Discover Scotland in relaxation
‘There’s only one proper way to discover Scotland, and that’s by water.’ So says Klaas van Twillert, who owns the tall ship the Flying Dutchman together with his wife Xandra. ‘Everyone loves to travel. But not very many people like having to constantly change hotel, unpack and pack again to continue on by bus, car or train. When you travel on the Flying Dutchman, you always take your hotel with you to new places, which makes travelling truly relaxing.’
So much to see
‘Scotland catches you by surprise,’ warns Van Twillert. ‘There is so much to see and to discover. You have the raw beauty of the mountains, the peace of the moorlands, the rugged coast with endless secret coves, the lakes, the whales and the dolphins. You get to know Scottish traditions and legends, visit castles and moor at tranquil fishing villages where it feels like you’ve gone fifty years back in time. And for the enthusiasts there are of course the famous, or perhaps infamous, pubs, the famous Scottish whiskies, and don’t forget the traditional cuisine with dishes like haggis.’
The Flying Dutchman
The Flying Dutchman is a luxury two-mast schooner with a length of 40 metres. It has eleven two-person cabins and one four person cabin, each of which has its own shower and toilet, central heating and air conditioning. ‘It is a tough but comfortable ship, where you quickly feel at home,’ says Klaas. ‘When possible, we serve breakfast, lunch and dinner outside on deck so that you can enjoy the surroundings as much as possible. But there is enough space to eat inside if necessary.’
The Flying Dutchman can sail with the best of them, with 480 m2 of sail area distributed among seven sails. ‘A tour through Scotland is always special. But travelling on a large sailing ship like this is an unforgettable experience. On our trips through Scotland, we use the engines as little as possible. When you sail, the only thing you hear is the sound of the wind. That is truly sailing through Scotland.’
Custom programme
The Flying Dutchman team organizes a number of theme trips in Scotland. We currently have special trips for those interested in sailing, cycling, whisky, nature, culture and hiking. Anyone can sign up for these trips. You can also hire the ship complete with crew. This makes it possible to take a trip with family, friends, a club or colleagues. You can choose one of the existing routes, or to design your own journey.
All the theme trips are made on the basis of half board. ‘Sometimes it’s breakfast and a hot lunch, and other days it’s breakfast and dinner,’ explains Xandra. ‘It depends on the programme. We want to offer our guests as much freedom to discover the country as possible. If we moor after lunch in a beautiful city, it would be a shame to have to come back to the ship for dinner. It’s more fun to explore the city until late in the evening. Or we might arrive in the evening, and the guests go for a nice cycle or walking trip in the morning and have lunch on the way. When you get back on board at the end of the day, dinner will be ready.’
The organization
Klaas and Xandra van Twillert, who have built their reputation in the charter world for 22 years, started sailing the tall ship the Flying Dutchman ten years ago. They have two passions: sailing and Scotland, and they share these passions with their passengers. ‘If you want to, you can take the tiller, climb the rigging, and help set the sails,’ says Xandra. ‘But of course you don’t have to. If you prefer to read a book, look out over the water or close your eyes and enjoy the sun, that is just as welcome. We want people to get to know this special way of travelling through Scotland. And if we’ve done our job, Scotland will have stolen your heart by the end of the journey.’