Venue
ALGO 2023 will be held at Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI), the national research institute for mathematics and computer science in the Netherlands, which will also organize the conference. CWI is located at the Amsterdam Science Park on the east side of Amsterdam.
Arrival
By Train
There are high speed rail connections to many major European cities, including but not limited to Brussels, London and Paris. See https://www.nsinternational.com/en for more destinations and booking information.
By Plane
There are three major airports in the Netherlands: Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Rotterdam-The Hague Airport and Eindhoven Airport.
At Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, the train station is located directly under the terminal. The platforms can be reached using the escalators and elevator in the plaza. There are direct trains to the city centre (Amsterdam Centraal) as well as CWI (Amsterdam Science Park).
If you arrive at Rotterdam-The Hague Airport or Eindhoven Airport, you first need to take a bus to the train station (Rotterdam Centraal/Eindhoven Centraal). From there you can take a train to Amsterdam Centraal and transfer there to a train to Amsterdam Science Park.
Using Public Transport
The cost of public transport in the Netherlands depends on the station you start and end your journey (it is not a fixed cost depending on a line).
Always check in by swiping your card against the gate or another card reader when entering a station/bus and check out again when leaving. If you do not check out, you will be charged extra.
You do not need to check in and out on stations you just transit from one train to another, but have to do that when changing a mean of transport (there are stations in Amsterdam that have both trains and metro).
To check in and out you need a public transport chipcard (OV chipkaart). There exist rechargeable cards (which cost 7,5€ to purchase) and single use cards (paper tickets you can buy in the machines, where you enter your starting and ending station – those tickets cost additional 1€ per ticket, but you can buy day return tickets), but probably the most convenient way is to use your credit/debit card (a new solution that does not require buying tickets, and hence is also the cheepest). Alternatively you can buy one of many special cards for tourists. See I amsterdam, GVB, Schiphol Airport and NS for more information and ticket options.
If you are travelling between Rotterdam and Amsterdam by high-speed train (Intercity Direct), you need to additionally swipe your card at the red supplement post on the platform before your trip.
In trains, if you are travelling second class (the default), you can only use the areas with the blue chairs.
www.9292.nl/en is the most popular website to schedule trips by public transport in the Netherlands. Alternatively, you can use NS or Google Maps.
Other Practical Information
Time zone
In September, the Netherlands observes Central European Summer Time (UTC+2).
Currency
The Netherlands uses the euro. Maestro cards are the most commonly used payment method. Some shops do not accept cash (for example, the convenience store next to CWI) or credit cards (for example, some fast-food restaurants). If in doubt, ask before you order something.
Electricity
In the Netherlands, we use type C and type F plugs. The voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.
Tap water
The tap water is safe to drink.
Tipping
Tax and service are included in the price, so it is not required (but of course still appreciated) to give tips.
Safety
Amsterdam is a relatively safe city. Normal precautions apply: always watch your belongings (especially in crowded or touristy areas) and avoid walking alone at night in quiet areas. Moreover, don’t get hit by bicycles and don’t fall in a canal.
Language
The official language of the Netherlands is Dutch. However, almost everyone speaks English.
TAXI
There are taxis available in front of Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Rotterdam-The Hague Airport and Eindhoven Airport. Please follow the signs at the airport for directions.
ATM
There is no ATM close to CWI.
Wifi
Eduroam is available at CWI. Otherwise, you can use Amsterdam Science Park, which does not require a password.
COVID-19
At the time of writing, there are no Covid-19 related restrictions for entering the Netherlands, nor is it mandatory to wear a face mask. Of course this might change, so please keep up to date with the latest regulations in the Netherlands, your home country and any country you are travelling through.
https://www.government.nl/topics/coronavirus-covid-19