Many people know the country 'the Netherlands'. But why is it also called Holland? What are some of its customs, and how have they evolved? When in the Netherlands, what are some of the highlights to visit, and how did those landmarks come to be? Bas de Groot takes you on a ramble through the country, its people, its icons and its history.

Your Tutor is Bas De Groot

Bas de Groot has been with the WEA since 2024.

Bas de Groot was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

As a young boy Bas became obsessed with history.  From Roman times to World War 2, and especially the Middle Ages and the Napoleonic period.

By 12-years of age Bas decided he wanted to know all the things a Georgian Era gentleman had to know, like dancing, fencing, shooting, horse-riding and archery. Therefore when he was in his teens he got into Modern Olympic Fencing and ballroom dancing and Living History. And then in his early twenties expanded into historical dancing and shooting, and occasional horseriding. In his thirties, in 2012, he emigrated to Australia with his partner and two children, where he now works as a school support officer, WEA tutor, Historical Swordfighting instructor and part-time Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Master.