SOCIAL PROGRAM

The Welcome Reception

Wednesday, March 24th 2011

 

The welcome reception will be held at the congress venue, the VU University Amsterdam. The informal atmosphere will give plenty of opportunity of meeting old and new colleagues and friends.

 

The Congress gala dinner

Friday, March 25th 2011 

 

The congress dinner will be held at de Koepelkerk (the Koepelchurch).

The 17th century domed ‘Koepelkerk’, is used as the International congress facility of the Renaissance Amsterdam Hotel since 1975. The Koepelkerk is located opposite the hotel and is accessible through an underground passageway. Its owes his name and fame to its beautiful copper dome – a point of orientation for every citizen of Amsterdam. Once inside, the view upwards is even more impressive because it is a view straight back into history. This sense of awe is enhanced even further when we consider that the Koepelchurch was built in 1671, and still retains all of its original charm.

 

In 1995, the interior was completely and the exterior partly restored after a fire ravaged through the monument. As a congress location, the Koepelchurch is unique in Europe. It is a historical landmark for all your seminars, meetings and congress dinners that can accommodate from 10 up to 700 guests.

 

As far as we know, there is no location anywhere else with such authenticity, such historic allure: the physical surroundings are so inspiring that every congress is bound to be a success.

 

Excursion options, Saturday March 26th, 2011

 

• Hermitage Amsterdam (http://www.hermitage.nl/)
  Nieuwe Herengracht 14
  +31 (0)20 5308751
  The building in which Hermitage Amsterdam is currently housed was for 324 years a home for the elderly. When at the close of the twentieth century it became apparent that Amstelhof care facility no longer met contemporary requirements it was decided to find a new use for the building. Since June 2009 the site has been home to Hermitage Amsterdam.

   

• Rijksmuseum Amsterdam (http://www.rijksmuseum.nl/)
  Jan Luijkenstraat 1
  +31 (0)20 6747000
  The crème de la crème of the Rijksmuseum's permanent collection is on display in the Philips Wing in a special exhibit called 'The Masterpieces'. Highlights include exquisite Delftware, amazing dolhouses, works of Golden Age painters including Jan Steen, Frans Hals, Vermeer and Rembrandt's Night Watch.

   

• The van Gogh Museum (http://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/)
  Paulus Potterstraat 7
  +31 (0)20 5705200
  This museum includes the world's largest collection of this visionary artist's work as well as temporary exhibitions of work by Van Gogh's contemporaries.

   

• Heineken Experience (http://www.heinekenexperience.com/)
  Stadhouderskade 78
  +31 (0)20 5239222
  Step into the World of Heineken.

   

• Canal boar tour (ticket is included in your congress bag)
  A boat tour with running commentary is one of the most rewarding and memorable ways of seeing Amsterdam.

   

• Anne Frank House (www.annefrank.nl)
  Prinsengracht 267
  +31 (0)20 5567105
  A notable historical site where you can see the rooms where the Jewish Frank family hid from the Nazis and where the teenage Anne wrote her famous diary during the Second World War.