Social Events

The conference programme includes three social events bringing participants together beside the sessions and individual discussions. The welcome reception starting at 4 pm on Sunday is an open event where arriving participants meet at Fort Boven-Lent, a viewpoint with a magnificent view over the river Waal area. The conference dinner at 6:30 pm on Thursday is a barbecue at the Landgoed Brakkensteyn preceeded by the best poster award ceremony. A choice of several activities is offered for the conference excursion starting midday on Thursday.

Welcome reception

The welcome reception starts at 4 pm on Sunday and takes place at Fort Boven-Lent (not to be confused with Fort Beneden-Lent located in the west) that is a fortress built in 1862 converted into a meeting place in 2019. Depending on weather conditions, the reception will be open-air on top of the fortress or indoor in the main hall. Fort Boven-Lent can be reached from the conference site by a 35 minute walk (2.8 km) or by a 15 minute bus ride with lines 15 (direction Lent, Thermion, starting at e.g. Nijmegen Central station, Waalkade, Valkhof, exit at Lent, Eikenlaan/Laauwikstraat) or 33 (direction Arnehm CS, starting at e.g. Nijmegen Central station, Waalkade, Valkhof, exit at Lent,Duitslandstraat). From the respective stop, take a short walk to Fort Boven-Lent. You can catch buses of the lines 15 and 33 also at the Nijmegen Centraal train station and other places close to the waterfront. There are also direct trains from Nijmegen Centraal to Nijmegen Lent. From Lent station it is a 20 minute walk to Fort Boven-Lent.

Conference dinner

The conference dinner takes place on Thursday, 6:30pm, at the Landgoed in Park Brakkensteyn (Driehuizerweg 285) that is a traditional farm house located close to the Radboud University campus. The location offers a large terrace with barbecue facilities, a beautiful park, and a dining hall. The Landgoed Brakkesteyn can be reached from the conference site by a 50 minute walk (3.7 km) or by a 30 minute bus ride with the line 15 (from station Valkhof, direction Wijchen, exit at Erasmusgebouw). From other locations take buses 10 (direction Heyendaal, exit at Erasmusgebouw), 12 (direction Druten via Heyendaal, exit at Erasmusgebouw) or 14 (direction NMG Brakkenstein, exit at Kwekerijweg). From the respective bus station, take a short walk (few minutes) to Park Brakkensteyn.

Conference excursions

Excursion 1: Tour through the oldest city of the Netherlands

You will walk through the oldest part of Nijmegen, which is located between the St. Stevenskerk and the Kronenburgerpark. The guides will take you through the oldest shopping street in the Netherlands, past medieval buildings, what’s left from the city walls and towers. Also St. Jacob’s Chapel and the Jacob’s Tower will be visited.

13.40: We meet in front of the de Lindenberg and take a 10 minute walk to the starting point of the tour: Huis van de Nijmeegse Geschiedenis, Mariënburg 26, 6511 PS Nijmegen.
14:00: Start of the tour.
About 16:00: End of the tour (Grote Markt).

Excursion 2: “Rivierpark”

To protect Nijmegen against high water, an elongated urban island has been built in 2016 in the river Waal, between the historic city center and the new Nijmegen-Noord district. Together with the secondary river channel “Spiegelwaal”, the island forms a unique river park. Do you want to learn more about all the plans and the work involved in making the island and enjoy the nature on it? Join the 1.5 – 2h tour to the island! Please wear suitable footwear as it is a brisk walk. You must be in good physical condition for this walk as there are several stairs and slopes.

13.45: We meet in front of the de Lindenberg and take a 2 minute walk to the Bastei (Lange Baan 4, 6511 XJ Nijmegen).
14:00: Start of the tour from the Bastei.
About 16.00: End of the tour at the Bastei.

Excursion 3: “Stadswaard”

The Stadswaard is a beautiful natural area next to the historic city center. Would you like to know more about the plants and animals in the Stadswaard? Or where the river deposits sand and clay after a flood? Join the 1.5 – 2h tour. With a bit of luck, you will suddenly come face to face with grazers such as Konik horses or Galloway cattle. Do you dare?

Excursion 4: Tour through the Bastei

De Bastei is the treasure trove of Nijmegen’s nature and history, where you can discover everything about life in, around, and on the river. Located in a 16th-century defensive tower, the De Bastei museum offers an exciting wandering garden full of history. Discover the layered history of the oldest city in the Netherlands, on the basis of Roman wall remains, a part of Valkhof castle and of course the Bastei itself.

13.45: We meet in front of the de Lindenberg and take a 2 minute walk to the Bastei (Lange Baan 4, 6511 XJ Nijmegen).
14:00: Start of the tour at the Bastei.
About 15.30: End of the tour at the Bastei.

Excursion 5: Tour and beer tasting in the local brewery de Hemel

Come and take a look behind the unique scenes into the oldest craft beer brewery of the Netherlands, located in one of the oldest buildings in Nijmegen and visit the depths of Heaven! In our very own brewery De Hemel (translated to ‘Heaven’ in Dutch), you will find everything there is to know about the beer, the people, the process, and techniques of brewery. During a guided tour, you get to see the ins and outs of the brewery, and with the help of labels, pictures, short films, machines and equipment, become quickly acquainted with De Hemel. There are also opportunities to take an insight into the production of vinegar, mustard and spirits. Visiting the brewery is naturally accompanied with a tasting session of brewery products to complete the experience.

13.40: We meet in front of the de Lindenberg and take a 10 minute walk to the Hemel (Franseplaats 1, 6511 VS Nijmegen).
14:00: Start of the event.
About 15.30: End of the event.