Travel information
- For the duration of the conference, train travelers on the trajectory between Schiphol Airport and Groningen are advised to take the route via Amersfoort. The normally shorter route - via Lelystad - is subject to delays due to recent damage to the railway infrastructure caused by a mass power outage. Travel via Lelystad implies that part of the journey must be completed by bus (no additional ticket required). In this case, please follow the instructions provided by the Dutch Railways (NS). See https://9292.nl/en for up-to-date itinerary advice.
- On Friday September 9 (only), regional strikes by Dutch Railways (NS) staff will affect train travel in various regions incl. Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague. However, trains between Groningen and Schiphol Airport are as of yet not expected to be affected by these strikes. For up-to-date information, see https://9292.nl/en/calamities/overview-calamities.
- On Friday September 9 (only) - public buses in the city of Groningen (operated by Qbuzz) will be non-operational. Note: The Qbuzz strike is limited to Friday. Normal travel on Qbuzz buses is expected on Thursday and Saturday.
- Alternative local transport has been organized for Friday, and is as follows:
- Chartered buses leave from the front of the Central Station at 8.15AM. The buses carry signs for ETSG2022 and are operated by Deiman Tours.
- Alternatively, walking takes about 20 minutes. See the Conference Map for a suggested (unfortunately, non-scenic) route.
- Chartered buses will leave from the front of the restaurant around 10PM; departures will be announced at the restaurant.
- Alternatively, walking takes about 30 minutes. See the Conference Map for a suggested route.
Entering the Netherlands
Covid-19 rules for travelers
Please visit this website for up-to-date information for travelers to the Netherlands.
Visa Information
Please visit this website to determine whether you need a visa to travel to the Netherlands.
Getting to Groningen
By public transportation
The City of Groningen is located in the northeast of the Netherlands, approximately 200 km from Amsterdam. Groningen has excellent connections to all main airports and railway stations in the Netherlands. The closest airports to the University of Groningen are Eelde Airport, Groningen (45 mins away), Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam (2hr 10 mins) and Bremen Airport, Bremen, Germany (2hr).
Schiphol – Groningen
You will probably arrive in the Netherlands at Schiphol, Amsterdam International Airport. The easiest way to travel to Groningen is to take the train. The underground train station is located near Schiphol Plaza, within several minutes walking distance from the luggage claim. The Dutch railway system is run by Nederlandse Spoorwegen and known as NS. You will recognize it by its yellow and blue colours. Look out for the yellow illuminated signs that direct you ‘To the trains’. There is a direct hourly train service to Groningen from Schiphol Airport. Additional connections every hour involve just one change of trains (in Zwolle). Make sure that you board one of the carriages marked with the destination Groningen (the other part of the train travels to Leeuwarden). The journey from Amsterdam or Schiphol Airport to Groningen takes a little over 2 hours.
Bremen – Groningen
Another way to arrive in the Netherlands is via Bremen Airport. The cheapest and easiest way to travel from Bremen to Groningen is to take the Flixbus. This will take you from Bremen to Groningen in about 2,5 hours and costs around 11 euro (one way), depending on the time you travel. You can book your ticket online or buy one directly from the driver. The buses run about 8 times a day, from 6.00h to 22.30h.
Eelde Airport – Groningen
The closest airport to the city of Groningen is Eelde Airport, which is 15km from Groningen. There are local buses traveling between Groningen Airport Eelde and Groningen Central Station and the trip lasts roughly 50 minutes.
To plan your journey
We recommend using the 9292 journey planner for all public transport services in the Netherlands.
To obtain tickets
A few options are available.
1. Buy your train ticket online or at the ticket machines that can be found at NS train stations. Note: Bus tickets in the city of Groningen can be purchased on the bus (debit and credit cards only).
2. The 9292 App provides an all-in-one solution for planning your journey and buying relevant e-tickets for all modes of public transportation in the Netherlands. See this link for detailed instructions.
3. Alternatively, buy a disposable OV-chip card with sufficient credit to travel on all modes of public transport in the Netherlands. Note that this card costs around EUR7.50 to purchase (excluding travel credit).
By car
Groningen can be reached via the A7 and A28 highways. However, note that large-scale reconstruction of the southern ring road affects the A7 and A28 highways, as well as main and minor roads in and around the City of Groningen. See here for up-to-date information about routes affected and alternatives.
| Last modified: | 07 September 2022 12.20 p.m. |