Stag party's inspired journey home after getting trapped in Amsterdam
A stag-do left stranded in Amsterdam after their flight was cancelled went on an epic 230-mile mission home, even buying bikes from locals so they could catch the ferry back.
The Brits had spent two days in the Dutch capital but when it came to them flying home, their easyJet flight to London Gatwick was cancelled.
With limited options to get back to the UK by air or rail, the 14-strong group decided the best idea was to take a train to Calais and board a ferry.
But when they phoned up to enquire about the crossing they were told foot passengers were not allowed.
However, bikes were, so the group spent the afternoon buying their own from locals in Brussels and Lille by running into shops and looking on Facebook.
Of the 14, 13 of them managed to each buy a bike in just three hours - costing more than £1,300.
The last member of the group managed to hitch a ride with a young couple for the crossing, meaning all 14 arrived safely in Dover just 12 hours after their flight had been cancelled.
Groom-to-be Alex Sisan, 29, said: "We had the craziest day, but we just wanted to get home - we ended up spending €1,540 (£1,300) on bikes!
"At the time it didn’t feel like fun, but I had two of the best days of my life with 13 best friends and this just topped it off.
"Looking back, the experience was so stressful and like something from a movie or a Top Gear challenge.
"But it was so much fun and a brilliant story that I will be telling at the wedding, and hopefully to my kids - and then their kids!"
The group had arrived in Amsterdam on Thursday, 2 June, staying in a hotel in the city centre, and were booked to return on their flight two days later.
They arrived five hours early to beat queues but after standing in line for security for hours, were dismayed to find out their flight had been cancelled.
They tried to contact easyJet but decided leaving the airport was the best option.
The group tried to rent a car or buy Eurostar tickets but had no luck, so decided to try to catch a ferry to Dover.
They boarded a train to Calais which went via Brussels and Lille, but it was only during the journey they found out about the rules preventing foot passengers from using the only service they could make that day, prompting their plan to buy their own bikes.
Sisan, who is getting married next month, said: "We had to spend two hours running around Lille to get bikes.
"We had booked a Calais to Dover crossing but you needed bikes to get on - no foot passengers were allowed.
"I was on Facebook Marketplace for two hours, with the pin location set to Lille, trying to arrange to buy some of these bikes. They ranged from €40 to €220.
"All in all, we all must have spent at least €400 each - then we had to get lifts from Dover. But this ended up being the best weekend of my life."
The group's escapades come as thousands of Brits have found themselves stranded in Europe amid ongoing travel chaos.
An easyJet spokesperson said: "We are very sorry that the group’s flight from Amsterdam to London Gatwick was cancelled.
"We notified customers directly of their options to rebook or receive a refund and are providing hotel accommodation and meals where required.
"Our customer service hours and hotel accommodation sourcing have been extended to support impacted customers and help get them to their destination as soon as possible.
"Nonetheless we fully understand the disruption this will have caused to their plans and we are very sorry for this.
"Our team are reaching out to the group to talk through their options and reimburse them for any reasonable expenses."
