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Updated: 03/05/2004
Conference language
The official conference language is English. No simultaneous translation will be available.
Currency / Banking
Currency: Euro.
A wide variety of banks is found throughout the city of Brussels. Banks
usually are open Monday till Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Most banks close
during the weekend.
Electricity
Current is A.C. 220 volts - 50 cycles. Plugs are of the round 2-pin type.
From the airport to Brussels
Brussels
National Airport is located at Zaventem, 14 km outside the city centre.
Travelling to and from the airport is easier than you think! Regular train,
bus and coach services and good road access get your journey off to a
flying start.
By train
For the meeting venue and the hotel, the train stop
is Brussel North (Bruxelles Nord) - the first major stop, when you come
from the airport.
By train, Brussels Airport is less than twenty minutes from the city centre.
From 06:00 till nearly midnight, the Airport City Express links the airport
with Brussels South, Central and North four times an hour. A one-way ticket
costs €3.70 first class and €2.40 second class.
Timetable information for the whole of Belgium (and international trains)
is available in Dutch, English, French and German on the Belgian Railways
(http://www.b-rail.be) website. The easiest way to find the right station
is to enter "Zaventem Airport" (or Luchthaven Zaventem / Zaventem Aéroport)
in the search field.
By taxi
Taxis (metered) are available outside the Arrivals Hall. The fare between the airport and the centre of Brussels is normally around 30 Euro. Licensed taxis can be identified by the yellow and blue licence emblem. Always avoid unlicensed taxis!
Medical help
Emergency, phone 100.
Mobile phones
As a courtesy to speakers and other delegates, we request that all mobile phones or pagers be turned off before entering the conference sessions.
More information about Brussels
Brussels, European City of culture of the year 2000.
BRUSSELS is not only the capital of Belgium but also the seat of the European
Commission and the administrative capital of Europe. However, the city
has retained its typical character, a sort of individuality resulting
from it being a melting pot of cultures over the past centuries. The legendary
"Manneke Pis" stands as a symbol of the roguish nature of the
Brussels city dweller, a mixture of the French 'savoir vivre' and the
Flemish good-naturedness. The small streets around the "Grand Place"
abound with typical Brussels bonhomie, and the restaurants offer delicacies
that will please even the most discriminating gourmet. One can breathe
in the effervescent Brussels atmosphere in all kinds of market places,
such as the famous bird market at the Grand Place, the flea market in
the popular Marolles area and the antiques market at the Grand Sablon.
The guild houses which surround the Brussels' Grand Place are known as
some of the most beautiful baroque facades in Europe, reminding one of
the power of the earlier guilds. Brussels has more than a hundred museums,
amongst them the Museum of Ancient Art where the works of Rubens and Van
Dijck are exhibited, and the Museum of Modern Art containing 19th and
20th century paintings and sculptures. Brussels is above all the mecca
of Art Nouveau and Art Deco.
For more information about Brussels, see:
http://www.trabel.com/
http://www.tib.be/
http://www.visitbelgium.com/
For a map on Brussels or a route description, see:
http://www.map24.com/en
Insurance / Disclaimer
The organisers do not accept responsibility for individual medical, travel or personal insurance and all participants are strongly advised to take out their own personal insurance before travelling to the conference. The organisers will not accept any liability for damages and/or losses of any kind which may be incurred by conference participants or by any persons accompanying them, both during official activities and the social events.
Name badge
Participants will receive a name badge. Everyone is kindly requested to wear this badge during all conference activities, as it is your identification and allows you access to the conference venue, conference lunches, coffee breaks, and the conference dinner.
Passport
Entry visas are not required for citizens of the European Union. However, we would advise you to bring your passports or identity cards with you. If you have any queries, please check regulations with your travel agent or with the Belgian Embassy in your country.
Registration desk
The conference registration desk will be located in the International Trade Union House and will be opened during the days of the conference. The staff at the registration desk will be pleased to assist you with all your enquiries.
Security, health and safety
Unfortunately, conferences provide a tempting target
for thieves, so please take care of bags, laptops and other personal belongings.
The organisers cannot accept any responsibility for losses incurred or
for personal health and safety.
If you have any special needs or requirements, please specify them on
the registration form.
Summer time
From March 28th till October 30th summer time operates in Belgium (GMT +2).
Tips / VAT / Taxes
In Belgium prices are quoted 'all inclusive'. No additional tipping necessary.
Transport in Brussels
Public transportation system in Brussels includes
trams, buses and metro (underground).
Metro (subway) is available only in Brussels. There is a standard flat-fare
system (single ticket approx. 1.40 euro), with discounts for 5-journey
(approx. 6.30 euro) and 10-journey (approx. 9.20 euro), one-day travelcard
(valid to midnight - approx. 3.70 euro) and multi-mode tourist travelcards.
All are available at various metro stations and newspaper kiosks.
Map metro/underground Brussels
Weather and clothing
Weather in Belgium is known to be unreliable. Prepare for both an Indian summer and colder rainy days. No formal dressing is required for the conference, the reception or the conference diner.
For the weather in Belgium, see also:
http://weather.yahoo.com/regional/BEXX.html