General booking conditions

General Booking Terms and Conditions

Through our website, waterlandvanfriesland.nl, you can reserve various accommodations (including vessels) or (combination) tickets. The following general booking terms and conditions apply. Articles 2 to 19 specifically apply to accommodation bookings, while Article 20 applies to ticket bookings.

1. About VVV Waterland van Friesland

Through the website waterlandvanfriesland.nl, run by VVV Waterland van Friesland, you can reserve accommodations in Friesland. Additionally, various (combination) tickets can be purchased.

VVV Waterland van Friesland is registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce under number 40001779. Our contact details are:

VVV Waterland van Friesland,
Midstraat 99,
8501 AH Joure,
KvK: 40001779
VAT number: NL002667733B01
Email: info@waterlandvanfriesland.nl
Tel: 0513 250450

2. Accommodation

If you make a booking for accommodation through our website, the host – the owner or manager of the accommodation – will provide the accommodation. You can make use of our online reservation system via the website. VVV Waterland van Friesland facilitates the creation of a travel agreement between you and the host. The host, who is the actual provider of the accommodation, is always the one who makes the accommodation available to you.

When booking a holiday in Friesland through our website, you can choose from various types of accommodations such as hotels, holiday cottages, group accommodations, camping, vessels, and bed & breakfast (B&B).

Hotel

Which meals are included?

• Room only: breakfast is not included.
• Bed & breakfast: breakfast is included from the day after arrival until departure day.
• Half board: dinner on the arrival day until breakfast on the departure day.

If you are travelling alone, please note that a surcharge may apply for staying in a double room. Some hotels allow booking without a deposit or credit card guarantee.

Holiday Cottage

The website offers both privately owned and park-owned holiday cottages. Private cottages may differ in furnishings, even if they belong to the same quality class. Information regarding what's included, arrival time, changeover days, location, and discounts can be found on the cottage's description.

Group Accommodation

Group accommodations vary in size and offerings, typically suitable for groups such as schools or company outings. Details about what is included and the maximum capacity of guests are provided.

Camping

Usually, you are booking a pitch, often on a campsite. Campsites vary in size and amenities. The description will outline the available facilities and any organised activities. General sanitary facilities are usually provided, with some campsites offering private facilities at the pitch.

Bed & Breakfast

With B&Bs, you typically stay in a private home, where you may share facilities with other guests or the owner. Breakfast may or may not be included, and this is specified in the accommodation description.

Vessels

The website offers various types of vessels for rent, all provided by different operators. A vessel is defined as a watercraft made for travelling or staying on water, including equipment and inventory. These terms specifically refer to vessels suitable for overnight recreational use.

Please note! If you rent a vessel under HISWA terms, the HISWA General Terms and Conditions for Vessel Rental also apply in addition to these booking terms. We will clearly communicate this during your booking.

3. Pets

Pets are not allowed in all accommodations. You must inform us during booking if you wish to bring a pet. Usually, the following rules apply:

• You must provide a bed or blanket for your pet.
• Pets are not allowed in dining areas (e.g., hotel restaurants).
• Pets should never be left alone in the accommodation.
• Most hosts charge a fee for pets.
• A maximum number of pets may apply, as specified in the accommodation details.

4. Information on Our Websites

We strive to provide accurate information but errors can occur. Photos and descriptions may unintentionally give a wrong impression. If we discover any inaccuracies, we will correct them promptly. Final departure and arrival times will always be stated in your booking confirmation.

5. Reviews

Our website features reviews from previous guests about the accommodations. These are personal experiences and VVV Waterland van Friesland is not liable for the content. If you find a review inappropriate, please let us know via email or phone: info@waterlandvanfriesland.nl or Tel. 0513 250450.

6. Booking and Your Details

Once you make a booking through our website for accommodation at a specific time and price, a travel agreement between you and the host is established. You will receive a confirmation via email immediately. This is your booking confirmation. During the booking process, we ask for your details and those of your fellow travellers. We trust these details are correct. You are responsible for all obligations under the travel agreement, while your fellow travellers are responsible for their own parts. We handle your personal data with care and process them in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and our Privacy Statement. Your data is shared with the host to facilitate the booking.

7. Price and Other Costs

The applicable prices for accommodation or packages are displayed on the website. Prices are subject to change. Any surcharges, options, or extras are displayed during the booking process.

Reservation Fees

Reservation fees are a maximum of €24.50 per reservation, depending on the accommodation type.

Tourist Tax

Tourist taxes differ per municipality. For the municipality of Súdwest-Fryslân, the tourist tax is €1.25 per person per night, with babies exempt. In the municipality of De Fryske Marren, the tax is €1.20 per person per night (as of 2024) and will increase to €2.00 per person per night (from 2025), with babies and children exempt.

Vessel Usage Costs

Costs directly related to the use of the vessel, such as harbour fees, bridge, quay, lock, and mooring fees, as well as fuel, are additional costs for you.

Instruction and Test Sail

Before departure, you will receive instructions on how to use the vessel. A test sail is not included unless explicitly stated in the booking confirmation.

8. Discounts

Any applicable discounts will be shown during the booking process. It is not possible to combine multiple discounts. The system will automatically apply the discount that offers you the most benefit. If a last-minute or early booking discount applies, no other discounts will be calculated.

9. Payment

Deposit

Upon making the travel agreement, a deposit equal to 30% of the total agreed travel sum, plus any reservation fees, insurance premiums, convenience fees, and additional items, must be paid. If the travel agreement is concluded within eight weeks of arrival, the full agreed travel sum plus any reservation fees, insurance premiums, convenience fees, and additional items must be paid within one week, but always before the arrival date.

Remaining Payment

Any remaining balance (70%) must be paid within the period specified on the booking confirmation. If payment is not received on time, you will be in default. VVV Waterland van Friesland, on behalf of the host, will notify you by letter or email and give you the opportunity to pay the outstanding amount within seven days. If payment is still not received, the agreement will be considered cancelled on the day of default. The host may then charge the applicable cancellation fees. In such a case, the provisions of Article 11 apply, and any amounts already paid by you will be offset against the cancellation fees.

10. No Right of Withdrawal – Transfer to Another Person

Once you, as the main booker, have agreed to these terms and finalised the booking details, your booking is confirmed and cannot be withdrawn. You will receive an immediate confirmation via email, which will be deemed to have reached you once it could reasonably have been accessed. Please note that bookings made via our website are final. The cooling-off period, as stated in the "Distance Selling Act", does not apply to travel agreements made through our website.

Transfer to Another Person

However, you may transfer your booking to someone else. The following conditions apply:

• The replacement meets all the terms of the agreement, including payment obligations.
• The request is submitted at least seven days before departure to allow for necessary formalities.
• The host consents to the change, and any additional costs related to the transfer may be charged by the host.

11. Cancellations

You may cancel the travel agreement with the host, in which case the following cancellation fees apply:

For holiday homes (e.g., bungalow, chalet, static caravan, apartment, camping pitch, etc.):

• Cancellation more than three months before the start date: 15% of the rental sum.
• Cancellation between three and two months before the start date: 50% of the rental sum.
• Cancellation between two and one month before the start date: 75% of the rental sum.
• Cancellation within one month before the start date: 90% of the rental sum.
• Cancellation on the arrival day or later: the full rental sum.

For hotel accommodation or bed & breakfast:

• Cancellation up to 42 days before the arrival date: 15% of the rental sum.
• Cancellation from the 42nd to the 28th day before the arrival date: 30% of the rental sum.
• Cancellation from the 28th to the 7th day before the arrival date: 60% of the rental sum.
• Cancellation from the 7th day before arrival to the arrival day: 75% of the rental sum.
• Cancellation on the arrival day or later: the full rental sum.

For vessels:

• Cancellation up to three months before the start of the rental period: 15% of the rental sum.
• Cancellation up to two months before the start of the rental period: 50% of the rental sum.
• Cancellation up to one month before the start of the rental period: 75% of the rental sum.
• Cancellation within one month before the start of the rental period or on the rental period's start date: 100% of the rental sum.

Additionally, reservation fees and any insurance premiums remain payable. If a travel agreement for multiple guests is cancelled, cancellation fees for all guests must be paid. In some cases, different cancellation conditions may apply to certain arrangements.

Cancellation requests can be made via ‘my account’, phone, or email. The cancellation date is the date on which you notify us via one of these methods.

Free Cancellation

Some accommodations offer a ‘flexible cancellation’ option, which means you can cancel free of charge up to a certain number of days before your arrival date. This will be stated on the accommodation presentation and in your booking confirmation.

Cancellation Insurance

You have the option to take out cancellation insurance through Allianz via our website. The applicable insurance terms can be found on the VVV Waterland van Friesland website, along with the insurance conditions.

12. Changing Your Travel Agreement

If you have booked an accommodation and wish to make changes to your reservation, this is sometimes possible. However, changes may incur costs. Change requests to VVV Waterland van Friesland will be submitted to the host, who will decide if changes are possible and if any costs are applicable. VVV Waterland van Friesland will inform you as soon as possible. If changes are not possible, you can choose to either keep the original booking or cancel it. If no decision is made or if you do not respond in time, the original booking will remain in effect, and you will be liable for the costs. VVV Waterland van Friesland may charge a maximum of €22.50 for modification fees. Of course, cancellation is always an option.

13. Changes by the Host

The host may modify the travel agreement due to significant circumstances that prevent them from fulfilling the agreement as originally arranged. If this happens, the host must offer you an alternative equivalent arrangement within 48 hours (2 working days) without further costs. This obligation does not apply if the cause of the change is due to the guest(s). The alternative offer will take into account:

• The location of the accommodation at the destination;
• The type and class of accommodation;
• The additional facilities provided by the accommodation;
• The composition of the travel party;
• The specific needs of the guest(s) known and confirmed by the host in writing;
• Any personal circumstances of significant importance disclosed by the guest(s) at the time of booking.

If you wish to accept the alternative offer, you must inform the host within three working days. If you do not wish to accept it, you must notify the host within three working days and cancel the agreement. VVV Waterland van Friesland will then refund your payment on behalf of the host, unless the host directly refunds you.

14. Host Obligations

The host is responsible for having all necessary permits and insurance coverage for damages such as fire, flooding, storms, and any other external hazards, as well as legal liability. For vessels, the host must also have hull insurance and liability insurance. The host is required to carry out the travel agreement as described on the website and in the booking confirmation unless explicitly agreed otherwise in writing. If your travel experience is directly affected by the host’s failure to comply with the agreement, the host will compensate you. The maximum compensation you can claim from the host is the amount of the rental sum paid. No compensation will be given if the damage is not the host’s fault or caused by the person assisting them with the agreement’s execution, due to:

• Your own responsibility for the damage;
• Unforeseen circumstances affecting the host or a third party involved in fulfilling the agreement;
• Force majeure as defined by law.

In the case of vessel rentals, the host ensures that the rented vessel is in good condition, clean, fit for its intended use, and equipped with adequate safety gear suitable for the agreed navigation area.

15. Limitation of Liability

The host’s liability for damages is always limited or excluded in accordance with the applicable international treaties. The host is not liable for damages covered by a cancellation insurance policy. Except for the provisions elsewhere in these terms, the host’s liability for damages other than those caused by death or injury is limited to no more than three times the rental sum, unless there is intent or gross negligence on the part of the host. In such cases, their liability is unlimited. The exclusions and limitations of the host’s liability also apply to employees of the host, VVV Waterland van Friesland, and other service providers involved, as well as their staff, unless excluded by treaty or law.

16. Your Obligations

During your stay at the accommodation, you must follow the host’s instructions. You are responsible for any damage that occurs to or in the accommodation during your stay. The host may request a security deposit. If you or your co-guests misbehave during your stay, the host may terminate your stay immediately. You remain responsible for the full cost of your accommodation and are liable for any damages caused by your misconduct or that of your co-guests. You must have the correct documents, such as a passport or a Dutch driving licence, for identification.

17. Additional Obligations for Vessel Hire

The following additional obligations apply to the rental of vessels:

• You must comply with the regulations and laws applicable to the waters where you are sailing. Any failure to comply is at your own risk.
• The vessel is delivered to you at the location indicated in the rental contract and must also be returned to the same location.
• Before departure, you must inspect the vessel, the safety equipment (suitable for the agreed navigation area), and the inventory, and report any deficiencies to the host as soon as possible.
• You must use the vessel responsibly, as a good tenant and competent skipper. You may not make any changes to the vessel or allow others to use it without written permission from the host.
• You are responsible for ensuring that the crew refrains from excessive alcohol or drug use during the voyage.
• You must follow the host’s instructions, which may include a prohibition on sailing, returning to the marina, or mooring in a location specified by the host due to bad weather or excessive alcohol or drug use.
• You confirm that you are authorised and capable of sailing the vessel.
• The host may impose a minimum age requirement for the hirer of the vessel.
• You may not use the vessel with more people than it is suitable for, as determined by the host.
• Since every vessel is different, the host may impose additional conditions on the rental. If applicable, these will be shared with you before departure.

18. Host’s Liability for Vessel Hire

The host is liable for any damages you suffer that are the direct and sole result of a failure attributable to the host. If the vessel cannot be provided on the agreed date or for the full rental period, the host will do everything possible to offer an equivalent alternative. In the case of a malfunction, the host will attempt to provide instructions by phone or send a technician to resolve the issue. If necessary, they will arrange a replacement vessel. However, consequential damages and damages caused by wilful misconduct or gross negligence by the host’s assistants are not eligible for compensation.

19. Your Liability for Vessel Hire

You are liable for any damage to or loss of the vessel during the rental period. You are not liable if you can prove that the damage or loss was not caused by you or any of your crew members. Damage includes consequential damage.

You are always liable for (consequential) damage caused if:

• You deliberately use the vessel outside the agreed navigation area with the host.
• You knowingly fail to follow the host’s instructions regarding the preservation of the vessel or the host’s rights.

This liability is limited to the amount of the security deposit, regardless of the vessel's insurance. The host is not liable for damage to personal belongings or any physical injury or accidents. The host is only liable for such damage if it is directly caused by a defect in the rented vessel.

20. Tickets

If you purchase tickets for an event or activity (such as tours, museums, concerts, lectures, excursions, rides, or workshops) through our website, partner sites, or an information desk, the following additional booking terms apply.

Purchasing Tickets

Through our website, you can purchase tickets directly from the ticket seller for access to an event or location. VVV Waterland van Friesland acts as an intermediary and is not a party to the agreement. During the purchase process, you may be asked to accept the general terms of an external ticket provider.

Receiving Tickets

After completing the order and payment process, you will receive the tickets via email.

Access

Upon presenting the ticket, you will gain access to the event or activity organised by the provider.

Cancellation

You cannot cancel your ticket purchase, and no statutory cooling-off period applies (unless otherwise specified).

Cancellation by the Provider

If the event or activity requires certain conditions to be met, such as a minimum number of participants or suitable weather conditions, the provider will notify you at least 24 hours in advance if it is cancelled. If it does not proceed, you will either receive a voucher from the provider, access to the event on another date, or a refund.

Rescheduling

If you are unable to attend the event after purchasing your ticket, you can reschedule to another date, subject to availability. This can be arranged by emailing zoekenboek@waterlandvanfriesland.nl, quoting your booking number.

Transfer to Third Parties

If you cannot attend the event, you may transfer your ticket to someone else. This can be arranged by emailing zoekenboek@waterlandvanfriesland.nl with your booking number. The name and email address will be updated in the system to allow the new person access with the ticket. Administrative costs are your responsibility.

Inaccuracies and Liability

You must report any inaccuracies on the ticket immediately to VVV Waterland van Friesland. VVV Waterland van Friesland is not liable for any form of injury or damage resulting from incorrect ticket details or for injuries to participants or third parties, or damage to participants’ or third parties’ property, occurring before, during, or after an activity, excursion, or event for which the ticket was obtained through VVV Waterland van Friesland.

21. Complaints?

Dutch law applies. We regret any dissatisfaction you may experience. If you have complaints about the accommodation or activity, please notify the host as soon as possible, ideally during your stay. The host will address your concerns and work with you to find a solution. If no agreement can be reached with the host, please inform us within two weeks of returning home. We will then work with you to resolve the issue. For complaints about our website or booking process, please notify us as soon as possible. We are happy to assist and aim to provide a prompt response.

 

Joure, 18 October 2024