Welcome to my tour page. Anyone who knows me, knows I love to travel and lived in Europe and the UK for many years. I now take small groups to Europe and share my favourite places and some hidden gems the regular tour operators tend to overlook. I love shopping at the various markets overseas and we visit lots of market's, ranging from local food markets, cozy Christmas markets, large Brocantes with 100’s of stalls selling a diverse range of antiques and collectibles and beautiful vintage or thrift shops we stumble upon along the way.
I studied tourism and worked in events for years and love organising these unique tours for you.
I am running three tours this year. If you are interested in joining you can pay the $50 holding deposit and I will forward a booking form, contract and a more detailed itinerary for you.
I hope you love what I have planned and join us next year.
Brocante Tour Join me on a trip through Belgium and the Netherlands. From the bustling streets of Brussels to the picturesque canals of Bruges, Belgium & the Netherlands offer a rich tapestry of history, culture and friendly people. They are known for hoarding and have some of the best Brocantes. We will attend 3 large Brocantes, some smaller quaint local Flea/craft markets & visit historical towns and villages with their own local markets. Dealers from France, Belgium, Germany and the UK can be found at the larger Brocantes.
Itinerary
3 - 5 August
We will meet in Bruges a fairytale-esque town filled with chocolate and lace shops. 3 times a year they host a massive Brocante and this weekend we will be there to experience it. Over 700 stall holders!
5 - 7 August
Zierikzee in the Netherlands is a beautiful harbour town a hidden gem, famous for its mussels & beautiful harbour, pretty shops and friendly locals. There is a fabulous local Brocante on the Wednesday for you to enjoy, one of the favourites with the last tour group. We will also visit a historical market in Veere, a picture perfect little fishing village with a cozy atmosphere.
7- 9 August 2 nights in Delft, known for its blue and white porcelain and pretty canals, you can try the local delicacies at the Thursday town market & see all the gorgeous flowers on display. Rummage at a flea market by the canals on the Saturday morning. If you have been on a previous tour - you may like to jump on a train to explore Amsterdam, The Hague with the famous Vermeer painting of ‘the girl with the pearl earring’ or Utrecht all close by.
9 - 11 August Valkenburg - 2 nights in a delightful place in Limburg in the only hilly part of the Netherlands, with lots of cozy outdoor restaurants and lovely shops to explore, with a castle ruin overlooking the town. We will take an excursion to Tongeron in Belgium for one of the oldest and largest Brocantes in Northern Europe, another favourite of previous tour attendees.
11 - 13 August Maastricht - 2 nights staying in the old part of this beautiful city. The shopping, historical buildings, cathedrals and markets are delightful. So much to see and explore! A local guide will take us on a 3 hour walk and share some stories of his city day one, with a cozy drink in a Dutch bar/cafe afterwards.
13 - 15 August - 2 nights in the Belgium Ardennes in the countryside. Time for us to wind down and enjoy the beautiful countryside and visit a beautiful Chateau on route to Dinant a town built on the river Meuse with an imposing citadel. Visit Dinant’s stunning Cathedral built into the Cliff face or take a leisurely boat cruise down the river. Dinant is another hidden gem, most big tour buses miss.
15 - 17 August - 2 night stay in a Chateau in Namur, we will visit Temploux market that weekend with over 6kms of stalls! you will find dealers from all over Europe and the UK. No reproduction or new items are permitted. If you want a break from antiquing you can enjoy the delightful town of Namur or stop and relax in our Chateau hotel.
17 - 18 August - Brussels, our tour will end in Brussels. We will have a farewell dinner that evening on the magnificent Grand place where our hotel is located to end our Tour. It is certainly a place that needs to be experienced, photos don’t capture how magnificent this square truly is!
You may choose to stay on and visit the daily Fleamarket and antique stores in Brussels!
General information:
You will get plenty of free time along the way to explore.
The longest time you will sit on a bus is 2.5 hours, most journeys will be around 1 or 1.5 hours at most. You won’t spend hours in traffic.
Any small purchases you make at markets on route will have to come home with you or can be posted back as we travel. If you fall in love with an armoire and must have it, most vendors are used to organising shipments around the world and can give you a quote. I suggest you go for the maximum weight permitted on the airline you fly with and travel light to begin with.
You can fly directly into Brussels or catch a train from just about anywhere if you choose to fly in elsewhere in Europe. You will have to catch a train to Bruges to join the tour.
Travel insurance is mandatory
Price:
$50 holding deposit, this does not mean you are booked on the tour. It just holds your place until you have completed a booking form and payed your full deposit of $995 minus the $50 ($945).
I will email the booking form to you.
$5000 per person sharing twin/double rooms. This can be paid in two instalments minus your deposit.
$2002.50 end of March and $2002.50 at the end of June plus your initial deposit of $995.
Single supplement $1450 - if you would like to share, please ask and I can see if any fellow traveler's would like to share with you.
