How do I get to the festival venue?
Are there any hotels or youth hostels nearby and how do I arrange accommodation?
What if it rains?
How do I get to the festival venue?
The event takes place in the heart of the centre of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The main venues are De Balie, Paradiso and De Melkweg. De Balie is the central meeting place.
By plane: Fly to Amsterdam Airport ('Schiphol'). Then take the direct train to Amsterdam Central Station and read on.
By train: Wherever you are, take the train to Amsterdam Central Station. (Dutch Railways). Walking out of the station hall, you find the tram stops for trams.
Take tram 1, 2 or 5 and ask the tram driver to stop at the Leidseplein. This is where most people set off. With your back to the Stadsschouwburg, you can see the Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen. On your right, at about 50 m. walking you can find De Balie.
From other directions in the city besides the Central Station, you can also get to the Leidseplein with trams 6, 7 and 10. There is no subway station within 10 minutes walking. If you're in the subway, change for the tram at Central Station or Weesperplein.
By car: We strongly recommend you not to come by car. This way you avoid problems like a full parking, expensive parking-costs or your car stolen when you were just looking the other way.
To find your way around by tram, which is the easiest way to get around in Amsterdam, check the following site from the local public transportation agency http://www.gvb.nl/touristguide/engels/welkom.htm.
Here are some more
pointers.
Are there any hotels or youth hostels nearby and how do I arrange accommodation?
The N5M4 production office will arrange accommodation only if you were officially invited as a speaker. Otherwise, you'll have to organise accommodation yourself. We made a list for you with the hotels nearby De Balie, Melkweg and Paradiso (download the list - yet to be updated). Most of the fancier hotels are rather full. That's because there is another event in town: the IBC (previously International Broadcasting Convention). Hotel rooms for this event are booked years ahead. So you may have to try some hotels before you find an available room. The more expensive hotels may have raised their prices or require a minimum stay. There are also two NYHC hostels on the list. When you're in need of new friends, this is the way, because you're usually sharing your room with other people. Quite a number of official guests will also be staying at StayOkay Vondelpark. In any hotel, you can rent a safe to store your valuable stuff. In the StayOkay Hostel Vondelpark, there's a possibility to store your stuff in a safe as well. To get to the StayOkay Hostel Vondelpark: By train: from Central Station you take tram number 1, 2 or 5. You set off at Leidseplein. From Leidseplein you walk towards the Mariott Hotel. In front of the Mariott Hotel you turn left. Zandpad is the 2nd street to the right(small street just before the park entrance).*The hostel is open 24 hours*The reception is open from 7.00 till 24.00 hours.*Breakfast is served from 7.30 till 9.30 hours.*The bedrooms are being cleaned between 10.45 and 14.30 hours.*On the day of the arrival the rooms are available from 14.30 hours.*Check out on the day of departure before 10.15 hours. To arrange accommodation, just call them and they will be very happy to welcome you.
What if it rains?
Take an umbrella when you go outside and keep on smiling, because the festival is completely programmed inside.