geleidingstocht

Geleidingstocht is a Dutch term used to describe a guided journey or tour in which a guide leads participants along a predetermined route and provides commentary. The emphasis is on the act of guiding throughout the trip, rather than merely being a passive observer.

Etymology and usage context: The word combines geleiding (guidance or leading) with tocht (journey or trip). While the concept is widely understood as a guided experience, geleidingstocht is less common in everyday language than rondleiding, which is the standard term for a guided tour. You may encounter geleidingstocht in program descriptions for cultural institutions, museums, historical sites, city tours, or educational outings, where the framing highlights the guided and instructional nature of the activity.

Typical features: A geleidingstocht usually involves a predetermined route, a guide with subject-appropriate expertise, structured commentary tailored to the audience, stops at points of interest, and an agreed duration. Depending on the context, it may include safety and accessibility considerations, group management, and supplementary materials such as handouts or multimedia aids. Planning and pre-booking are common, especially for larger groups or specialized themes.

Relation to other terms: In practice, many organizations prefer rondleiding or begeleide rondleiding to describe a guided tour. Geleidingstocht can be used to stress the aspect of a guided journey as a cohesive experience, rather than a simple walkthrough. The concept is applicable in museums, heritage sites, educational programs, and tourism.

See also: rondleiding, excursie, begeleide tour, educational tour.