How to reach
Monday - Wednesday
MECC
The first three days of the symposium will be held at the MECC conference center (Forum 100, Google Maps), located in the Randwyck district of Maastricht, southeast of the city center.
Public transport to the MECC
The nearest train station is Maastricht-Randwyck, which is a short 5-10 minute walk (500m) from MECC. Trains run every 30 minutes from Maastricht Central Station, which is also the stop for trains to and from Liège. For those arriving by bus, the nearest bus stops are Endepolsdomein (line 15) or Forum MECC (lines 1, 5, 7, 10, 57). Explore all public transportation options with updated schedules at https://9292.nl/.
Traveling to the MECC by car
Parking is available at the UM building at Duboisdomein 30 (DUB30). Access to the parking lot is via Leidenlaan (Google Maps). Upon arrival, please use the intercom to inform reception that you're attending the ET Symposium meeting, and they will grant you access. The parking lot is accessible from Monday to Friday 08:00 - 20:00, your car can stay overnight. From DUB30 it's a comfortable 5-10 minute walk to the MECC.
Thursday & Friday
Sint Jan’s church
The final two days of the symposium will be held at the iconic Sint Jan's Church (Vrijthof 24, Google Maps), centrally located in the heart of the city on the Vrijthof square.
Traveling to Sint Jan's Church by car
The closest parking lot is Q-park Vrijthof (Google Maps), located below the church. Reserve your parking space via the Q-park reservation system. A day ticket is 35€. There are also numerous other parking facilities in and around the city center; generally (much) cheaper the farther outside.
Traveling by public transport/walking to Sint Jan's Church
Whether you're staying near the MECC or in the city center, several bus lines can drop you off within a 10-minute walk of the venue (a 35-minute walk from the MECC to the venue). You can easily plan your bus connection with 9292.nl. Alternatively, you can take bus number 4 from the train station and get off at the Vrijthof stop in about 10 minutes.
How To Reach
Trains and Busses
Within the Netherlands
- Major providers are NS (long-distance trains) and Arriva (local trains and buses around Maastricht). You can use https://9292.nl to plan your journey across all providers.
- You can buy train tickets at ticket machines on the platforms. Keep this ticket with you until after the end of your journey! At some stations (e.g. Amsterdam, Eindhoven), you need it to exit through the turnstiles.
- In buses, you can purchase tickets from the driver. They will only accept debit/credit cards, no cash.
- Most convenient, however, is to use your debit/credit card to check in. Simply tap it against the card reader on the platform or in the bus to start your journey. If the station has turnstiles, hold the card onto the small window. Once you arrive at your destination, tap the card again (inside the bus, on the platform, or again at the turnstiles) to check out.
- Some non-Dutch cards refuse to work, but just give it a try!
- You can go here https://zelfregelen.ovpay.nl/reisoverzicht to create a printed statement of your travels.
- Caution: if you travel to Maastricht Randwyck via Maastricht Centraal, you will be changing train providers from NS to Arriva. In this case, you have to check out at an NS card reader and then immediately back in at an Arriva card reader. They are located right next to each other on the platforms.
International
- Train from an airport in Belgium; https://www.b-europe.com/EN or https://www.belgiantrain.be/en
- Train from an airport in Germany; https://int.bahn.de/en
- In case you need to travel across borders & train providers, a service such as https://www.thetrainline.com works well. For a small surcharge, they will provide you with all necessary tickets in one go.
- Long-distance busses; https://global.flixbus.com
Nearby Airports
- Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) - Amsterdam, Netherlands (Approximately 219km away)
Use the train to Utrecht Centraal and then switch to the train to Maastricht; travel time around 2:35h - Brussels Airport (BRU) - Brussels, Belgium (Approximately 102km away)
Take train to Brussels or Leuven/Louvain, then on to Liege Guillemins (futuristic train station featured e.g. in Guardians of the Galaxy), then to Maastricht; travel time around 2:15h
(note: RyanAir flies to Brussels Charleroi (CRL), which is less conveniently located) - Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) - Düsseldorf, Germany (Approximately 148km away) and Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) - Cologne, Germany (Approximately 109km away)
Local trains connect these airports via Cologne central station and Aachen; travel time around 2:30h - Eindhoven Airport (EIN) - Eindhoven, Netherlands (Approximately 86km away)
Use the direct bus 400 from airport to Eindhoven Centraal, then the train to Maastricht; travel time around 1:30h - Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM) - Rotterdam, Netherlands (Approximately 212km away)
Take bus 33 to Rotterdam Centraal, then trains to either Utrecht or Eindhoven, where you can switch to the train to Maastricht. - Maastricht Aachen Airport (MST) - Maastricht, Netherlands
This small airport has very few flights, but you can be lucky e.g. with RyanAir flights from Barcelona, Porto or Bari.
Where to stay
During your stay in Maastricht, we kindly ask you to arrange your own accommodation. With its welcoming atmosphere and abundance of hotels, Maastricht offers options to suit every preference and budget. To help you get the most out of your stay, here are some suggestions:
Staying in the city center?
Immerse yourself in the charm of Maastricht's historic city center while enjoying proximity and easy access to both symposium venues. Hotels near the central station in the Wyck district are ideal. You can explore an overview of all hotels on the following; Google map. We recommend the following options, but there are many choices in all price ranges:
- Amarath Grand Hotel (with parking)
- Townhouse Design Hotel
- The Dutch
- Design Hotel Maastricht
- Crown Plaza (with parking)
Staying near the MECC?
For those looking for accommodation close to the MECC, where the first three days of the Symposium will be held, there are hotel options in the Randwyck area. While this area offers fewer options, it does offer convenient access to both the city center and the train station. The hotels in this area offer budget-friendly parking solutions, or you can use the free parking at Maastricht University (UM) as described in the "How to Get There" section. We recommend the following hotel in the area:
Need help?
Should you require any assistance or guidance in selecting your accommodation, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our team is dedicated to ensuring that your stay in Maastricht is enjoyable, comfortable and safe.
Sightseeing Tips
See the city together, join the slack chat to meet each other; click here.
"Explore the rich history and vibrant culture of Maastricht with these must-see attractions:
- Vrijthof Square & Onze Lieve Vrouwe Square: Experience the heart of Maastricht at the Vrijthof Square, home to impressive churches. Nearby, the Onze Lieve Vrouweplein offers charming cobblestone streets lined with cafes and shops, perfect for leisurely strolls or sitting on a terrace.
- Maastricht Underground: Dive below the surface of the city to discover an intricate network of caves and tunnels dating back centuries. Explore the fascinating underground passages on guided tours; reserve your tour.
- Maastricht Old Town: Stroll through the charming streets of the Old Town, lined with picturesque buildings, quaint shops and inviting cafes. Don't miss the iconic Helpoort, the oldest remaining city gate in the Netherlands.
- Dominican Bookstore: Step into this historic Bookstore, housed in a former 13th-century Dominican church. Browse the extensive collection of books while admiring the stunning architecture.
- Vlaai of the Bisschopsmolen: Treat yourself to a slice of authentic Limburgse vlaai (traditional cake) from Bisschopsmolen, a historic watermill-turned-bakery. Indulge in this local delicacy with a flaky crust and delicious fillings.
With its mix of historical landmarks, cultural treasures and culinary delights, Maastricht promises an unforgettable sightseeing experience for every visitor.
Find somebody to discover the city with via the ET Symposium Slack chat; join us and click here.
