Private tour in Bruges Carl O
5.0
(7) reviews
8 hours
1
8 hours
1
Carl O.
5.0
Guide rating
140
Reviews
Tours delivered
17 hrs
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After working 15 years for a multinational cy. I decided that it was time for a career change! Sharing my passion for European history combined with my local knowledge, is just what I like to do for travellers. After I managed a hotel for a decade, I took 2 years of training to become a tour guide. Now, when I give tours, I am happy like a dog in a butcher's shop. Even the COVID-19 slowdown doesn't make me regret my career shift. For these tours I own a people carrier that can sit 8 people. When travellers go for one of my guided bike tours, then my van becomes our support vehicle for the ride. When we are cruising, then I am the happiest butcher's dog in town ! I find it fascinating to see how the 2nd industrial revolution changed the world in so many more ways than how we manufacture and mass produce goods. The mechanisation triggered a fundamental social and political change. The progress in science was spectacular. Along with all the above, new weapons became available to the armies of ambitious emperors with ideas of conquering. To make your journey to Europe both an entertaining and interesting experience, that is my mission. Sharing local knowledge combined with historic information, gives travellers a unique understanding of "my" corner of Europe ! The location where I pick you up doesn't necesserily have to be the location where I drop you off after the tour. I can meet you in Brussels and drop you off in Bruges, or meet you in Bruges and drop you off at the Lille Europe station where you can catch a 1 h train to Paris or 90' to London. Smart travellers make good use of my van, it has room for luggage. Don't hesitate to use my local knowledge to improve your travel plan. guide license in Belgium ; TOERISME VLAANDEREN guide license in France ; Somme Battlefield Partner transport license VVB 1609 No restrictions
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Carl O.
In May 1940 the British expeditionary force had to retreat under the pressure of three panzer corps under Rundstedt. The German spearhead reached the French coast and swung along the coast. Large numbers of allied troops were cut off and surrounded by German troops. The evacuation from the beaches of Dunkirk is known as the Miracle of Dunkirk or Operation Dynamo. My tour takes you for a walk in the town, the port, and on the longest beach in Europe where a memorial testifies to the successful evacuation of 330, 000 troops. The Ypres Salient, a front line that projects into an opponent's territory and leaves one surrounded on three sides, was where troops engaged in a lengthy trench warfare with the first use of toxic gas, tunnelling and deep mines, flame throwers, mortiers … to breech the deadlocked trench system know as "The Western Front". The five heroic but futile battles between 1914 and 1918 would ultimately lead to the death of almost 600, 000 troops and the annihilation of the city or Ypres.
Excellent day learning and exploring with Carl. Carl is so knowledgeable - about military history and beyond - and we appreciated his ability to distill history into interesting and memorable narratives. We so enjoyed the time we spent, as well as Carl’s flexibility in providing last minute suggestions of sites we might find interesting (he was right!). Cannot recommend Carl enough!!
Great, informative tour. Carl has encyclopedic insight into WWI and WWII history. We learned a great deal, and discovered places we would have never found on our own. We highly recommend him as a guide. You will not be disappointed.
This tour is outstanding! Carl's extensive knowledge of the battles in the region near and around Brugge gave us a unique perspective of what transpired during the world wars. Highly recommend!
Carl provided us with an outstanding day in Dunkirk and Flanders. His knowledge and ability to make these historical places come to life was wonderful.
Carl enthusiastically shared with us his extensive knowledge of Operation Dynamo and the Flanders Fields sites. Having an early start we were able to walk down to the wrecks on the Dunkirk beach providing a much better understanding of the scale of the whole operation. Our time in the Flanders Field area gave us a much better understanding of the scale of the WW1 battles. On a beautiful sunny day the reality of war was hard. Carl was very professional and flexible. He adapted our itinerary to better meet our interests. He also took care to make some contingency arrangements which were fortunately not required. We highly recommend him.
My party of four did a private one day Dunkirk and Flanders tour with Carl in April 2024. The day's itinerary was well planned with visits to the Dunkirk beach and the nearby Operation Dynamo museum and various WWI battlefield and cemetery sites in the Ypres area. Carl has a wealth of knowledge and stories about both subjects, we learned a lot and had an enjoyable day.
The tour is timed to the tide. The shipwrecks on the Dunkirk beach are visible only at low tide. Once I know your travel plan, I can check the tide table and plan the day’s itinerary. Flexible tour planning may be required! Reckon a 2 mi walk on the beach. - The meeting point is the Starbucks coffee shop under the Bruges railway station. * The free option is to drop you off ( at the end of this tour) at the Lille Europe station. - We visit the historic Dunkirk evacuation site for a leisurely walk on the beach and the sea wall. - The relic of HMS Crested Eagle shipwreck is visible at low tide. - The interesting "Operation Dynamo" museum in the old Dunkirk fortification comes next. - The afternoon will bring us to Ypres and the WW1 battlefield known as "Flanders Fields". - Vancouver Corner & The use of toxic gas - Tyne Cot has the largest number of burials contained in any Commonwealth cemetery of either the First or Second World War.
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I own and drive a Mercedes Benz Vito Tourer van. The van sits 8 people, has leather seats and a/c front and rear. Transport license 1609
Bruges, Flanders, Belgium
Station: Bruges railway station: The Starbuck coffee shop is situated in the underpass under the Bruges railway station. Other pick-up locations are negotiable.
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8 hours
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8 hours
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If your tour is valued over $200 USD and booked at least 45 days before the tour date, you can book with a deposit!
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