Force Majeure & Extraordinary Events: Decoding Article 12.2 of Our Booking Conditions

Travel plans are exciting right up until something outside anyone’s control threatens to disrupt them. If you are booking a trip, one of the most important questions you can ask is this: what happens if extraordinary events make the trip impossible before departure? That is exactly why Article 12.2 matters.

In this guide, we explain force majeure and extraordinary events in clear language, with a practical focus on what Article 12.2 means for travellers booking with Friesland Holland Travel. You will learn when a trip may be cancelled before it starts, what happens to money already paid, and which costs are and are not refunded.

What is Article 12.2?

Article 12.2 states that the Organizer may cancel the Agreement prior to the commencement of the Trip if the Organizer cannot perform the Agreement due to unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances.

In simple terms, this means a trip can be cancelled before departure when events arise that are:

• Beyond normal control
• Unavoidable
• Serious enough to prevent the trip from being carried out as agreed

This clause exists to address situations where performance of the trip is not realistically possible, even when everyone involved would prefer the trip to go ahead.

What does “unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances” mean?

The phrase sounds formal, but the underlying idea is straightforward. In travel, force majeure usually refers to events that cannot reasonably be prevented and that directly affect whether a trip can be operated.

A useful way to understand it is this:

An event is likely to be extraordinary when it is not part of normal travel risk

Routine inconvenience is not the same as an extraordinary event. Minor delays, ordinary weather variation, or typical operational issues do not automatically fall into this category.

An event is likely to be unavoidable when it cannot be solved through ordinary measures

If the trip could still be delivered through normal planning, coordination, or reasonable adjustments, the threshold may not be met. Article 12.2 is aimed at situations where the Organizer cannot perform the Agreement.

When can Friesland Holland Travel cancel under Article 12.2?

The key test in Article 12.2 is not simply whether something disruptive has happened. The decisive point is whether Friesland Holland Travel cannot perform the Agreement due to unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances.

That means the cancellation right applies when:

1. The trip has not yet commenced.
2. Circumstances are unavoidable and extraordinary.
3. Those circumstances mean the Organizer cannot perform the Agreement.

This is an important distinction. Article 12.2 is specifically about pre-departure cancellation by the Organizer.

What happens to money already paid?

This is the practical answer most travellers want first.

Under Article 12.3, when the Agreement is cancelled in the situations covered above, the Organizer will:

• refund any amounts already received within 14 days
• pay no compensation

Short answer

If a trip is cancelled before departure under Article 12.2, amounts already received are refunded within 14 days, but no compensation is payable.

That is the core effect of Article 12.2 together with Article 12.3.

Which costs are not reimbursed?

Article 12.3 also makes clear that some costs fall outside the refund obligation. These are costs incurred by the traveller for services not covered by the Agreement.

Examples specifically listed include:

• vaccinations
• visas
• purchase of equipment
• insurance
• air travel, if not included in the Trip
• tickets, if not included in the Trip
• accommodation, if not included in the Trip

This is one of the most important practical points to understand. A refund of the travel amount already paid does not automatically mean every travel-related expense is reimbursed.

No compensation: what does that mean in practice?

Many travellers assume that if a trip is cancelled, additional damages or compensation must also be paid. Under Article 12.3, that is not the case for cancellations covered by Article 12.2.

In practice, no compensation means:

• amounts already received for the trip are returned
• extra compensation on top of that is not payable
• separately arranged costs outside the Agreement are not reimbursed

This structure is common in travel arrangements where a trip cannot proceed because of extraordinary circumstances outside the Organizer’s control.

How is Article 12.2 different from cancellation due to minimum numbers?

Article 12 also covers another separate situation: cancellation due to minimum numbers under Article 12.1.

That is different from Article 12.2.

Article 12.1

Cancellation may take place if the number of applications is less than the minimum number specified in the Agreement.

Article 12.2

Cancellation may take place if the Organizer cannot perform the Agreement due to unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances.

Both are forms of cancellation by the Organizer, but the reason is different. For travellers, this distinction matters because it helps clarify why a trip may be cancelled before departure.

How is Article 12.2 different from cancellation by the traveller?

It is also important not to confuse Article 12.2 with Article 9, which covers cancellation by the traveller.

If the traveller cancels before the trip begins, cancellation must be made in writing, and cancellation costs apply based on timing. Those costs include:

• € 150.00 per booking for cancellations within 1 day of booking date where the arrival date is within 2 weeks of the time of booking
• 15% of the booking amount between 1 day after booking date and 6 weeks before the arrival date confirmed on the invoice
• 50% of the booking amount between 6 and 2 weeks before the confirmed arrival date
• 75% of the booking amount within 2 weeks before the confirmed arrival date
• 100% of the booking amount within 5 days before the confirmed arrival date
• the entire booking amount on and after the confirmed arrival date

That is a very different framework from Article 12.2, where the Organizer cancels because the Agreement cannot be performed due to extraordinary circumstances.

Why this matters before you book

Understanding force majeure and Article 12.2 helps you make better travel decisions before payment is due.

Friesland Holland Travel states that:

• the deposit is 15% of the travel sum
• the deposit must be received within 14 calendar days after booking
• the remaining balance must be paid no later than 6 weeks before the start of the Trip

Knowing the payment structure alongside the cancellation rules gives you a clearer picture of your financial position if a trip cannot go ahead before departure.

Booking protection and payment handling

Friesland Holland Travel uses STO Garant to comply with the legally required guarantee arrangement.

When the STO Garant guarantee applies to a booking:

• the travel sum is not paid to Friesland Holland Travel
• payment is made to the third-party funds account of Stichting Derdengelden Certo Escrow
• this third-party funds foundation safeguards the travel sum until after completion of the booking
• if services are not provided fully and/or on time due to the financial insolvency of Friesland Holland Travel, STO Garant implements the guarantee

This does not change Article 12.2 itself, but it is a useful part of the wider booking picture.

Practical takeaways for travellers

If you want the short version, here it is.

Featured snippet answer: What does Article 12.2 mean?

Article 12.2 means Friesland Holland Travel may cancel a trip before departure if unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances make it impossible to perform the Agreement. Amounts already received are refunded within 14 days, and no compensation is payable.

What to keep in mind

• Article 12.2 applies before the trip starts.
• It applies only when the Organizer cannot perform the Agreement due to unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances.
• Amounts already paid are refunded within 14 days.
• No compensation is payable in these cases.
• Costs for services outside the Agreement are not reimbursed.

Smart planning tips

To reduce stress if travel conditions change, it helps to:

1. Read the booking conditions before paying the deposit.
2. Check what is included in the Trip and what is not.
3. Pay attention to separately booked services such as flights, tickets, or accommodation.
4. Review insurance arrangements carefully, especially for costs outside the Agreement.
5. Use the website for bookings, as trips can only be booked through the website.

Where to find related information

Travellers often benefit from reviewing related topics together rather than in isolation. Helpful next reads include:

• Booking conditions for the full cancellation framework
• Customer service details for contact and accessibility
• Information about payment, deposit, and remaining balance
• Details about the STO Garant guarantee arrangement

Taken together, these topics provide a clearer understanding of rights, obligations, timing, and payment flow.

Contact details at a glance

For consultations, Friesland Holland Travel is available five days a week from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. by phone at +31 (0) 6 20 58 10 98.

The organisation’s details are:

Conclusion: clarity matters when travel plans change

Force majeure and extraordinary events are not everyday travel issues, but when they do arise, clear rules matter. Article 12.2 gives Friesland Holland Travel the right to cancel a trip before departure if unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances mean the Agreement cannot be performed. Under Article 12.3, amounts already received are refunded within 14 days, while no compensation is payable, and costs for services outside the Agreement are not reimbursed.

That clarity helps travellers plan responsibly and book with a better understanding of what happens if exceptional circumstances intervene.

If you are preparing to book, review the booking conditions, confirm what is included in your trip, and contact Friesland Holland Travel if you want advice before finalising your reservation.