Entering Germany
Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands are members of the E.U.
If you are travelling into Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands as an EU national, all you need is a passport or equivalent personal identification document.
National currency
The national currency in all three countries is the Euro: €
ATM (bancomat)
ATM machines are available at main banks and at airports and shopping centers.
Credit Cards
Major credit cards including American Express, Mastercard and Visa are accepted in large hotels, car rental companies and stores in the main cities.
Rules of the Road
Minimum driving age is 18. Driving is on the right side of the road.
A valid US, Canadian, Australian, EU driver’s license is accepted in the EU.
Passengers in the front and the back seats of a car must wear seatbelts at all times. Children under 12 years of age must ride in the back seat. Children under 8 must be seated in a special children- or babysitter.
Depending in which country you are speedlimits are 50 km/h (31 mph) in build-up areas, 90 km/h (56 mph) on main roads and 110 km/h (70 mph) on highways unless posted otherwise.
The use of cellular phones while driving is prohibited (only hands-free devices are allowed).
Driving while under the influence of alcohol is a criminal offense and penalties are severe. The police have the authority to stop vehicles at random and to perform preliminary breath alcohol tests.
In case of a car accident do not leave the site, call the police and make sure that you get a copy of the Police Report. General emergency number is: 112
Safety and insurance
Please ensure that you have the necessary insurance arrangements to cover you for any likely problems that you might experience whilst at the conference. We suggest that you bring a travel insurance covering any kind of problems with cancellations of flights or loss of luggage, covering health or medical needs that might occur, and for general activities in the outdoors (planned for pre-conference, might have some risks involved even if minimized). And of course, remember to bring your insurance documents with you!
What to bring?
For our traditional cooking event
For this event we ask you to cook together. We will provide several gasburners on which you can prepare you dish. You can choose either to prepare a typical local dish from your area or to prepare your own personal favorite dish. You can cook alone or work together with others.
The organisation will provide the basic (common) and fresh ingredients, so please, let us know what to buy. Bring any special ingredients that you will need to make your dish. We will post a list on the website. We are looking forward to a great meal together tasting each others ‘Creative Designs’!!
Please bring your:
– Special/local ingredients you will need for the preparation of your dish
– something to drink with your dish | alcoholic and/or non-alcoholic.
For the weather
Weather in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands in mid-spring varies. It can be quite warm and sunny, or rainy and cold. Be prepared for all types of weather and keep posted with local weather information.
So, bring a wide range of clothing to cover all eventualities:
– Bring your mountain jacket, at night it does get cold,
– Rain gear & hiking boots,
– Sun lotion, hat & shades,
– Mosquitoes protection lotion,
– You may also want to bring: your swimming costume (for the pre-conference participants is a must).
Special needs
If you have any special needs, i.e. a certain diet, disabilities or pregnancy, please let us know. We will do our best to help you out.