Lon Vane Ladies’ Choir has been to the Netherlands for a four-day trip.

Their performances were described by members as ’amazing experiences’.

Under the guidance of musical director Christine Bregazzi, the choir sang at two venues - Oosterkerk, a 17th -century Dutch Reformed church in Amsterdam and the Maria van Jessekerk, a neo-gothic Catholic church in the historic centre of Delft.

The choir’s repertoire included classic choral anthem ’With A Voice of Singing’, lyrical Irish folksong ’Carrickfergus’, ’The Mountain and the Moon’ featuring soloist Morag Withey, and ’Perhaps Love’, the song brought to fame by composer John Denver, this time featuring a solo from Mrs Bregazzi.

Among the highlights was ’The Seal Lullaby’, the lullaby for choir and accompaniment of Rudyard Kipling’s poem ’The White Seal’, and a medley from classic musical The King & I by Val Kissack.

Dutch audiences were also treated to some Manx culture with the well-known ’When Childher Plays’ extract from the much-loved ’Betsy Lee’, written by Manx national poet T.E. Brown and read by Margaret Newton; Manx folk song ’Arrane Saveenagh’, arranged by Fenella Bazin; Kathleen Faragher’s Manx poem ’Ballaglass Glen’ delivered by Rebekah Traynor, and the famous song ’Ellan Vannin’.

The choir received standing ovations at both concerts.

Members also had time for some sightseeing with an Amsterdam canal cruise, a visit to Delft pottery and a trip to Keukenhof, the home of the world-famous gardens with around seven million tulip bulbs planted annually.

The Isle of Man Arts Council supported the trip, for which the choir thanked it.

Mrs Bregazzi said: ’The whole experience surpassed expectations and to forge such friendships and receive such a magnificent reception is something I am sure it will live long in the memory of everyone involved.’