Antwerp is very easy to reach. In this section you can find details on how to travel to Antwerp: by airplane, by train, by bus, or by car. Please verify if you have the required travel documents. If needed we can provide visa support letters.

You can consult the Tourist section for general information regarding the weather, currency, and interesting places to visit. An overview of the most important locations can be found on the IEEE CSMR-WCRE 2014 software evolution week map.

The address of the conference center is:
	Hof Van Liere  Prinsstraat 13 2000 Antwerpen

Please check that you have a valid passport and if required a visa for the duration of your stay. In case of doubt check with the Belgian embassy, consulate or representation in your area. According to Belgian law you must always have your passport or identity card with you; other documents are not valid to legitimate yourself. Visa information can be found at the following site: VISA for Belgium.

Belgium is a member of the Schengen Treaty, an alliance of European countries that have suppressed internal borders between them. That means that the same visa rules apply for any Schengen country and you can travel freely between Belgium and other Schengen countries. Note that Schengen does not exactly match EU: for example, UK and Ireland are out of Schengen whereas Switzerland and Norway are in. Further details can be found on the EUROPA portal.

Please contact us if you need Visa Support Letters.

The biggest airport close to Antwerp is Brussels Airport (Zaventem). Yet, depending on your point of departure, it might be more economical to fly to Charleroi airport (Brussels South, Belgium), Paris airport (Charles De Gaulle, France), or Amsterdam airport (Schiphol, the Netherlands) and then travel by train to Antwerp. When coming from, or via the UK, or using your private airplane, also the smaller Antwerp airport (Deurne) could be an option.

Brussels Airport (Zaventem) is the main international airport in Belgium, with a shuttle bus to the city centre of Antwerp, i.e. «Antwerpen Centraal» railway station. You can also take the train in Brussels Airport and switch trains in «Brussel Noord» railway station. You can check the train connections, itineraries and prices at the website of the Belgian railways.

Antwerp airport is a very small (and cosy) airport and is served by only very few companies. Yet, people coming from (or via) the UK might find it a convenient solution as there are daily flights to Antwerp from London and Manchester with VLM airlines. In Antwerp airport you can take a bus to «Antwerpen Centraal» railway station, i.e. near the conference venue.

Charleroi airport (Brussels South) is a major hub for a number of low cost airlines. From the airport you need to take a shuttle bus to Charleroi railway station (bus A, 20 min), from where there is a direct train to «Antwerpen Centraal» (2 trains per hour; 90-100min). You can get a combined shuttle+train «bulk» ticket one-way. You can check the train connections, itineraries and prices at the website of the Belgian railways.

Paris airport (Charles de Gaulle) is also a convenient possibility. You can take the high speed train from Charles De Gaulle to Antwerp (Thalys; you have to book in advance). Of course, you can also take the «normal» direct trains. You can check the train connections, itineraries and prices at the website of the Belgian railways.

Amsterdam airport (Schiphol) is another convenient possibility to fly. You can take the train from Schiphol Airport to Antwerp. You can take either the high speed trains (Thalys; you have to book in advance) or the «normal» direct trains . You can check the train connections, itineraries and prices at the website of the Belgian railways.

Antwerp is well-served by railways and is on the Thalys northern high-speed network. With trains cruising at up to 300 km/h, Thalys provides fast international connections to Amsterdam (1:12), Paris (2:07), London (3:30) and many other major cities in Europe. Antwerp's Central Station is less than a kilometer away from the conference venue and a number of nearby hotels.

Check SNCB Europe for information and reservation regarding international connections. Note that high-speed trains always require advance reservation. Tickets for other trains can be bought online from the Belgian railways or in the railway station anytime before departure. You can also get tickets on-board the train, at a higher price, but in that case you should warn the train staff before you enter the train, otherwise you may be fined.

There are convenient and cheap bus connections between many major European cities and Antwerp via Eurolines.

Within Antwerp you can also make use of the services of De Lijn to travel within the city or to get a connection to a closeby city (by bus or by tram).

The conference venue is located in the city center of Antwerp. Please note that free parking space near the city center is rare (except near the docks at the Schelde river). There are five European motorways intersecting in Antwerp.

E 34: ANTWERPEN - EINDHOVEN
E 19: ANTWERPEN - BREDA - AMSTERDAM
E 17: ANTWERPEN - KORTRIJK - LILLE - LONDEN (VIA CALAIS)
E 19: ANTWERPEN - BRUSSEL - PARIJS
E 313: ANTWERPEN - LUIK - AKEN - KEULEN