Librarians’ Tour of Amsterdam (FULL)
Tour Dates: May 18-25, 2025
Location: Amsterdam, see tour highlights
Cost per person: $3,220* for a double room, $4,930* for a single room
*Air fare not included, see cost details below for more information.
This program is currently closed. Take a look at some highlights from the Spring 2025 tour!
If you haven’t already join our mailing list to be the first to know about future tours!
Who may participate: Librarians, library workers, and everyone who loves libraries! We welcome participation from adults age 18 and older. This tour is strictly limited to 18 participants.
This program is not open to individuals who will be enrolled University of Wisconsin students during the dates of the tour.
Questions? Contact the iSchool CE Team.
Please do not purchase non-refundable plane tickets until the tour leader has contacted you with arrangement information.
The cost for this tour is $3,220 per person for a double occupancy room (two twin beds) or a $4,930 per person for a single occupancy room (one queen bed). There are a limited number of double occupancy rooms with one queen bed at the $3,220 per person price as well.
The price includes:
- All breakfasts
- Three additional meals and gratuities
- Lodging from May 18 – May 25
- All admission tickets for library tours
- All fares for all-day private coach tour and tickets to tour attractions
- 5 Day I Amsterdam Card City Card
The price does not include:
- Airfare to and from Amsterdam
- Transit costs to and from the airport
- Meals that are not listed as covered above
- Beverages containing alcohol are not included for any group meals per UW policy but may be purchased at individual expense
- Admission and tour fees to any attractions that you may choose to visit during free times
Registration costs and due dates:
- The NON-REFUNDABLE registration fee deposit of $1,000 is due upon registration. This deposit is non-refundable, except in the event that the University of Wisconsin cancels the tour for any reason at which point the entire amount paid by a participant would be refunded. This deposit must be paid by credit card via our online registration system once registration opens.
- An invoice from UW–Madison Business Services for the remaining balance ($2,220.00 for shared room/$3,930.00 for single room) will be emailed 3-5 business days after registration. The due date of this invoice will be 60 days from the invoice date.
Cancellation Policy
- A NON-REFUNDABLE $1,000 deposit is due upon registration for the tour.
- Cancellations requests received by March 18: No refund of the $1000 deposit; a 50% refund of any registration amount paid past the initial $1,000 deposit.
- Cancellation requests received between March 18 – April 18, 2025: No refund of the initial $1,000 deposit; a 25% refund of any registration amount paid past the initial $1000 deposit.
- Requests received after April 18, 2025: No refund of any registration fees paid.
Q: Who is going on this tour? How many participants are there?
Important Note: This program is not open to individuals who will be enrolled University of Wisconsin students during the dates of the tour.
We welcome any adult (18+) who is interested in libraries, but we think that this tour will be particularly interesting for library workers, librarians, and those in professions related to libraries. In the past, our tour groups have been a blend of working professionals, retired professionals, as well as their friends, family, partners, and spouses. We do not require that participants be alumni or employed by the University of Wisconsin – this program is open to the general public. This tour is not able to welcome children and minors under the age of 18.
This tour is strictly limited to a maximum of 18 participants.
Q: Who is leading this tour?
Casey Ineichen is an program manager in the Information School’s Continuing Education Services office.
Meredith Lowe is an program manager in the Information School’s Continuing Education Services office.
Q: What is the itinerary?
A tour highlights document can be found here. A full itinerary is in progress and will be available by end of December.
Q: Can I have more information about our lodgings?
We will be staying in one location in Amsterdam, DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station. The hotel is just a five minute walk from Central Station. Check in is available at 3:00 pm. A buffet breakfast will be available for all tour attendees each morning. For more information take a look at the hotel website.
DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station
Oosterdoksstraat 4, 1011 DK Amsterdam
+31 20 430 0800
Q: I would like to share a room, but I don’t have a roommate. Can you help?
Yes. We will match individual people together as roommates if they request to be matched. UW–Madison iSchool staff may contact you regarding matching. We cannot guarantee roommate matches. If a requested match cannot be made, the requester is responsible for paying the supplemental price of $1710 for a single room. Please indicate preferences regarding your roommate match upon registration.
Roommates will share a twin room, which have two separate beds.
Q: I’m really interested in going, but I have not completely decided yet. Can you hold a space for me?
No, to be fair to everyone, spaces are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
If you know that you would like to share a room and have a roommate already identified, you are both encouraged to sign up around the same time – due to the popularity of our tours and the strict limit of 18 participants, space cannot be held or reserved.
Q: Can I get more information about the day trip excursion?
We will be a doing a ~9-hour private group tour through Tour Company Netherlands to Rotterdam, Delft, and The Hague. Highlights from the tour include:
- Capture memorable photos at the Peace Palace, the esteemed residence of the International Court of Justice.
- Embark on a captivating live guided city tour, immersing yourself in the vibrant cultures of Rotterdam and The Hague.
- Discover the artistry behind the iconic blue pottery of Delft as you visit a renowned factory.
- Marvel at the remarkable architectural wonders of Rotterdam, including the renowned Market Hall and unique cube houses.
- Immerse yourself in the historical charm of Delft as you explore its captivating city centre.
- Experience the essence of three distinct Dutch cities on a guided sightseeing day trip from Amsterdam.
Q: What’s included with the I Amsterdam City Card?
The City Card includes:
- Access to over 70+ museums and attractions in Amsterdam and the surrounding area
- Access to city-wide public transportation (tram, bus, and ferry)
- Bike rental for one day
- A walking tour
- A canal cruise
For additional information about the I Amsterdam visit their website.
Q: I have a mobility issue or health issue. What can I expect for this trip?
If you have a mobility or health issue that may affect you on this trip, please contact the CE Team as soon as possible to discuss options. It is extremely helpful to know of any considerations as early as possible so that arrangements can be made for accessible lodgings (if required) or to discuss possible options for tours in buildings with many stairs, etc.
This is a walking-intensive tour. Please make a point to discuss all health-related issues with your physician prior to this trip. We will be using a private chartered bus for our day trip; this bus is not wheelchair accessible. Some of our destinations are historic buildings that require visitors to negotiate stairs. We will be taking public transportation and walking to library tour appointments, often up to 20 minutes at a time. While we will be walking at a relatively easy pace, the pace is steady and sometimes you will need to negotiate uneven terrain such as cobblestones and stairs. Once we arrive at our tour destinations, we will be walking around the libraries we’re visiting. There are options we may have to assist you if this sounds difficult; please contact the CE Team as soon as possible to discuss if you have questions or concerns. People in a wide range of age and ability have participated in our tours in the past, and planning early is key to having a great time.
Q: I have special dietary needs. What should I do?
There is a space on the online registration form to describe any special dietary needs. The tour leaders may contact you with questions, in order to arrange dining options for our group meals that accommodate dietary needs. It is generally easy to find vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and options for other diets. If you have questions, please contact the iSchool CE Team.
Q: What should I pack?
We would recommend packing as light as possible. Participants must be able to manage their own luggage. The temperature in May typically ranges from 50s F into the mid-70s F. It’s helpful to plan to dress in layers, as you may be cool in the morning, warm in the afternoon, and cool again in the evening. Here are items that past tour participants have found helpful to bring:
- An electrical plug converter and adapter for USA/Canadian electronic devices
- A travel-sized white noise machine and/or ear plugs, especially for those with roommates
- A travel fan
- Smartphone with international data plan or personal WIFI hotspot (generally it’s easy to find WIFI at our hotels or restaurants/cafes if you want to do that!)
- Shower poof/scrubbie or washcloth, which is not always provided
- Travel umbrella and/or packable rain jacket
Q: How should I organize my flights?
Please do not purchase plane tickets until you hear from the tour leader with travel information.
The first day of the tour is Sunday, May 18. Please plan to arrive at our lodgings in Amsterdam that day (check in is a 3:00 pm). You may choose to fly in and do some private traveling on your own prior to that date, or after the tour concludes. The last day of the tour is Sunday, May 25. Tour participants are responsible for booking their own travel between the airports and our lodgings. Information about airport transit options are below (please check the transit services’ sites for the most up-to-date information).
Amsterdam Airport Transit Options
- More expensive: Taxi or ride share (Uber/Lyft) from airport. (~26 minutes, ~$50-$65)
- Least expensive: Take the train from the Schiphol Airport to Central Station and then walk or take a taxi from Central Station to the hotel. (~30, $5.20-$15)
Q: Can I earn academic credit for this tour? What about non-credit education?
This is a non-credit tour only.
This tour is worth 1.0 CEUs/10 LEUs, or 10 contact hours of non-credit education. CEU/LEUs are not eligible for academic credit.
Q: How does the waiting list work?
The tour is limited to 18 people, and registrations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Once we reach that number of registrations, a waiting list is started. The waiting list is limited to 10 people. If one of the original 18 participants cancels their registration, that spot will be offered to a person on the waiting list. Being on the waiting list does not obligate participation in the tour – waitlisted persons may choose to decline the spot. Being on the waitlist does not guarantee a spot on a future tour. If you know that the 2025 tour dates won’t work for you, please consider joining the email list for information about future tour activities.
Q: Will you also be running a Librarians’ Tour of Scotland in 2025?
We will likely continue running the Librarians’ Tour of Scotland in the future, but we do not have one scheduled for spring 2025. If you would like to be notified of future tours to Scotland make sure you are signed up for our mailing list.
Q: Who can I contact with any other questions about this tour?
Please contact the CE Team with any questions you have.