Hans

‘You only start seeing it when you realise it’
(quote Johan Cruijff)

I took my decision to pursue IVOR training last winter while running. During an endurance run through the dunes, I had a nice conversation about travelling with one of my running mates. Both of us have travelled a lot and we like to exchange experiences and special destinations. What I didn’t know is that in a distant grey past, he attended IVOR training. He mentioned the course in passing. Short course, hands-on and job guarantee. Sounds good.

Less than three weeks later, I was in Utrecht for the^1st day of classes.

The training is indeed hands-on, the teachers involved and the atmosphere in our group was good, we learnt a lot and also laughed a lot. The days are long, very intensive but I went home after each day of class feeling fulfilled. The training has brought me a lot. I gained knowledge, met nice people and made good contacts through the IVOR network. That went amazingly fast! Around my exam time, I already had several conversations with interested travel organisations.

I have since completed the course and have started working as a tour manager with one of these organisations. Boat Bike Tours is a very nice company that offers cycling-boating holidays. A great way to discover the Netherlands and Belgium, among other places. Guests come from all over the world. Boat Bike Tours gives me the opportunity to learn in practice, by sending me out together with experienced tour guides. I learn a lot from this.

My new role as tour manager feels great, it is very challenging. The variety, cycling tours and contact with foreign guests create dynamism. It gives a lot of satisfaction that, through my efforts, I can contribute to the success of a trip. It strikes me that foreign guests are very interested in our history, the battle with the water, our tolerance and Johan Cruijff. But how do you translate polder, integration and those statements by Cruijff?

Well, not even the IVOR can help me with that, so I’ll just rely on my rich imagination and improvisational skills…

Hans Spithoven

IVOR comment: Hans is an ANVR certified tour guide