SUNDAY 19 SEPTEMBER

10.00-21.00 : FIDIC conference delegates registration at the registration and service counter in the entrance of the Netherlands Congress Centre

14.00-17.00: The Hague city tour
Accompanied by (English-speaking) experts in their fields, this tour offers the ideal opportunity to see all the major attractions of The Hague from the comfort  of a coach, with stops at the Panorama Mesdag (the world's largest panoramic painting, an awesome trompe d'oeil view of Scheveningen in 1881) and the International Peace Palace.

19.00-21.00: Welcome reception at the Gemeentemuseum
Everyone is invited to join this reception in the Gemeentemuseum. Renowned for both its architecture and extensive collection of treasures, it is a magnificent surrounding to meet colleagues and friends from around the world.

MONDAY 20 SEPTEMBER

09.00-11.20: Opening Ceremony

• A welcoming address from the Mayor of  The Hague.
• Information on the conference from the chairmen of FIDIC and ONRI.
• The official opening speech by a representative of the dutch government.

For accompanying persons:
11.20-17.00, a choice of three tours:

Delft
Described by Britain's Sunday Times as Holland's most delightful town, Delft is an historical wonder with architecture that spans the centuries. Its hand-painted Royal Blue Delftware porcelain made this town famous throughout the world, and this tour also includes a visit to the remaining factory, De Porceleyne Fles. After lunch, horse-drawn trams will take you back in time along beautiful canals crossed by ancient stone bridges. Alternatively, a visit can be made to the 15th century Prinsenhof Museum.

Muiden/Leiden
Count Floris V is one of Holland's most legendary figures. After lunch in the restaurant that bears his name, we visit his stunning, 13th century, Muiderslot Castle. Refurbished in the 1700's, the moat-surrounded castle is filled with articles and paintings, evoking life in the Golden Age. Then on to the futuristic Naturalis complex in Leiden, one of the world's top 10 nature museums.

The River Vecht and Sypesteyn Castle
A two-hour cruise and buffet lunch on the Prins Hendrik take us down the meandering Vecht River, where neo-classical residences with immaculate lawns tell of an exodus by Amsterdam's wealthy merchants in the Golden Age. In the afternoon, we visit Sypesteyn Castle, built by the last member of the family to house his extraordinary collection of portraits, weapons, silver and porcelain. Also the chance to wander round the exceptional gardens and get lost in the maze!

19.00-23.00: Concert in the Nieuwe Kerk
An enchanting mix of traditional and modern music in the classic surroundings of the recently-restored, 17th century Nieuwe Kerk church. A buffet will also be served

TUESDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER

For accompanying persons:
09.00-17.00, a choice of three possibilities:

Madurodam
If it's a famous feature of Holland, you will find it here, all copied to the smallest detail on a 1:25 scale. At miniature city Madurodam, windmills turn, ships sail, and the most modern trains traverse the city on the world's largest miniature railway.*

Gemeentemuseum and Museon
Architect H.R Berlage's superb Gemeentemuseum houses a remarkably wide collection of modern art, prints, Delft Blue, 18th century silver and porcelain, and rare musical instruments. The Museon is one of Holland's most popular science museums, bringing nature and culture together in a modern setting.*

*Both the above are combined with lunch in Hotel  Des Indes where the Gilded Coach containing the Royal Family will pass by on its way to Parliament. Optional guided walk through The Hague in the afternoon.

A whole day tour to Gouda and Schoonhoven
Gouda is much more than just a famous type of cheese as you'll immediately discover when met in the remarkable Town Hall dating from 1450. Then on to the longest church in Holland, St. Janskerk, with its glittering 16th century stained glass windows. After lunch in the Burgerhal, we move on to the unique Gold, Silver and Clock Museum in Schoonhoven before visiting a working windmill at Kinderdiik on our way back.

19.00-24.00:  Rotterdam harbour tour with dinner buffet
Cruise around the largest port in the world in a delightful paddle steamer,  restored to its original condition at the beginning of this century. Relaxing wining and dining while viewing such highlights as the flood barrier that protects the harbour and beyond.

WEDNESDAY 22 SEPTEMBER

For accompanying persons:
09.00-17.00, choice of three possibilities:

Along the dikes to the Zaanse Schans
The morning sees us journey to the former fishing villages of Volendam and (by boat to) the one-time-island of Marken. Here, traditional living is combined with the needs of modern tourism in a strikingly tranquil way. After lunch in the similarly-hospitable bygone port of Edam (now famous for its cheese) we then visit the Zaanse Schans, a living and working portrayal of life in a typical dike village at the turn of the century.

Enkhuizen
Experience the days of steam as we ride from Hoorn to Medemblik by rail before driving on to the historic old port of Enkhuizen. Here, the open-air Zuiderzee Museum recreates more than 130 houses, shops and workshops from the period before 1932 when the ravages of the "South Sea" were consigned to history by the massive Afsluitdlyk (literally, closing-off dike).

Het Loo and Hoge Veluwe
Paleis Het Loo was the favourite summer residence of the Dutch Royal Family between 1686 and 1975 - the palace and gardens are now restored to all their 17th century glory. The afternoon sees us in the Hoge Veluwe national park. Cycle through the breathtaking woodland landscape or visit the Kroller-Muller Museum, containing 278 Van Goghs , and many other magnificent masterpieces.

19.00-24.00: Gala Banquet at the Kurhaus at Scheveningen
The luxurious seaside setting of the Kurhaus serves as the ideal backdrop for our gala banquet. A welcoming cocktail reception is followed by a sumptuous dinner and the finest wines. After the dessert buffet you'll then be sure to dance the night away in style with two bands.

THURSDAY 23 SEPTEMBER

While the FIDIC Executive Committee holds its post-conference gathering, standing committees and task force are meeting, other delegates and accompanying persons may choose between three leisure options, all from 09.30-18.00:

Amsterdam
A day to remember as we explore some of this cosmopolitan city's finest attractions. In the morning a visit to the Rijksmuseum (home to Rembrandt's Nightwatch and countless other major pieces) and then it's all aboard for a lunch-time cruise around the canals. In the afternoon choose between diamonds, Dutch liquor tasting, a guided tour of the infamous Red Light District or a voyage of self-discovery! An eveningstay is also possible.

Zeeland
A visit to the Delta Expo, detailing 2000 years of Dutch defiance of the seas and particularly the finally successful storm surge barriers and dams constructed in the Eastern Schelde. After lunch in the historic market square at nearby Veere, we explore this fascinating village through a leisurely guided walk.

Golf at Cromstrijen
One of the finest golf courses in Holland. Please indicate your handicap (if applicable and by no means essential!) and also if you wish to hire clubs for the day.

FRIDAY 24 SEPTEMBER

A programme of post-conference tours of more than one day duration:

Two-day tour: Nature of the North
Leaving The Hague at 08.30 we journey north to Lelystad to climb aboard the Batavia, an authentic replica of a ship that sunk in 1629. After lunch in Hierden, on to the beautiful zoo in Emmen, home to 1500 butterflies and much more besides. Dinner and accommodation are luxuriously presented in the Bilderberg Hotel in Leeuwarden. After a rousing breakfast buffet, we head for Friesland, visiting the world's oldest working planetarium and the Allingawier miniature vilage on the way. Boosted by a traditional Fries lunch in Piaam, we then cross the 32 km long Afsluitdyk to reach Broek op Langedijk. Here you can bid for vegetables at the famous old auction and take a boat trip around the former islands. Arrival in The Hague at around 19.00.

Three-day tour: The Spirit of the South
Leaving The Hague at 08.00, our first port of call is the "white city" of Thorn. A scenic cross-country route and some surprising stops bring us to Maastricht where the culinary delights of the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza await us for two nights. For there is much to experience in Maastricht - a guided walk through the historic centre, the Apostelhoeve vineyard, museums and churches galore. On the third day we cruise down the Maas River to the labyrinth village of St. Pietersberg before transferring by coach to the castle gardens of Arcen. Arrival back in The Hague at around 20.00.

Four days through Holland, Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium
A unique opportunity to explore the neighbouring countries of the Netherlands. First, however we take a scenic route via Delft to the Delta works in the south of Holland. Then, after a pleasant lunch in the Flemish heartland of Antwerp, we continue our journey into Belgium, checking in at the prestigious Thermae Palace Hotel on the coast at Ostend. The evening's entertainment will be provided in the nearby city of Bruges - where a spectacular dinner is served among knights, witches and minstrels a la 1468.

Day Two also starts with a middle-ages feel as we make a tour of historic Brussels. Following a river cruise and a (liquid?!) lunch in one of the city's oldest breweries, we make our merry way to the Holiday Inn in Liege, where relaxation is guaranteed. A two-hour ride to Luxembourg City the next morning again sees us lunching and sightseeing in the most beautiful of surroundings. The afternoon journey along the Moesel River combines the peace and tranquillity of the German countryside with two delightful towns, Trier and Koblenz. The final night is spent in Cologne, famed for its gothic cathedral, museums and superb shopping and sightseeing facilities. After a luxurious sleep in the first-class Regent International Hotel and an extensive city tour in the morning, we journey back to the Netherlands via Dusseldorf and Arnhem.

Non-FIDIC organized post-conference tours

In addition to the wide selection of tours organised by FIDIC/ONRI, the option also naturally exists to book your own excursions before or after the conference. We can help you in this respect by recommending three- or four-day visits to two of Europe's most exciting capital cities. Leaving The Hague on the morning of September 24th, luxury coaches will ensure you are soaking up the special atmosphere of either Paris or London by mid-afternoon. Although we are happy to organise bookings for these tours, please note that FIDIC/ONRI have no influence on the contents and running of the tour as a whole.