Accessible Travel Netherlands

An accessible-travel organizer based in The Hague

Accessible Travel Netherlands organizes accessible holidays, day tours, transfers and mobility equipment hire for visitors to the Netherlands. Its office is at Valkenboskade 170, 2563 GX Den Haag. The destination menu lists Amsterdam, Amsterdam in one day, Leiden, Keukenhof, Maastricht, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and Windmills - Zaanse Schans, plus an "Other destinations" entry. The FAQ says the site is "work in progress" and that more destinations are being added. For trips beyond the Netherlands, the FAQ says the company works "with a network of specialized travel agencies across Europe," naming Paris, Germany and Belgium as examples.

The company presents itself as an organizer rather than an information site. Asked whether it "only" provides information, the FAQ answers: "No, we are specialized in organizing holidays for people with access needs." The About page lists its focus as "Local knowledge," "Tailor made holidays," "Ability to guarantee accessible rooms," "City tours, (shore) excursions, (wheelchair) accessible transfers" and "Mobility equipment hire."

According to the About page, Veroniek Maat started the company in November 2010 to give tourists accessibility information and raise awareness of inclusion in tourism. Gerda van 't Land acquired it during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is now owned by Silvia Causin, "who also manages tourism in Amsterdam through her company, AmsterdaMobile."

Tours, hotels and equipment

The homepage splits the offer into tours, equipment and hotels. Tours: "our accessible tours, designed to ensure that everyone can enjoy the rich culture, history, and landmarks of this incredible country." Mobility equipment: "from wheelchairs and scooters to shower chairs, hoists, and more." Hotels: "wheelchair-friendly hotels across the Netherlands with our curated list, based on local knowledge and accessibility features."

The equipment menu names a mobility scooter, wheelchair, shower chair, hoist, electric bed and walker. The travel proposal form goes further, listing a high-low bed, shower chair, manual wheelchair, electric wheelchair, scooter, passive hoist, toilet raiser, walker and anti-decubitus mattress. The FAQ says equipment "will be delivered at your accommodation."

A blog post on the homepage describes a wheelchair accessible Amsterdam tour taking in the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House. The FAQ adds notes on specific places. It says the Rijksmuseum interior is accessible for strollers, wheelchairs and electric wheelchairs, with wheelchairs available at the entrance and free entry for an assistant, and that the Van Gogh Museum "has elevators and no bumps." For canal cruises, it says the company can help find and book accessible boats and that these tickets can be bought through it "at a discounted price."

The blog also covers accessibility at The Hague Public Transport Museum, with notes on wheelchair access and guide services, and the FAQ carries general travel notes: it names spring "for the tulip seasons" as a good time to visit, says English is widely spoken in cities and tourist spots, and warns that some shops and restaurants may accept only Dutch debit cards (Maestro).

The site does not give durations, start times, routes or prices for individual tours, and it does not say whether its tours are led by its own guides or by partners.

How a trip comes together

The homepage sets out its process step by step. The traveler requests "a non-binding travel proposal"; the company checks "rates, availabilities"; a "tailor-made travel proposal" follows; once the traveler agrees, the company books it; and "About a week before departure you'll receive your travel documents." The last step reads: "All you have to do now is pack your bags and put on your sunglasses!"

The proposal form asks for check in and check out dates, any mobility equipment needed, the number of persons (a menu running from 1 to 10+), travel wishes, and contact details. The page says: "We will then contact you within 48 hours to discuss your wishes and ideas." The FAQ adds that requests for things not on the website are welcome: "In fact (almost) anything is possible."

On accessibility itself, the FAQ is careful not to overpromise: "Accessibility involves particular places and people. It can not be generalized for a country, city, neighborhood or even a building. Each person needs different kinds of access." It lists who may need access, from people with a physical disability or a visual or hearing impairment to seniors, parents with children and travelers with heavy bags. It also says the company wants "to encourage and support people with less mobility to travel individually," organizing "accommodation, transport, tours and excursions that fit your access needs."

Terms, membership and contact

A blog post on the homepage says the company is a member of the VvKR trade association, and that members offering package holidays must join a guarantee scheme and hold mandatory business liability insurance for tour operators, which the post says also applies to Accessible Travel Netherlands. The footer links to the VZR Garantiefonds, Terms and Conditions and Additional terms pages, and lists the company's Chamber of Commerce (KvK) registration.

Contact runs through the proposal form, a contact form, info@accessibletravel.nl or 31 (0) 6 15 20 48 12. The site also has pages for the team, reviews, partners and accessibility guides.

What the site leaves open, and who it suits

The site does not show prices for tours, hotels or equipment hire; cost arrives with the tailor-made proposal. It does not state deposits, payment timing or cancellation terms in its main pages, which leaves the linked Terms and Conditions as the place to look. It does not describe the vehicles used for accessible transfers, say how tours are guided or in which languages, or give a size limit for a tour group.

Its strengths are clear from its own pages: a long history in accessible travel going back to 2010, a stated ability to guarantee accessible rooms, a broad equipment list delivered to the accommodation, and a planning model built around each traveler's own access needs. That suits travelers with reduced mobility who want one Dutch company to line up the hotel, transfers, equipment and sightseeing, and who are comfortable planning through a proposal and a conversation. It suits less well someone who wants to pick a fixed-price tour and book it online in minutes.