Events | March 30-31, 2015: Venue Details and Travel info
We're back in Belgium this year, and selected one of the most beautiful cities in the world!
We use the impressive Aula only for the Keynote, as it can seat over 300 people.
About Ghent
About the 'Aula'
About 'Het Pand' ('The Property')
Travel Information
Other info on this 'Visit Ghent' website
Car: The main venues are situated in the heart of Ghent. Ghent is not that big, and is relatively easy to drive in. Just be aware of the many one-way streets.
Ghent is located on the intersection of two major European motorways: the E17 connects Northern Europe to the South, and the E40 runs from the North Sea right across to Eastern Europe.
From the E17 you take the ‘Gent Centrum’ exit.
On the E40, from the motorway intersection in Zwijnaarde you first follow ‘Antwerpen’ (E17) and then take the ‘Gent Centrum’ exit.
The centre of the city of Ghent is a pedestrian area. The P-route leads you to the various car parks that give access to the city centre.
Paid parking is available in multiple places. The closest one to the venue is the St. Michiels parking. Parking the Kouter is also within walking distance.
More parking lots here.
Air: Ghent is only 45 minutes from the international airport of Zaventem 'Brussels Airport', where flights arrive from and depart to more than 70 destinations.
On the lowest level you will find the airport’s own railway station, Brussel-Nationaal-Luchthaven, accessible by lift and escalator from the arrivals hall. There are several connections to Ghent.
Brussels South/Charleroi airport is 70 minutes from Ghent. There are more than 20 bus connections from the airport to the capital every day. From there frequent train connections to Ghent are available. There are also bus connections from the airport to Charleroi-Sud railway station. Trains for Ghent can also be boarded there. A ticket that combines the bus and train services can be purchased at the Airport Ticket Desk.
The other Belgian airports (Ostend, Antwerp and Liège) receive flights from various European cities and have easy direct connections to Ghent.
You can also take a taxi from the airport. This could prove to be very expensive of course.
Railway: Ghent is easy to reach by train from all Belgian and European cities and is only half an hour from Brussels South Station. Thanks to the high-speed Eurostar and Thalys trains, you can travel from Ghent to Paris in barely 2 hours and to London, Amsterdam and Cologne in less than 3 hours.
The two main stations in Ghent are:
- Gent-Sint-Pieters Station (the closest to the venue)
From here tram no. 1 will take you direct to the city centre, temporary stop 'Korenmarkt'
Visitors arriving in Ghent by train at the Gent-Sint-Pieters railway station can browse information at a digital 3D information point.
- Dampoort Station
From here, buses 3, 17, 18, 38 and 39 will also take you direct to the city, stop 'Korenmarkt'.
From Gent-Sint-Pieters railway station you can reach the station Brussels Zuid/Midi in a half an hour (by 'IC' Inter City or 'IR' InterRegio train). Here the Eurostar and Thalys high-speed trains can rush you to Paris (1½ hours) and London, Amsterdam or Cologne (2½ hours).
Walk are take a taxi to your hotel.
Venue:
Here's the main venue 'Het Pand' on the map (Onderbergen 1), with walking directions from the closest parking lot and to the keynote venue: the Aula in the Volderstraat.
Or click this link, which contains the venues, car parks, hotels and the railway stations.
This time at 2 different nearby locations in Ghent: the monastery 'Het Pand' and the 'Aula', the university auditorium.
We use the impressive Aula only for the Keynote, as it can seat over 300 people.
About Ghent
- As well the 14th century Belfry as the 15th century Cloth Hall & the three beguinages are on the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage list. In the near future the whole medieval heart of Ghent might be included on this list as well.
- In late November 2008, 'National Geographic Traveler Magazine' published a Top 109 of the most authentic destinations worldwide. Ghent came in third place: "brilliant mix of a wonderful past and a contemporary, vibrant city"
- In 2011 Ghent ranked in Lonely Planet's top 10 cities: "Here hides one of Europe’s finest panoramas of water, spires and centuries-old grand houses.
About the 'Aula'
- Address: Aula van de universiteit Gent, Voldersstraat 9, 9000 Gent
- Opened in 1826.
- A neoclassicist Temple: 'to glorify the Enlightened Science'.
- The facade with eight columns and tympanum is inspired by the Pantheon.
The 'inner' circle of the main Auditorium
The facade with eight columns and tympanum
The black marble entrance from the peristerium to the aula
The dome in the main Aula
About 'Het Pand' ('The Property')
- Address: Het Pand, Onderbergen 1, 9000 Gent
- An old Dominican monastery located in the heart of the city on the banks of the river Leie, near the medieval port.
- Oldest parts constructed in 1240.
- Most of 'our' rooms as of 1328.
- Floorplans
The courtyard
At the banks of the river 'Leie'
The main hallway
The 'Refter', the sponsor area
The 'Sacristy', one of the lunch areas
Travel Information
Other info on this 'Visit Ghent' website
Car: The main venues are situated in the heart of Ghent. Ghent is not that big, and is relatively easy to drive in. Just be aware of the many one-way streets.
Ghent is located on the intersection of two major European motorways: the E17 connects Northern Europe to the South, and the E40 runs from the North Sea right across to Eastern Europe.
From the E17 you take the ‘Gent Centrum’ exit.
On the E40, from the motorway intersection in Zwijnaarde you first follow ‘Antwerpen’ (E17) and then take the ‘Gent Centrum’ exit.
The centre of the city of Ghent is a pedestrian area. The P-route leads you to the various car parks that give access to the city centre.
Paid parking is available in multiple places. The closest one to the venue is the St. Michiels parking. Parking the Kouter is also within walking distance.
More parking lots here.
Air: Ghent is only 45 minutes from the international airport of Zaventem 'Brussels Airport', where flights arrive from and depart to more than 70 destinations.
On the lowest level you will find the airport’s own railway station, Brussel-Nationaal-Luchthaven, accessible by lift and escalator from the arrivals hall. There are several connections to Ghent.
Brussels South/Charleroi airport is 70 minutes from Ghent. There are more than 20 bus connections from the airport to the capital every day. From there frequent train connections to Ghent are available. There are also bus connections from the airport to Charleroi-Sud railway station. Trains for Ghent can also be boarded there. A ticket that combines the bus and train services can be purchased at the Airport Ticket Desk.
The other Belgian airports (Ostend, Antwerp and Liège) receive flights from various European cities and have easy direct connections to Ghent.
You can also take a taxi from the airport. This could prove to be very expensive of course.
Railway: Ghent is easy to reach by train from all Belgian and European cities and is only half an hour from Brussels South Station. Thanks to the high-speed Eurostar and Thalys trains, you can travel from Ghent to Paris in barely 2 hours and to London, Amsterdam and Cologne in less than 3 hours.
The two main stations in Ghent are:
- Gent-Sint-Pieters Station (the closest to the venue)
From here tram no. 1 will take you direct to the city centre, temporary stop 'Korenmarkt'
Visitors arriving in Ghent by train at the Gent-Sint-Pieters railway station can browse information at a digital 3D information point.
- Dampoort Station
From here, buses 3, 17, 18, 38 and 39 will also take you direct to the city, stop 'Korenmarkt'.
From Gent-Sint-Pieters railway station you can reach the station Brussels Zuid/Midi in a half an hour (by 'IC' Inter City or 'IR' InterRegio train). Here the Eurostar and Thalys high-speed trains can rush you to Paris (1½ hours) and London, Amsterdam or Cologne (2½ hours).
Walk are take a taxi to your hotel.
Venue:
Here's the main venue 'Het Pand' on the map (Onderbergen 1), with walking directions from the closest parking lot and to the keynote venue: the Aula in the Volderstraat.
Or click this link, which contains the venues, car parks, hotels and the railway stations.
