04/13/2025
My daughter Tammy Shirk and I are looking forward to the upcoming Schürch Family Association of North America Family Heritage Tour from 9 to 20 September 2025. Details are:
Trace our family and faith story through the Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland! Begin in Amsterdam with visits to the famous Aalsmeer flower auction and Singel Mennonite Church. Explore historic Dutch villages, hidden Mennonite churches, and an open-air museum. Cruise along the majestic Rhine River. Browse Mennonite archives in the Weierhof, and worship with the local Mennonite congregation. Immerse yourself in the captivating landscapes of the Emmental, visit homesteads directly related to your family’s history and enjoy the company of relatives. Ascend Schilthorn Mountain for breathtaking views. Uncover the origins of the Anabaptist movement on a Zürich walking tour. Conclude the tour with a meaningful time of worship and reflection in the most unique setting: the Anabaptist Cave at Bäretswil, where Anabaptists once worshipped in secret. Experienced tour storyteller Ayold Fanoy along with Justin Houser will share insights as you travel in these beautiful countries that were so important to your Anabaptist ancestors.
September 9 | Amsterdam (reception drinks & snacks)
Arrival day and optional independent sightseeing options will be provided. In the evening at 7pm, we will connect together for a meet & greet reception.
September 10 | Amsterdam (B, L, D)
Visit the impressive Aalsmeer flower auction where 20 million flowers from around the world are traded daily! Later, visit Singel Mennonite Church where you will enjoy a provided lunch. Then, take to the streets of Amsterdam on a guided city tour, which will conclude with a boat tour of Amsterdam’s canals. This evening, enjoy an Indonesian-Dutch dinner before checking into your hotel.
September 11 | Friesland (B, L, D)
Experience Zaanse Schans, a historic Dutch village with traditional Dutch Mennonite houses, working windmills, and artisans crafting things like wooden shoes and cheese. Then transfer to Pingjum to step into an early-1600s hidden church where Mennonites could worship outside of the public eye and legislative scrutiny. After lunch, spend some time in nearby Witmarsum: Menno Simons’ hometown. Transfer to the quaint port town of Harlingen for an Anabaptist walk before dinner back at your hotel.
September 12 | Cologne (B, D)
This morning, transfer to It Damshûs open-air museum. Founded on the grounds of the former peat mine, you will observe how peat was made and the living and working conditions of workers between 1863-1920. Later, drive to IJsselmuiden Sonnenberger Road and Monastery Hill, the area where Code E Ulrich Schürch and his family lived and farmed for about a one-year period. Continue our drive to Cologne for dinner at your hotel.
September 13 | Weierhof/Worms (B, D)
Begin the day in Köln, with a visit to the twin-towered Gothic cathedral and Roman remains. Enjoy some free time and lunch in Köln before driving to Boppard where you will relax and enjoy the scenery on a Rhine River cruise, disembarking at St. Goar. Transfer to your hotel near Weierhof/Worms for dinner.
September 14 | Bienenberg (B, L, D)
Visit the Weierhof this morning: a semi-communal Mennonite village in the Palatinate, and be introduced to the Weierhof archives. Later this morning join the local congregation for a church service, followed by connections over coffee and tea. Transfer to Bienenberg for dinner, followed by a lecture on Swiss Anabaptists by historian Hanspeter Jecker.
September 15 | Emmental (B, L, D)
This morning, transfer to Solothurn: regarded as the finest Baroque town in Switzerland, and situated on the banks of the Aare and at the foot of the Weissenstein Jura mountains. After a walking tour of Solothurn, transfer to Affoltern with a stop at Hof Wil Heimiswil, a Schürch owned family farm of 400+ years. For lunch, enjoy Rösti at at Affoltern Cheese Factory. Stop at the church where Code E Ulrich and Barbara Grundbacher Schürch were married. Afterwards, take a wagon ride to Obere Schürchtanne and Untere Schürchtanne, homesteads once belonging to the Schürch family. Enjoy warm hospitality and refreshments before departing for Sumiswald church: an important site related to the Anabaptist leader Hans Haslibacher. Read the names of Anabaptists from Sumiswald who were put on trial because of their faith.
September 16 | Emmental (B, D)
Visit Trachselwald Castle, a fortress once used to imprison radical Anabaptists, such as Hans Haslibacher. Take in the stunning view over the Emmental hills and the Alps to reach a typical Swiss homestead in Hinterhutten. Here, see a secret room that once hid Anabaptists on the most wanted list from their pursuers. Stop at the Kambly Cookie factory in Trubsachen for a light lunch of soup/sandwiches and of course, cookies. Transfer to Obere Steg for a homestead visit and refreshments. Transfer to your hotel to unwind before heading out to Restaurant Bären for dinner and live music with Swiss "cousins."
September 17 | Emmental (B, L, D)
Visit homestead Gsang and Stegmatt, followed by stops at traditional Swiss handicraft shops displaying cowbells, Örgeli/accordions and dresses. Hear Hans Haslibacher’s story and visit the farm where some of his descendants still live today. Transfer to Restaurant Tannenbad for lunch, nestled in the Swiss countryside near Upper and Lower Schürchtanne. Make the drive to Bern, a renowned UNESCO World Heritage site. Take a walking tour through this quaint town and see the well-known clock tower, cathedral, and illustrious bear park. Reflect at the harbour, where a group of Anabaptists were exiled from Bern.
September 18 | Luzern (B, L)
Arrive in Lauterbrunnen, a village situated in one of the most impressive trough valleys in the Alps. Take a cable car to Grütschalp, then a mountain train to Mürren. After some free time in Mürren, complete your ascent with a gondola ride up Schilthorn Mountain. This offers a fantastic and much more impressive mountain sight to the Jungfrau, Mönch and Eiger. Spend some free time in the mountains where you can enjoy the glorious views over lunch at a revolving restaurant. Descend and transfer to your hotel in Luzern. This evening, enjoy a short walk and individual dinner in Luzern’s city centre.
September 19 | Zürich (B, D)
Zürich and its surrounding area are central to the story of how the Anabaptist movement began. Take an Anabaptist walking tour of sites related to the birth of Anabaptism in 1525, followed by free time for lunch, shopping, and exploration. Later, visit a former secret worship site: the Anabaptist Cave at Bäretswil, for worship and reflection.
September 20 | Departure (B)
Depart for home from Zürich with new insights and memories that will last for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
How active is this tour?
This tour is rated as “Active”. Expect up to 2-3 hours of walking each day including well-paced walking tours with regular breaks.
