About the Congress venue
Congress venue: MECC, MECC Maastricht (main entrance): Forum 100, 6229 GV Maastricht.
Click here for MECC on Google Maps.
Getting to Maastricht
Maastricht is located in the southeast of the Netherlands, close to the borders of both Belgium and Germany. As a city, it is one of the oldest in the Netherlands with historical architecture and a thriving community. For more information about how to get to Maastricht and the venue (by air, public transportation, by car), please scroll down to ‘How to Reach Maastricht’.
Visa information is provided at the end of this page.
Atmosphere
A lively Romanesque city with an international character and edgy touch, Maastricht is easy to love. Stroll past monumental houses and churches, city walls, charming alleys, and intimate squares to end up on one of the many café terraces. Besides all the charming, romantic places, you can stay in boutique design hotels, shop at designer stores, and eat at highly acclaimed restaurants. And with everything within a short walking distance, you’ll quickly feel at home. Discover more about what makes Maastricht unique!
Historic buildings and contemporary architecture
Sint Martinuskerk Church in Maastricht. Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands.
The city center of Maastricht has been declared a national heritage site. You’re invited to walk through what feels like a history book: a rich variety of architectural styles that date back to the early Roman period through to the Renaissance.
Experience the seamless transition from stately, old facades to contemporary architecture like the Maastricht Academy of Fine Arts and Design (MAFAD). The MAFAD was designed by local architect Wiel Arets, and UNESCO has named it one of the most beautiful buildings of the 20th century.
Start your journey through the Maastricht history.
Compact & safe
In addition to its compactness, Maastricht is very safe. The safety ratings are high (80 out of 100), and crime numbers are very low (16 out of 100)*. This is one of the benefits of the ‘Safety in Maastricht’ program. Explore the Maastricht districts.
Getting to your hotel
For the last leg of your journey, from the airport terminal to your hotel, we created the ‘Go to Maastricht’ booking tool that offers pick-up service. Travel by train will be less expensive.
HOW TO REACH MAASTRICHT
By air
Maastricht has its own airport: Maastricht-Aachen Airport. In addition, there are several (inter)national airports within an hour’s drive from the centre of Maastricht. This ensures that Maastricht and the region is easily accessible from all over the world.
The preferred congress airports are Brussels Zaventem Airport and Dusseldorf Airport.
Other airports with good access to Maastricht:
-Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
-Eindhoven Airport
-Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (Train trip approx 2:45 hours incl 1 transfer)
-Brussels Charleroi Airport
-Cologne-Bonn Airport
By public transport
The Maastricht-Randwyck train station is 250 metres from MECC Maastricht, and is connected to an international rail network. It’s a 5-minute walk from the Randwyck train station to the venue. There are also regular connections to Maastricht Central Station which is part of the (inter)national rail network. Maastricht Central Station is a 20-minute walk to the venue. For more information on trains in the Netherlands, please visit https://www.ns.nl/.
A bus leaves every five minutes from Maastricht city centre or Maastricht Central Station headed to MECC Maastricht (Forum MECC bus stop). Plan your trip with https://9292.nl (also good for travel by train)
By car
As you approach Maastricht, you will see ‘MECC’ indicated on motorway signs; these will guide you to the MECC Maastricht car parks. Coming from Amsterdam/Eindhoven, take exit 55 (Randwyck-MECC) and from Paris-Liège take exit 56 (Gronsveld-MECC).
Parking at MECC Maastricht is € 4,00 per hour or part thereof, with a maximum of € 19,00 per calendar day. Parking is free when you leave the car park within 30 minutes.
For more information on accessibility visit the website of the venue MECC.
Country Entry requirements / visa
All congress delegates traveling to the Netherlands must present a passport (or approved identity card for EU citizens). EU citizens can travel to the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany (Schengen countries) without restrictions. Non-EU citizens might need a visa. Read more on the Dutch government website.
If you need a visa:
Delegates are encouraged to apply for visas early (at least two months before departure), and to ensure all requested documentation is submitted with the application for Schengen Visa (Visa C). Applications must be submitted in person at the representation of the Netherlands in the respective countries or at a Schengen partner representation, if the Netherlands does not have representation in that country. Delegates are urged to contact their nearest Netherlands’ embassy or consulate as early as possible to determine where your application should be made and how long this process will take.
Where can I get information?
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of the Netherlands:
https://www.government.nl/topics/embassies-consulates-and-other-representations
Search for the Netherlands’ Embassy or Consulate in your country and contact them. You need to apply for Travel Visa C (Tourist Visa).
Do you need a visa and how to apply? Check it here: https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/visa-the-netherlands
If you have any questions, need help with your registration and/or require a visa invitation letter, please contact the conference secretariat via secretariat@euro-cns.org
