THE PETERSENS Europe Tour 2023
Netherlands | Germany | UK
Guys!! We are so excited to be crossing the pond!
In late August we will be playing in Amsterdam in the Netherlands, and Cologne in Germany. Then in early September we are heading to the UK… Glasgow in bonny Scotland, and Leeds and London in England.
All the cities are near airports and major railway stations, and we have put together some highlights and practical information to make your trip easier.
Don’t worry, we will be back in the future to visit more places! We also play in Branson, Missouri in the United States throughout the year, and have US Christmas tour dates lined up later this year.
We would love to see you, wherever in the world that might be!
~ Jon, Karen, Emmett, Katie, Ellen, Matt, and Julianne
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The Petersens
SHOW: AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
Zonnehuis | Aug 24, 2023
VENUE 't Zonnehuis, Zonneplein 30, 1033 EK Amsterdam (Amsterdam-Noord borough)
STATION Amsterdam Centraal (trains from all over Europe, including Eurostar)
AIRPORT Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) | 8 mi / 13 km | Train or taxi
The center of Amsterdam is very walkable with plenty of hotels, along with Airbnbs in the suburbs. To get to Zonnehuis, take the free ferry (Line F4) from behind Amsterdam Centraal station to NDSM Wharf, where it is a short bicycle, Taxi TCA or Uber journey to the venue. Alternatively, take taxi, Uber or public transportation for the whole journey.
Highlights
There is also a free ferry (Line F3) to A’DAM Lookout, a 22-storey building with 360° views. It is a fun place with restaurants, hotel, free audio tour, interactive binoculars, virtual reality rollercoaster ride through the city and, for the brave, an “Over the Edge” swing.
One of the best ways to explore is to take the tram (Line 2), or just wander the Brouwersgracht and Singel canals, although the Museum of the Canals, Anne Frank House and Rijksmuseum are worth a visit. For a slower pace, book a whisper boat in advance from Boats4rent or Boaty, or get on a bike like the locals and take a We Bike Amsterdam tour of the backstreets and hidden gems, or the countryside. Be sure to track down some Dutch delicacies too!
Another way to escape the city is with a trip to the heritage village of Zaanse Schans, with its wooden buildings. Don’t miss the cheese factory, clock museum, pewter foundry shop and the various windmills. Catch the train to Zaandijk-Zaanse Schans station, or take a taxi or Uber.
Hotels may be cheaper in Leiden, just 30 minutes away by train. The historic cities of Delft and The Hague are also less than an hour away, as is Hoorn, where Stoomtram offers steam train rides and a boat trip around the coastline. It is easier to visit the epic Efteling theme park and 19 UNESCO Kinderdijk Windmills with a car (or you can take a train to Rotterdam and the waterbus (Line 21) on to the windmills).
The Waterland region is also beautiful, with Volendam fishing village (get there early to miss the crowds), a ferry trip to Marken, Edam and its cheese market (Wednesdays 10.30 AM to 12.30 PM in July/Aug), and whisper boat rental to tour more villages like Monnickendam and tea gardens. Take the bus, or a daytrip with Amsterdam Guides and Tours, if you don’t have a car
SHOW: COLOGNE, GERMANY
VENUE Kulturkirche Cologne, Siebachstraße 85, 50733 Cologne (in the Nippes district)
STATION Cologne Central (trains from all over Europe)
AIRPORTS Cologne Bonn (CGN) | 9 mi / 15 km | Train, bus or taxi
Dusseldorf International (DUS) | 37 mi / 60 km | Train to Dusseldorf then Cologne
Dortmund (DTM) | 62 mi / 100 km | Train to Dortmund then Cologne
To get to Kulturkirche, catch metro line U12 or U15 from Ebertplatz to Florastraße, where you can walk to the venue in 10 minutes or eat in a rustic brauhaus (brewery restaurant) such as Haus Schnackertz or Em Golde Kappes - book a table in advance. Alternatively, take a taxi straight to the venue. There are plenty of hotels in Cologne city center, and some Airbnbs
Highlights
Most tourists spend their time around the Dom (the cathedral) where you can climb the tower, and cross the Hohenzollern Bridge Stroll up the Rhine, take a left through a park to Ebertplatz, then another left, and after about 200m is the medieval Eigelstein Torburg city gate. It is a beautiful walk in the summer, and an ideal place to take a break and enjoy the atmosphere with cafes and restaurants around the square. It is often the starting point of walking tours, and not far from Ebertplatz metro station.
Visit the Chocolate Museum or book a tour to see the Fragrance Museum. You can also take the train to the nearby Brühl Castles, Linz am Rhein to see half-timbered houses, or Königswinter to catch the cog train or hike up to Drachenburg Castle and Drachenfels ruins
The most beautiful stretch of the Rhine River is the Upper-Middle Rhine Valley Take a train two hours south to Bingen and cruise north to Boppard or Koblenz, both of which have railway stations, and chair lifts or cable cars Bingen's Ring Ticket also has a little of everythingmountains and valleys, chair lifts and boats Stay in a burg (castle), or stop off at other picturesque towns like Bacharach or Braubach The road and railway run along the river too.
For a longer vacation, take a 220-mile road trip down the Romantic Road from Würzburg, through forests and mountains, to Füssen near the Austrian border. Highlights include the towns of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Nördlingen and Augsburg, and the fairy-tale Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles Rothenburg or Füssen make a great base. Alternatively, explore Germany’s Black Forest by train for free with a KONUS guest card
Glasgow, UK
Mór | Sept 1, 2023
SHOW: GLASGOW, UK
VENUE Òran Mór, Top of Byres Road, Glasgow, G12 8QX (Hillhead subway station)
STATION Glasgow Central (trains from all over the country, and sleeper trains from London)
AIRPORTS Glasgow Airport (GLA) | 8 mi / 13 km | Shuttle or taxi
Edinburgh Airport (EDI) | 35 mi / 56 km | Citylink and Megabus shuttles
There are plenty of hotels in Glasgow city center and some Airbnbs in the suburbs George Square is at the heart of the city and close to restaurants and transportation hubs. Near Òran Mór are restaurants serving traditional food, like Cottiers, The Bothy, and Old Salty’s fish & chips.
Glasgow Subway, nicknamed “the Clockwork Orange,” circles the city center with trains going in both directions. It is easy to use and the best way to get around if you don’t mind short walks There is also the hop-on hop-off City Sightseeing bus and ever-popular Walking Tours in Glasgow if you want to see more of Scotland’s largest city. Taxis and Uber are available too.
Highlights
See some stunning buildings with a self-guided tour of the University of Glasgow, a wander through Kelvingrove Park - making sure to see the palatial Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum - then drop in on Glasgow Botanic Gardens with its Victorian glasshouses (all free).
Go down to the River Clyde to visit Riverside Museum (free), take a trip on Paddle Steamer Waverley, or tour Tall Ship Glenlee (free) The medieval Glasgow Cathedral (free), The Clydeside Distillery and Tennent’s Wellpark Brewery also offer tours
If you have time, visit the Necropolis (free) with its great views of the city, or take a cab to get up close with birds at Strathblane Falconry (book in advance). Make your way to Mugdock Country Park (free) to see the castle ruins and blooming heather that peaks in August - take the train to Milngavie, then a taxi to the tea rooms entrance.
Scotland is perfect for a longer trip. Catch the train to the historic city of Edinburgh between August 4th and 26th to soak up the atmosphere of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and Edinburgh Festival Fringe, better known as “the Fringe ” From there it is just an hour on the train to Leuchars, then a short bus ride or taxi to the beautiful coastal town of St. Andrews and its world-famous golf course Many companies also offer coach tours of the rugged highlands, islands, and lochs (lakes), or you could take a 500-mile North Coast 500 road trip
SHOW: LEEDS, UK Brudenell Social Club | Sept 2, 2023
VENUE Brudenell Social Club, 33 Queen's Road, Burley, Leeds, LS6 1NY
STATION
Leeds (trains from all over the country)
AIRPORTS Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) | 7 mi / 11 km | Shuttle or taxi
Manchester Airport (MAN) | 61 mi / 98 km | Train or shuttle
Leeds is another walkable city, and it is just a short cab ride or Uber to Brudenell Social Club, which is in a student area Taxis are black and white, and can either be booked in advance or hailed on the street. There are plenty of hotels in the city center, and some Airbnbs
Highlights
For brunch, head to Bill’s, or Moose Coffee with its American and Canadian style food. There is also a good selection of modern restaurants in The Light mall.
If you enjoy architecture, stroll through the city’s Victorian shopping arcades Every day there is also a 90-minute walking tour of the city center, leaving the Town Hall at 10.30 AM
If you have more time you could play darts at Flight Club Leeds, take a cab to Kirkstall Abbey ruins, or catch the water taxi to the Royal Armouries Museum (free) where they have combat demonstrations and daily horse shows in the summer
With a car, you can reach Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Harewood House, or journey underground at the National Coal Mining Museum On the way to or from Scotland, there is also Alnwick Castle and the Lake District
Locally, to get out to the countryside, catch the train to Keighley where you can take the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway steam train to the village of Haworth and Brontë Parsonage where the Brontë sisters lived most of their lives. Here you can also hike to Brontë Waterfall
Another place reachable by train is the walled city of York. It is steeped in history and highlights include The York Dungeon (pre-booking essential), York Castle (pre-booking recommended), York Minster 13th-century Gothic cathedral and tours, the National Railway Museum, Jorvik Viking Centre (pre-booking recommended), and the ever-popular Betty’s Tea Rooms with their bookable Afternoon Tea
London, UK
Bush Hall | Sept 3, 2023
The Churchill Arms , Kensington
SHOW: LONDON, UK
Bush Hall | Sept 3, 2023
VENUE
Bush Hall, 310 Uxbridge Road, Shepherd’s Bush, London, W12 7LJ
(Tube: Shepherd's Bush Market on the Circle and Hammersmith & City Lines)
STATION
AIRPORTS
Various railway stations (trains from all over the country, and Eurostar)
London City (LCY) | DLR train (part of the Tube network) or bus
London Gatwick (LGW) | Train or coach
London Heathrow (LHR) | Train or shuttle
London Luton (LTN) | Train or coach
London Stanstead (STN) | Train or coach
Most people use the Tube subway system to get around London - pay with a contactless card or mobile, or top up an Oyster card Citymapper is a great app for navigating on the move. Restaurants near Bush Hall include Esarn Kheaw Thai, Bocconi Italian, and many along the outside of Westfield London mall. There are plenty of hotels and Airbnbs, and also Uber.
Highlights
Central London is huge, but the hop-on hop-off Big Bus makes it easy to see the main sights and save your legs! While on the River Thames, Uber Boats are a great way to get unobstructed views of the city and travel up to Greenwich, “the home of time,” with its rich maritime history and traditional pubs like the Trafalgar Tavern and The Cutty Sark
See a show in the West End theatre district, Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, Royal Airforce Museum, walk through St. James’s Park (free), or watch the changing of the guard (free). Go behind the scenes with tours of Buckingham Palace and The State Rooms and Garden Highlights (book weeks in advance), Shakespeare’s Globe, or Theatre Royal Drury Lane
For something a bit different, explore inside Tower Bridge, take the London Cable Car across the Thames and back (beautiful at sunset!), wander down Kynance Mews residential street, clip on a harness and walk over the domed roof Up at the O2 Arena for awesome 360° views or, for the more sedate, indulge in Afternoon Tea at the Rubens. Other fun places to eat are London Shell Co. on a boat, Bustronome on a bus, and Duck & Waffle at the top of a tower.
Take the train to Oxford for stunning university buildings and walking tours, or go on to Morton-in-Marsh to tour picturesque villages by minibus with Go Cotswolds Bath or Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, with its incredible maritime museums, are fun trips too.
Amsterdam, Netherlands Aug 24, 2023
Cologne, Germany Aug 25, 2023
www.petersenband.com
Glasgow, UK Sept 1, 2023
Leeds, UK Sept 2, 2023
London, UK Sept 3, 2023
