Conference Venue
Dec 8-10 · Main conference
Room Supernova, 2nd floor
Dec 7 · Workshops
The workshops will take place on Monday 7th of December, also at the Jaarbeurs convention center (same building), also on the second floor. For the room, please check the workshop schedule (when it will be available).
Getting to the Jaarbeurs convention center
From Utrecht Central Station: the Jaarbeurs convention center is within walking distance of the Utrecht Central railway station. In the station, take the Jaarbeurszijde exit (at the side of Track 21). Take the escalators down, and cross the big square (Jaarbeursplein) straight and you will get to a pedestrian crossing towards Jaarbeurs. There is a pedestrian lane, continue on until you see a big cinema. Just beyond the cinema is the entrance to the Jaarbeurs convention center.
Inside the Jaarbeurs convention center: in the middle of the convention center hallway there are escalators going up (and an elevator) where there will be CoNEXT banners. Take up 2 escalators and you will arrive on the second floor. This floor has both the main hall and the workshop rooms.
Coming by car: the parking garage of the Jaarbeurs is at the opposite end of the Jaarbeurs. There is a bridge that crosses the water to the entrance; then, in the middle of the hallway, take the escalator up.
Travel Information
Getting to Utrecht
By plane
- Schiphol International Airport (AMS) (recommended airport, see below for more information on travel to Utrecht)
- Eindhoven International Airport (EIN) (mainly low-cost carriers from Europe, approximately 1.5 hours from Utrecht by public transport)
- Rotterdam/The Hague Airport (RTM) (flights to Europe, approximately 1 hour from Utrecht by public transport)
By train
By car
In case you are considering travelling by car, note well that Utrecht’s historic city centre is difficult to navigate by car and parking is expensive. The city has an excellent public transport network, so if you decide to come by car, we advise you to consider using the parking garages that the city has.
Travelling from Schiphol Airport to Utrecht
By train: the most convenient and cheapest way to get to Utrecht from Schiphol Airport is to take a train, which takes approximately 30 minutes to reach Utrecht Central Station, and costs €11.60 one way for a second class ticket. Ticket machines from the Dutch national railways are present inside the arrivals terminals at Schiphol Airport in the baggage belt area. The machines are easy to recognise, as they are painted bright yellow. The ticket machines at Schiphol Airport allow you to pay with international bank cards and credit cards. You can also pre-purchase tickets (at the same rate) on the Dutch Railways’ website, or simply pay with your contactless bank card using OVpay (see below). Finally, you can view current departure times from Schiphol Airport here.
By taxi: unless you are arriving between 1AM and 5AM, we strongly advise against using a taxi from the airport, as they are roughly ten times more expensive than taking the train, and due to rush hour traffic conditions will take much longer to get to Utrecht than the train. If you do decide to take a taxi, be careful to only use the official airport taxis, and do not accept unsolicited offers for rides. Read more about taxis on the airport’s website.
By rental car: this is by far the most expensive option to get to the city. Even if you are planning to extend your stay in The Netherlands before or after CoNEXT, we recommend against renting a car to get to CoNEXT. You are better off exploring public transport options, and if you do decide you want a car to travel around, rent one when you leave Utrecht for another location.
Schiphol → Utrecht Centraal
- By train
- ~30 min
- One way, 2nd class
- €11.60
The venue is within walking distance from the central station.
On the ground
Getting around in Utrecht
Walking
Utrecht has a compact historic city centre that can easily be navigated on foot. The conference venue is within walking distance from the central station. Visitors should be mindful of cyclists; the locals zoom around the city on their bikes everywhere and increasingly use fast, but quiet electrically assisted bikes as well. The city has separate bike lanes and pavements throughout most of the city; be careful not to walk on bike lanes as these are exclusively reserved for bicycles. Bike lanes can be recognised because they are generally painted in red.
Public transport
Utrecht has an excellent network of trams and buses, operated by U-OV. The network uses the Dutch national public transport chipcard called “OV-chipkaart”. This is a contactless payment card that exists in several forms (anonymous pay-as-you-go, subscription based, …).
Paying with your bank card (OVpay)
You do not need to buy a ticket or an OV-chipkaart. On trains, trams, buses and metros throughout the Netherlands you can pay directly with your contactless debit/credit card (or phone/smartwatch) using OVpay: simply tap in on the card reader at the start of your journey and tap out at the end, always using the same card or device. Do not forget to tap out, otherwise you will be charged a higher fare.
By bicycle
If you want to go “full local”, why not enjoy Utrecht by bicycle? There are many rental points in the city (including at the central railway station), and many hotels offer the option of renting or even borrowing bicycles for the day.
Taxis
There are also plenty of taxis available in Utrecht. Make sure you only use official taxis. Note that taxi fares are generally considered expensive by locals and you are typically better off walking or using public transport. Taxis can be convenient, though, in the late/early hours when there is little public transport available.
By car
We strongly recommend against navigating Utrecht by car; traffic is generally busy, and travelling by car is often the slowest way to get from A to B within the city.
For more information on mobility in Utrecht, check the City of Utrecht mobility page.
Utrecht
Local Information
Utrecht is the fourth largest city in the Netherlands, and the history of the city dates back to Roman settlements. So there is lots to see and do in and around the city!
One of the most famous places to visit is the Dom tower. Over 100 meters tall, it gives you an excellent view over the city.
The Dom tower was originally connected to the church across the square, but poor construction and a heavy storm made the church collapse. Since then, the tower and church have been separated.
In the Dom Square there is a museum underground to show the archeological findings that have been discovered there. These date back to Roman times, the square also shows the outline of the Roman housing in the pavement.
There are several interesting musea and sights in the city:
- Museum Speelklok shows all kinds of mechanical musical instruments, from very small to very large.
- Centraal Museum has a large art collection including the world’s largest collection of Rietveld designs and a permanent exhibition on Miffy/Nijntje by Dick Bruna.
- Railway Museum is a very large railway museum that shows the history of railway in the Netherlands, and includes several preserved old railway carriages and locomotives. Has some very fun attractions for kids too!
- University Museum with the Old Hortus (botanical garden), a museum about scientific research in Utrecht.
- The Rietveld Schröderhuis is worth a visit for it’s famous architecture
- Molen de Ster gives tours on Saturday between 13.00 and 16.00. Volunteers talk about the history and how the windmill works.
- The Kanaalstraat is a street full of shops and supermarkets specializing in certain foods.
- De Oudegracht can be found in the middle of Utrecht. It is a street with a canal running right through the middle. You can find some restaurants and cafés with an international menu for fine dining.
- If you’re taking a stroll in the city, be sure to visit the Central Postoffice building, which now houses the Public Library. It’s free to enter, and a marvelous piece of art nouveau architecture
- If you rent a bike, make sure to go on a tour through the old city centre.
- Renting a sloop boat allows you to relax and eat while going through the waterways of Utrecht. It is a fun activity that shows you all Utrecht has to offer from the water, with friendly staff that are happy to help you get to know more about the city.
- Titanic, An Immersive Voyage , tells the story of the Titanic through the eyes of the people on board. It is an immersive 3D experience with advanced technology that places you right into their story.
- There are boat tours that allow you to see the historical side of Utrecht by boat. There are smaller tours through the Oudegracht but also a longer tour that shows the outskirts of Utrecht as well.
More to see and discover here.
To get around the city you can use public transportation like buses, trams and trains. With the train you can easily enter and exit Utrecht, it is located in the Western part of the old city. Near this station there are a few bus stops which you can also make use of to get around. You can also use the tram instead. This site will give you more information about both options, and you can buy day tickets: www.u-ov.nl. You can also buy tickets at a service desk or ticket machine.
Another way to get around is by renting a bike. There are many shops near stations where you can rent a bike. It is recommended to make use of bike parking areas because bike theft is unfortunately common.