After packing our signature red choir robes into our suitcases, we boarded a large bus to embark on a week-long choir tour in the land of tulips. As we crossed the Eurotunnel, a few older boys led the entire bus of choristers in singing, in full harmony, the familiar Founder’s Prayer. Having traversed France and Belgium, and after more than twelve hours on the road, we finally arrived at our accommodation in Noordwijkerhout.
The next day began tranquilly with optional activities – either bowling or swimming – at the hotel’s activity centre. We then made our way to the spacious Grote Kerk, Wijk bij Duurstede, which dates back to the 14th century, for our first performance. After some rehearsals and readjusting our minds to choral music, we began our performance with Orlando Gibbons’ radiant Hosanna to the Son of David. All ten pieces in our recital went smoothly. With Elgar’s Great is the Lord echoing in our heads, we were kindly offered a dinner in the church hall after the concert.
Our 7am start the next day felt like 5am! The tour coincided with the start of daylight saving time, which compounded the time difference from England. After a rushed breakfast and the issue of a few ‘choir tardies’, we arrived at Westekerk in Amsterdam – the largest Protestant-built church in the Netherlands – for a morning service. Along with our six pieces, we also introduced Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer to the congregation, who were unfamiliar with English hymns. We enjoyed lunch in the beautiful Zaanse Schans neighbourhood, populated with many historic windmills and even a bustling cheese farm. That evening, we were fortunate enough to perform at an evensong at Haarlem’s colossal Cathedral Basilica of Saint Bavo. It was by far the grandest venue in which we performed, and hearing the echoes of our harmonies through the Gothic arches was a particularly memorable experience.
There were no singing commitments on Monday, so we spent the day exploring Amsterdam. We first visited the Rijksmuseum, which houses paintings such as Rembrandt’s magnum opus – The Night Watch. We then took to the canals and drifted through Amsterdam on a cruise, the sunshine gleaming down upon us. We finished the day at the National Holocaust Museum, followed by a drive to the city of Amersfoort, where we would spend the rest of the week.
We began our penultimate day rehearsing inside the ancient hall church of Sint Joriskerk in Amersfoort. We had lunch in the area – countless shops were open, from small local cafés to large fast-food chains. The latter half of the day was spent in Wassenaar, South Holland, where we held an evening concert in the quaint Dorpskerk. The intimacy in our notes created a different kind of beauty compared to the soaring atmosphere of Saint Bavo. The original church was built in the 12th century.
Our final day started with the highly anticipated football tournament held at a park close to the hotel, organised by Shane S. This was followed by a long lunch break, after which we were given time to stroll along the charming streets of Amersfoort, scouting for souvenirs and snacks from nearby shops. We had our final performance in the evening at Sint Joriskerk. The audience, continuingly the trip-long trend of warm hospitality, was incredibly welcoming – responding with generous smiles and applause. As a shift from Hubert Parry’s triumphant I Was Glad, and as one last encore, we crooned Orlando Gibbons’ quiet Drop, Drop Slow Tears.
With the final performance of the tour behind us, we travelled back to the hotel, ready for our homeward journey in the morning. Our week in Holland will be etched in our memories for a long while.
