Overview
Experience the longstanding sporting traditions of Holland and Germany, where soccer reigns supreme. Your team will learn from professionals in exclusive coaching clinics, compete against local teams, attend a professional soccer match, and get private tours of Johan Cruyff Arena Stadium and ESPRIT Arena. Explore Dusseldorf and Amsterdam to experience the historical gems that these cities have to offer. They’ll visit ruined castles, Gothic cathedrals, and the Van Gogh Museum. Plus, they’ll get the quintessential Amsterdam tour via a canal cruise.
Itinerary
Day 1
Start Tour in Germany (Dusseldorf)
Day 2
Arrive in Dusseldorf
Meet your Tour Director
Your 24-hour Tour Director will meet you at the airport and remain with your group until your final airport departure.
Welcome meeting and orientation
Practice session led by your own coaching staff
Participate in a practice session at a local field in the area.
Day 3
Dusseldorf guided sight seeing tour
Enjoy a guided Dusseldorf City Tour which will take us through the heart of the beautiful old town and will be highlighted by the Kaiserwerth, a historical district with a ruined castle of Holy Roman Emperor Barbarossa Frederick I; Schloss Benrath; Hofgarten, the old city park; Gerresheim Basilica; and St. Suitbertus Basilica.
Friendly soccer match
Play an international friendly match against a local club or academy team. The team will meet and compete against athletes of similar ages and skill levels, and have the opportunity to make friends for life.
Day 4
Practice session led by your own coaching staff
Participate in a practice session at a local field in the area.
Cologne excursion
Cologne guided sightseeing tour, Cologne Cathedral visit, Afternoon shopping in Old Town
Day 5
ESPRIT Arena Tour
Take a guided stadium tour of ESPRIT Arena, home to the club Fortuna Düsseldorf, established in 1895. The arena has a seating capacity of 54,600 and was built between 2002 and 2004 to replace the old Rheinstadion. The first match at the stadium, a league match between Fortuna Düsseldorf and Union Berlin (2-0), was played on September 10, 2004. The stadium officially opened a few months later, on January 18, 2005, with a friendly match between Fortuna and Bayern Munich. (Borussia-Park is also an option depending on the final schedule).
Friendly soccer match
Play an international friendly match against a local club or academy team. The team will meet and compete against athletes of similar ages and skill levels, and have the opportunity to make friends for life.
Day 6
Travel to Amsterdam
Practice session led by your own coaching staff
Participate in a practice session at a local field in the area.
Attend professional soccer match
Experience a professional soccer match like never before as you chant and cheer alongside passionate fans and watch world-famous, international players go cleat to cleat on the field.
Dinner
Day 7
Amsterdam canal guided cruise
Canals and crocuses. Bicycles and bluebells. With more canals than Venice and countless flower merchants, downtown Amsterdam bursts with color and light reflecting off the water. Take a canal boat ride for the best views of gabled houses and nearly 1,200 bridges. Note: Cruises may be guided by a local or pre-recorded audio.
Van Gogh Museum visit
Step into this sleek, modern museum and discover the world’s largest collection of Van Gogh paintings and drawings, along with fascinating exhibits that detail his life and artwork.
Professional coaching clinic
Participate in this special clinic with a guest coach, player, or instructor. The clinic is designed exclusively for your team and to enhance your skills in the areas identified by your coaching staff.
Dinner
Day 8
Ajax soccer stadium visit
We will take a guide tour of ArenA Stadium, the home of A.F.C. Ajax (Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax), the most famous Dutch soccer club. Amsterdam's most modern stadium features impressive architecture. Like many modern stadiums, ArenA has a retractable roof, which can be opened when it does not rain. After its construction in 1996, the stadium was able to seat 51,000 spectators. During the tour, we will be able to see the press room where press conferences take place before each match; visit the control room of the stadium; look at the pitch from the ArenA's highest seat. We will conclude in the official Ajax Fan Shop, and take some free time for shopping and exploration.
Dinner
Day 9
End tour
Already Included
Transportation to & from your destination
Hotel accommodations
Admissions to top attractions (details in itinerary)
Meals (unless otherwise noted on your itinerary)
WorldAssist staff members available 24/7/365 should your group need extra help
Free high school credit for students who choose to complete WorldStrides free online coursework post-program
Guided sightseeing tours & city walks (details in itinerary)
WorldStrides Tour Director: A dynamic destination expert who makes learning come to life by leading your group's activities and discussions
Dedicated team practice time (details in itinerary)
Tickets to local games/matches (details in itinerary)
Scenes from Germany and Holland
Health & Safety
Additional health and safety measures may be available within your respective destination. Refer to your program-specific materials for complete details.
Financial Assistance
Financial Assistance
WorldStrides provides over $2.5 million in financial assistance each year to thousands of families. Families with annual adjusted gross incomes of less than $85,000 may qualify. One simple call to Customer Service and you’ll know how much may be available for your trip even before signing up. Please note: financial assistance is given on a first-come, first-served basis.
Payment Plans
Advantage Payment Plan
At program sign-up you can opt to pay in full, or break up the cost of your trip with the Advantage Payment Plan. This plan allows you to pay a small initial deposit, then have your remaining payments spread out into affordable monthly amounts.
EZPay
We offer an EZPay option, which is a simple way to pay for your WorldStrides program by scheduling hassle-free, automatic drafts from your checking account. With EZPay, you'll never be late or miss an installment.
Fundraising Tools
Our easy-to-use tools put students in the driver's seat of their own fundraising efforts. Students can send e-cards, share links on social media, and even send out printed letters through WorldStrides' Gift of Education program. In one click friends and family members can make a direct donation to the trip - with 100% of the money raised going to offset their trip price. Thousands of students pay for their entire trip each year through the Gift of Education.
Also, WorldStrides makes program-specific scholarships available as well as other scholarship resources. Ask your Account Manager for more information about scholarships and fundraising tools.