Some 6,000 Dutch people are expected to make a pilgrimage to Lourdes this year to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the French holy shrine.

Demand is so high that the diocese of Groningen-Leeuwarden has chartered three planes, three buses and a train for 1,200 local travellers making the journey during the May holiday.
Last year 4,700 Dutch people made the trip to Lourdes which expects eight million visitors this year.