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.
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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!
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Featured trips & expertise
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.
Highlights of Belgium & the Netherlands - 10 Days
Join this 10-day adventure to discover three fascinating cities in both the Netherlands and Belgium: starting with Amsterdam, The Hague, and Rotterdam, then crossing the border to Antwerp, Bruges, and Ghent. Zipping by train between them, you'll set off on a series of guided and self-guided bicycle and walking tours. Encounters range from windmills and cheese north of Amsterdam to chocolate and beer in Bruges, and you're guaranteed a healthy helping of art, history, and architecture along the way.
Best of Belgium: Antwerp, Ghent & Brussels - 7 Days
Discover Belgium's rich pan-European cultural heritage in a seven-day tour of the best of the Flanders region. Marvel at Flemish Renaissance architecture in Antwerp and cycle the fairy tale city of Ghent. Stroll through the Castle of Laeken gardens or paddle in the Bois de la Cambre. Visit chocolatiers amid the cobbled streets of Bruges and sample local Belgian beers with centuries-old brewing traditions in Brussels. Don't forget to leave room in your suitcase for those Belgian truffles.
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.
Family Adventure in the Netherlands & Belgium - 14 Days
Bring the whole family along on this kid-friendly journey around the Netherlands and Belgium! Start with a cruise along the canals of Amsterdam and a visit to a futuristic science museum. Then ride an old steam train to Medemblik, where you'll board an antique ship to Enkhuizen, known for its cheese markets. Cycle through the sand dunes to the North Sea, spot colorful tulip fields, and feast on traditional stroopwafels before spending three days at a popular Dutch theme park. Then cross the border to Belgium, where you'll go on a food tour of Antwerp, stay at a real Belgian farm, and relax at the beach resort of De Panne. Offering a great mix of outdoor adventure and cultural education, this itinerary is a hit with travelers of all ages.
Best of Amsterdam & Haarlem - 5 Days
This enlightening 5-day journey will take you to the highlights of Amsterdam and its surrounding region. Start at the Anne Frank House, then enjoy a private boat tour along the city's canals before visiting two world-class art museums, the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum. On a day trip to the countryside, you'll see historic windmills, wander around a quaint fishing village, and sample traditional Dutch cheese in Edam. Spend the last part of the trip in the charming city of Haarlem, an easy side trip from the capital, where you'll visit the oldest museum in the Netherlands.
Recent trip reviews for Bas
The Netherlands and Belgium
The Netherlands
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May 29 - Jun 9, 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
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.