Hotel information
The beautiful city of Leiden has an centuries-old city center with canals, city gates, bridges, windmills, a castle, an observatory, and various historical buildings. It is also home to the oldest university in the Netherlands. The conference venue is situated close to Leiden Centraal train station and a 15 minute walk form the old centre of town. Plenty of hotels are found in the Leiden city center area, so you’re sure to find something within walking distance of the conference venue that fits your budget.
Transportation
As we are trying to restrict the carbon budget of our conference we would ask you to travel over land (by rail or car) if that it a possibility for you. Leiden is easily reachable by train from international train stations (Schiphol, Amsterdam, Rotterdam) and from Schiphol Airport.
Traveling to Leiden from Schiphol Airport by train:
For up to date train times and pre-purchase a ticket go to the national rail website: www.ns.nl/en/
Getting to the conference venue:
The visiting address of the Naturalis Biodiversity Center is
Darwinweg 2
2333 CR Leiden
Naturalis has two entrances. Darwinweg 2 coming by foot or public transport and Mendelweg 2 coming by car or bike.
By foot:
The conference venue is located within walking distance of Leiden Centraal train station. The walking route from the station is clearly marked with signs.
By bus:
But public transportation is faster (~5 mins). You can take bus 30, 31, or 38 towards Katwijk (ESA ESTEC).
All public transportation from any location in the Netherlands can be planned using the 9292 application, or on the 9292 website.
By car:
Naturalis has parking at the venue.
By bike:
An easy way to get around Leiden is as the locals do: by bicycle. Biking in Leiden is safe and easy, thanks to the flat landscape and wide bike lanes. You will find several bike rental shops throughout the city. Just be sure to always properly lock your bike!
Weather
The weather in the Netherlands in notorious for being consistently inconsistent at any time during the year and November is no exception. The day can start out sunny, only to quickly give way to showers and occasional gusty storms. On average you can expect lots of grey days, some sunny days, and some rain. Guidebooks and websites can not seem to agree whether or not October is the wettest month, but you’ll want to use an umbrella on a regular basis.
Nearby attractions
For more information about things to do and sights to see in Leiden, visit its official website.