Events

The British Society offers a program of social activities and welcomes all English speakers to its extensive range of events. Regular weekly sporting activity such as badminton and tennis with seasonal golf and sailing.

Somme Battlefield Tour Weekend

EVENT DATE: 5th and 6th October 2024

John Cameron-Webb will be running World War One tour to the Somme battlefields over the weekend of 5th and 6th October 2024.

The tour will look at the series of British offensives commonly referred to as The Battle of the Somme, or “The Big Push” which cost around 245,000 British and Empire casualties between 1st July and 18th November 1916.

The tour includes visits to a variety of places of interest such as monuments, trenches, craters and cemeteries where  John will give detailed information about the battles,  the reasons why and how the offensive was conducted and it’s legacy.

The journey down travelling the four-hour journey is in private cars; the tour starts in the market town of Albert at 11 a.m. on Saturday 15th June and ends at about 3 p.m. on the Sunday thus allowing an early arrival home on Sunday evening.  Costs, including overnight accommodation, breakfast, lunch and Saturday evening dinner together in the restaurant of Hotel de la Basilique, travelling costs, incidentals and a modest participation charge are borne individually by participants and can be kept to a minimum. The tour is also suitable for those of restricted mobility and most age groups.

These are privately organized tours and it is more practical for each participant to arrange his or her own transport and accommodation. Please do book your accommodation as soon as possible; The area will be start to get busy because a week after this tour, the annual Battle of the Somme commemorative events will take place.

If you are interested to take part, please email John before 25th September on ymajymaj@hotmail.com. The maximum number of participants is around 25, so please respond as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

A complete itinerary outlining the tour giving timings and locations and background information will be sent to you.

Finally, John will only be able to run this tour if more than 15 people take part; So if you sign-up but the numbers are too low the tour may have to be rescheduled. Please bear this in mind when booking accommodation and ensure you are able to cancel your accommodation booking. Recommended place to stay hotelbasiliquesomme.fr

Evening Badminton

About: Beginners and regulars are welcome to join us for some fast action Badminton. We have a regular booking on the first two courts each week and usually end the evening with drinks and snacks upstairs. We can supply shuttles and rackets if needed.

When: Every Wednesday (Sept – June), 20.00-23.00

Where: Sporthal de Pijp, Lizzy Ansinghstraat 88, 1072 RD Amsterdam

Cost: One-off for whole season – €150

Contact: David Pollack badmin2@britsoc.nl

http://www.facebook.com/groups/britsoc/

Registration required? If you are new, yes please

Tennis

About: Ever picked up a racket? Then you’ll be able to pick-up this Japanese version of lawn tennis (played outside if dry). The game uses a lighter ball and more spin than regular tennis.

Tuesday Tennis

When: Every Tuesday, 20.00 – 21.00
Where: Indoors on court 19, Amstelpark Tennis Centre, Koenenkade 8, 1081 KH Amsterdam
Cost: € 10
Contact: Geoff Dudley (tennis@britsoc.nl) for more information

Sunday Tennis / Soft Tennis

When: Every Sunday, 17.00 – 18.00
Where: Indoors on court 19, Amstelpark Tennis Centre, Koenenkade 8, 1081 KH Amsterdam
Cost: € 8
Contact: Sharron Reed (tennis@britsoc.nl) for more information

Sailing

When: Every 3 weeks May to September

Where: Either Kaag or Loosdrecht (see britsoc_sailing.droppages.com)

Cost: Kaag: € 45 per boat (afternoon); Loosdrecht: €75 per boat (whole day). 2-5 persons per boat

Contact: Geoff Dudley (sailing@britsoc.nl) for more information

Golf

The main criterion for Britsoc Golf is to be able to play to a standard that doesn’t hold up play, English language based. There are a few lower handicappers, and others in the 20’s.

Games are on the Hogedijk course (near the AMC), on either the Saturday or the Sunday of each weekend (usually alternates by weeks).

That course is home to the Olympus club, of which many BritSoc players are also members. (The club has a competition schedule and some Britsoc golfers join some competitions). We have a simple weekly process where an invitation mail goes to the mail list on Monday AM for golf the following weekend.

Mail info includes:

Start day/time (One of either Saturday or Sunday), Usually quite early, ranges from around 7:30am to 9:00am on different weeks.
Which course combination, (Holendrecht, Bullewijk, Abcoude, all at the Hogedijk course)
Max number of people (usually 12 in Spring/Summer, based on 3 consecutive T times, e.g. 8:00, 8:10, 8:20).

Golfers who want to play reply to the mail by end of Wednesday, and the booking is confirmed by me to players and club on Thursday by email. If players are interested in signing up to the mailing list then contact golf@britsoc.nl. If players do sign up but need to cancel, they should inform the Hogedijk course directly, with 24 hours ahead, and cc the golf@britsoc.nl mail box.

Annual Events

Our British flavoured enjoyable events are one-off events that are run throughout the year, the most notable being our very popular Guy Fawkes Bonfire Night, Burns night and last, but not least, our spectacular Charity Christmas Ball and Boat trips. We have something to offer all ages and all tastes and we welcome members of any age, from young to ageing nicely, and remember you don’t have to be British.