The venue for the conference is the central library of the public library Amsterdam (Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam OBA). The library is brand newly designed and belongs to the most modern and best equipped libraries in the world.
Address
| Oosterdokskade 143 1011 DK Amsterdam The Netherlands | Tel: + 31 (0) 20 – 52 30 900 Fax: +31 (0) 20 – 52 30 948 E-mail: klantenservice@oba.nl |
On the 7th floor, this library has outstanding conference facilities with a fully equipped theater with a capacity of more than 200 participants, a forum with a capacity of up to 75 participants and several smaller meeting rooms with a capacity of up to 25 participants each.
The venue is easy to find, within easy (500m) walking distance from Amsterdam Central Station it will take you about 10 minutes. There is also a very large underground car-park and Amsterdam wouldn’t be Amsterdam if there was not also a large garage to park your bicycle.
How to get there
From Amsterdam Central Station
Leave Amsterdam Central Station to the south exit (city center). In front of you is Amsterdam city center with all tourist attractions, restaurants, bars and shops.
Turn left hand side to the south east along ‘Stationsplein’ towards ‘Oosterdokskade’. Continue walking until you see the signpost OBA appear, after about ten minutes.
From Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam Centraal Station
There are basically two modes of transport from Schiphol International Airport to Amsterdam central station. One is by taxicab which is the easiest way to do but expensive. The other is to travel by train which we strongly recommend.
Trains depart about 6 times an hour from platform 1-2. Your best option is to choose for either an Intercity Direct, or, an SPR Sprinter with direct connections to Amsterdam Centraal Station.
The train company Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) has their own national travel planner online. Schiphol has a page on travelling on public transport.
Tickets can be acquired from either the ticket booth or from one of the vending machines. They are in English and what you are looking for is what is called an ‘OV chipcard’ for a return travel to Amsterdam Central Station.
Alternatively, you can pay using a debit card, which works straight away and does not require you to buy a ticket or to activate anything. This means of payment is referred to as “OVpay”.
PLEASE NOTE: the train platforms are at the lower level of the airport, just take the correct escalator down. But before you do, you need to validate your new OV chipcard at one of the checkin poles at ground level near the escalators. You cannot check in at the platforms themselves. Forgetting to check in will be fined.
Security
Please note the following recommendations regarding security
- At Schiphol airport, do NOT accept assistance from strangers in buying train tickets. There is plenty of personnel walking around that can help you and there are tickets booths where you can acquire tickets ;
- At Schiphol airport, do NOT accept any offer from taxi drivers approaching you. Official taxi drivers will never ask you if you need a ride. There have been cases of serious taxi scams costing unexpecting guests hundreds of euro.
- In Amsterdam, beware of pick-pockets. Keep all your belongings with you at all times. Zip up pockets, pouches and bags.