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Bas Naus

Like any person in the Netherlands, I started riding my bike soon after I learned how to walk and I ate cheese almost every day. But during my childhood, we would always drive straight to the mountains for every single family holiday we had. So I was introduced to the joy of travelling at early age, but it was only later that I really discovered the rich heritage, culture and beauty of my home country. When I went to college in the Netherlands, I finally started to explore my own ‘backyard’. Instantly, I fell in love with the charm of the Dutch towns and cities, the mesmerising beauty of our coast, and the relaxed culture of our people. And till today, I get excited about discovering new places in my little home country below the sea level!

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"The Netherlands is a very small country, so it is easy to travel from one side of the country to the other. So we offer trips all over the Netherlands and we organise a variety of experiences: round trips, cycling holidays, multi-activity tours or special interest trips about art, food, water-works or anything else that is special about Holland! Instead of driving you around from one place to another, we always try to make the travelling itself experiential as well: enjoy a fast and easy train ride to your next hotel, bike along lakes, cows and windmills to the next town, smell the sea from a fishing boat… There is a lot to explore and the possibilities are endless!"

How did you get involved in travel?

"After completing my studies I went on a long holiday to the Himalaya. After spending a year in Nepal, India and Tibet, I decided I wanted to come back there as often as possible so I started working as a tour leader for Dutch trekking groups. During these trips I discovered that besides all the beautiful places we went to, the thing that satisfied me the most was connecting with my guests and seeing the joy and happiness in their eyes. And this is what still motivates me working in tourism: creating experiences for people that truly inspire them and stay with them forever.
"

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"When I was a student in the late nineties, I would go to Amsterdam regularly to visit friends who studied there. After exploring the nightlife in the evening, most of the times I would wonder around the city the next morning. At that time there were very little tourists in Amsterdam. I would often visit the Van Gogh museum and sometimes I would be the only visitor in the entire building. I remember sitting in front of his paintings for hours in complete awe. This truly awakened my appreciation for our own culture and history. And still, I never miss an opportunity to see a Van Gogh!
"

Bas is part of the following groups: Belgium Travel Agents, The Netherlands Travel Agents
The historic center of Bruges
Cycling Tour of the Netherlands & Belgium - 14 Days

Pedal past windmills, tulip fields, and castles on this wonderful two-week cycling tour of the Netherlands and Flanders! You'll explore green landscapes and coastal scenery as you make your way between historic Dutch cities like Haarlem, Delft, and Leiden, then cross over to Belgium, where medieval architecture and locally made chocolates await. There's so much to see and do in the region, and there's no better way to see it than on a bicycle.

Famous cobbled street, Muur van Geraardsbergen, takes part in one-day road cycling race, Tour de Flanders, annually
Belgium in April: Travel Tips, Weather & More

April is spring in Belgium and a great time to head outdoors in search of colorful flowers (you won't have to go far). Admire the carpets of bluebells at Hallerbos forest or make the most of the annual opening to the public of the royal family's private greenhouses at Laeken. There's a lot to see and do in Belgium in April.

Dutch canals in fall
The Netherlands in November: Travel Tips, Weather, & More

With weather that alternates between autumnal and wintery, November isn't a very popular time to visit the Netherlands. However, if you're interested in art and culture and like the idea of visiting some of Europe's best galleries without the crowds, November could be an ideal time for your trip to the Netherlands. Read on to find out more about visiting the Netherlands in November.

A canal in the center of Amsterdam
The Netherlands in July: Travel Tips, Weather, & More

July is midsummer in the Netherlands, which means it's peak season. With pleasant weather, lots of festivals, and everything open, there's lots to see and do in the Netherlands during this month. Read on to learn more about traveling to the Netherlands in July.

Summer in the Netherlands
The Netherlands in June: Travel Tips, Weather, & More

June is early summer in the Netherlands and while it's a popular time to visit, there's something of a lull between the flower frenzy of the spring and the midsummer masses. If you're looking for warm-but-not-hot weather, long days, gentle outdoor activities, and plenty of cultural attractions, June is a great time to visit the Netherlands. Find out more below.

A windswept stretch of the Dutch coast
Coastal Highlights of the Netherlands - 10 Days

The Dutch coast has so much to offer, from quiet beaches to bustling cities to pristine national parks. This 10-day itinerary takes you through some of the top highlights, including picturesque Amsterdam, beautiful Oosterschelde National Park, the charming artisan center of Delft, and the architectural capital of Rotterdam. Ride a bike along with the impressive Delta Works, view historic windmills at Zaanse Schans, and explore remnants of the Dutch Golden Age in Middelburg. From nature to culture to history, this adventure has something for everyone.

Recent trip reviews for Bas

The Netherlands and Belgium
The Netherlands | May 29 - Jun 9, 2022

Cindy
Cindy w.
Canada | Reviewed on Jun 10, 2022

We had an absolutely amazing time traveling to The Netherlands and Belgium thanks to Bas from Beat the Dutch Travel who we met through kimkim.

Throughout the planning process, Bas was exceptionally helpful; he asked us good questions to get a sense of our interests, needs, budget etc. and always responded to our messages in a timely manner. Early in the process he provided a potential itinerary which was sufficiently detailed to give us a sense of what our trip might look like and then... read more

We had an absolutely amazing time traveling to The Netherlands and Belgium thanks to Bas from Beat the Dutch Travel who we met through kimkim.

Throughout the planning process, Bas was exceptionally helpful; he asked us good questions to get a sense of our interests, needs, budget etc. and always responded to our messages in a timely manner. Early in the process he provided a potential itinerary which was sufficiently detailed to give us a sense of what our trip might look like and then refined it after our review. In addition to activities that were booked for us, Bas, and his colleague Mieke, also provided us with a curated list of restaurants and sights we might like to consider during unplanned times. All tickets for transit and for sights were purchased for us, which took the stress out of our travel planning. Having a local specialist make suggestions with regard to sights to see meant that we were able to take in the "must-sees" as well as some that were less likely to be visited by tourists. The accommodations that we selected, based on Bas' recommendations were all unique and interesting and suited our needs well.

During our trip we had private tours booked in Amsterdam, Nijmegen and Antwerp which helped us to get an appreciation for each of these cities from the perspective of and with the expertise of a local guide. One particular highlight of our trip, one for which we are particularly grateful was the opportunity to meet Bas when he acted as our driver so that we could visit 'The Crossing Bridge', the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, and Vrijheidsmuseum (Freedom Museum), which would have been difficult for us to visit via public transport. In addition to meeting a very practical need in terms of transport, we deeply appreciated the opportunity to learn about life in The Netherlands through is eyes.

Both Bas and Mieke were very responsive to our questions and concerns both before we traveled and then while we were on the trip. We are very grateful to them for making our trip to The Netherlands and Belgium stress free and highly memorable. Thanks to them we can't wait to plan our next trip!

Hotel Reviews
Amstelzicht
Amsterdam

We loved staying at the Amstelzicht Hotel. It is small (with only 14 rooms) and quaint with a great location. The staff were friendly and helpful. We had a lovely view of the canal and the hotel is a very short walk from Rembrandt Square. Transit from the hotel is very easy. The rooms are comfortable and clean.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Opoe Sientje B&B
Nijmegen

This was a very unique place to stay. We stayed in the the Deckhouse apartment. Our "room" on the boat was cozy with an outer room (including a kitchenette, dining table, and sofas) and a small bedroom. It has a great view of harbour and the bridge over the river Waal. We took a very peaceful walk around the premises in the early morning. Since we only stayed one night we didn't get to enjoy all of what Opoe Sientje has to offer. Breakfast, served in the Hold, was delicious.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel New York
Rotterdam

The hotel is very interesting and historic with a wonderful location. The rooms are bright with lots of windows and high ceilings. The staff were friendly and helpful.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
De Keyser Hotel
Antwerp

This hotel is located about a 5 minute walk from the train station and in the heart of the city. The room was small but met our needs.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Atlas B&B
Ghent

We loved this B&B. Our room was very spacious and had a lot of character. The staff were very friendly and helpful. Our only complaint was that our washroom (although private - just ours) was outside of our room and down 12 stairs. Otherwise, we had a lovely stay. Breakfast, served in a small dining room was delicious.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Our room was very comfortable and clean. We give only 4 stars since our washroom was outside of our room.
Activity Reviews
Public Transport Pass Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Private canal cruise to Rijksmuseum
The Netherlands

This canal cruise was one of the highlights of our trip. The captain of the boat was very knowledgeable and shared with us interesting information and stories about Amsterdam. Our cruise was scheduled in the morning. It was very peaceful and quiet. Seeing the city from the canal is a must!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
World War II excursion Westerbork & Veluwe
Amsterdam

We were really grateful to be able to visit Het Verscholen Dorp (the Secret Village). Although it has such a troubling history as a hideout for Dutch Jews, it was fascinating to see.

Amsterdam - Westerbork - Veluwe - Arnhem/Nijmegen
The Netherlands

We will be talking about this experience for years to come! It was so sobering to come to this place where Dutch Jews, Roma, and other prisoners were brought during WWII but helped us to visualize history.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Bas Naus
Bas
Bas Naus
Local specialist in Nijmegen, Netherlands | Reviewed on Jun 15, 2022

Dear Cindy and Clyve,
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! I am delighted to hear you had a pleasant trip in the Netherlands & Belgium, and that you appreciated our help here! Personally, I can also say the 2 full days we spent together when I was your driver/guide, were very nice. I really enjoyed your company, getting to know you and learning about your life in Canada, and talking about life here in the Netherlands. Thanks for the good times we had together!
All the best to you and see you again sometime in Nijmegen ;-)
Warm regards,
Bas.

Read all The Netherlands reviews