An ASI SUP Away holiday to the Loosdrecht, The Netherlands

Paddle along calm lakes and waterways, take in the beautiful local nature and wildlife, all in peace and tranquillity? A SUP away holiday to the centre of the Netherlands could be your next SUP destination.
The Lake District of the Loosdrechtse Plassen is located in the centre of The Netherlands and is well-known for the beautiful lakes and woodlands. Just 20 minutes drive south of Amsterdam and 20 minutes north of Utrecht.

This stunning Lake District nature reserve is only available to enter by canoe or by SUP and ASI SUP School IK SUP is ideally situated in Loosdrecht on the canal leading to the nature reserve itself. 
As well as providing paddle tours through the nature reserve, IK SUP also owns their own exclusive private island in the nature reserve, so when the wind picks up they will take you to their sheltered island to continue paddling even on the breeziest of days.

SUP Activities 
IK SUP offer group and private SUP lessons to all ages and abilities. You can take a 2hr tour through the nature reserve area to see wonderful plants, bird and wildlife or stretch and relax with a SUP Yoga or SUP Pilates session on the reserve in between the water lilies?

IK SUP are dog lovers to their core and one of the popular SUP activities is to take you dog with you on board the SUP. They offer specialised and experienced instruction and have the best equipment and paddling area for a fantastic experience for dogs and owners on the water.  They also offer a wealth of other SUP activities for groups, corporates, families and kids. Tours are popular with Sunset tours and Full Moon tours the best way to see the lakes. 

Winter SUP tours
If you visit during the low season in winter time they offer tours on location. You can SUP to do your shopping at the Christmas markets of Amsterdam and Utrecht via the canals!

SUP Rentals
IK SUP provide SUP hire though prior reservation is essential as boards get booked quickly.  They offer many quality boards in different sizes and will match you to the correct boards for your level. When you rent a board from ikSUP they will supply you with a map of the route through the nature reserve and give you a short sup-instruction if you require.

SUP Family Activities
The whole family can enjoy SUP. They have kiddies’ boards for children aged from 8 years and above,  younger kids can wear a lifejacket at sit on the board with mum or dad. They also have a giant sup for the whole family or a tandem sup suitable for 2-3 persons - perfect if mum and dad want to bring along junior

What’s included
All SUP lessons are inclusive of board, adjustable paddle, leash, wetsuit, drink, guided tour, instruction, transport by motorboat to the nature reserve on windy days and memorable photos of your tour. 
What facilities do you have at your SUP School? 
There are excellent facilities at the school. With showers, changing rooms and a cafe right next door. They will also provide cool drinks to bring along on your board and maps of the area.
 

Getting there
Loosdrecht is easy to get to. Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport is served by regular flights from all major European and UK airports as well as long haul destinations. Schiphol is only 30 minutes’ drive away. You can also take the train from Hilversum or from Breukelen, both only a 20 minute journey.

Where to stay   
The Najade Resort Loosdrecht is located next to the school right on the waterfront overlooking the Loosdrechtse Plassen. A self-catering apartment hotel costs on average £100 per night.

Where to eat?
For famous foodie heaven visit Amsterdam for a host of famous restaurants. In Loosdrecht Restaurant In de Watertuin is located right on the water and comes highly recommended. Restaurant Anderz also serves good food, is reasonably priced and has excellent service.

What is the best time of year to visit you and paddle?
The best time to visit is May to October.  January and February are very cold and sometimes the lake is frozen which offers a whole other beauty. April- May are so beautiful with all the waterlilies coming out and the duckling’s swimming around your SUP board. June- September is the busiest time of year and hot. October - November are when the days are shorter, colder and the leaves begin to fall for autumn. 

Local tourist attractions 
If you want to step off your SUP you can try wakeboarding or sailing in Amsterdam, Utrecht and Hilversum. On the river De Vecht, you will see beautiful house boats and glamorous and historical estates from the 16th century, located on the banks of this famous river.  You can take a walking tour or SUP tour here. The bustling city of Amsterdam has a wealth of museums, art galleries, shops and restaurants and its famous café culture is a must.

More about Loosdrechtse Plassen and local tourist attractions can be found on the tourist information site at https://www.holland.com/global/tourism/destinations/provinces/north-holland/loosdrechtse-plassen.htm

Book SUP lessons and stunning SUP tours direct with IK SUP at: http://www.iksup.nl/

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