Rotterdam’ Required Information
If you require a visa, we advise you to obtain and submit an official Letter of Invitation from the conference organizers to help facilitate the visa process.
Currency
In Rotterdam, the euro is the legal tender. Practically anywhere in the town, you can pay at every register with cash, PIN and chip-cards. Do you need cash money? ATMs and banks are always close by, particularly in the city center. If you need to exchange other currency into euros, you can use e.g. the services of GWK Travelex at Stationsplein (next to Central Station) and at Rotterdam The Hague Airport.
Power outlets
In the Netherlands, the power plugs and sockets are of type C and F. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. You can use your electric appliances in the Netherlands, if the standard voltage in your country is in between 220 – 240 V (as is in the UK, Europe, Australia and most of Asia and Africa).
Medication
When preparing for your stay in the Netherlands, it is very important to ensure that you will be properly insured during your stay. By law, it is mandatory to have health insurance. We also recommend taking out liability insurance.
Visa and Entry
Before entering the Netherlands for a period of less than three months (either for business or tourist purposes), foreigners from a number of countries need to be in possession of a visa. There is an extended list of visa-duty countries that changes every three years.
Most foreigners also need to be in possession of the MVV Visa, provided by the Dutch embassy or consulate in the transferee’s home country. An MVV is a national visa in the form of a sticker in your passport. Exempted from MVV duty are EU countries, Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, Australia, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Switzerland and Monaco.Air travel
From Schiphol airport Rotterdam can be reached easily. Rotterdam has also its own airport situated in the north of Rotterdam, 5 km northwest of the centre of Rotterdam. Airlines like Transavia and Vueling operate flights. Buses (line 33) from CS are driving every 10 minutes (daytime) to the airport in about 20 minutes.
Train Travel
Rotterdam Central Station has several national and international connections including Amsterdam, Antwerp, Brussels and Paris. If you come from Schiphol airport you can reach Rotterdam directly in less than 30 minutes with the high-speed train Thalys (from € 12,30). You can also choose for the regular and cheaper trains in about 50 minutes (from € 7,40).
Public transport
There are many ways to get around in Rotterdam. You can go on foot or by bike, but public transport is an easy way to get from A to B. Public transport possibilities in Rotterdam include the bus, metro, tram and even a water bus and water taxi. The water taxi is a special means of transport, taking you at high speed to over 50 spots in Rotterdam and the surrounding area.
