the players will enjoy Cologne and do some sightseeing, under the supervision of the coach.
Amsterdam
Few cities meld history with modern urban flair like Amsterdam. What makes Amsterdam so attractive is the 17th century historical atmosphere combined with the mentality of a modern metropolis creating a friendly and relaxed environment. The small scale of the buildings and the intimacy of the streets, canals and squares create an atmosphere that visitors find unique. The city has the highest museum density in the world and is home to cultural highlights, such as the Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House, Hermitage Amsterdam and the Rijksmuseum with Rembrandt’s world-famous Nightwatch.
Amsterdam, which is located only 30 minutes away from Houten, will be our destination on the second part of the trip, as it hosts the Dutch Junior Open. The players will be based in one of the hotels recommended by the tournament organizers and will commute to the tournament venue by shuttle buses. In their free time, the players will be able to do some sightseeing and cultural visits to Amsterdam, always under the coach’s supervision.