Venue
The best way to travel from Schiphol Airport to Utrecht is by train. Tickets can be purchased from the ticket office or vending machines at Schiphol station. Please be advised that, in the Netherlands, return tickets are valid for one day only.
From the airport arrival hall, follow the train signs to the station hall. Buy a ticket to Utrecht Centraal (single ticket). There is a direct train to Utrecht every half hour. The total trip will take 40-45 minutes.
If you want to know more about traveling by train in the Netherlands, there is an online
journey planner.
Busfares
If you are going to use the bus more often, rather than buying a ticket on the bus each time it is cheaper to buy a big 'strippenkaart', which is a card with 15 (or 45) units of which you use 2 or 3 for each trip within the city center limits. You can change buses or return on the same fare within one hour. 'Strippenkaarten' are available from the train or bus station, the postoffice, at the service counter of some large supermarkets or in tabacco shops. Prices are Euro 6,40 / 18,90 for 15 / 40 units. It is also possible to buy a week pass. Week passes can only be bought at the bus station.
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Accommodation
The contact with the hotels is mediated by LOT.
The Summer School teachers are staying in the
Mitland Hotel
The Summer School students are staying in
Hostel Strowis
Hostel
Strowis is very close to the sercretariat of LOT. When you reach Utrecht Central (Train) Station, go downstairs to the city buses and take bus 2, 4, 8 or 11 to Janskerkhof (ask the driver to tell you when to get
out), Behind the church (= 'Janskerk') on the square is the secretariat on
number 13a (room 002) Next to the secretariat there is a little street called the Boothstraat,
Hostel Strowis is on nr. 8.
On foot:
Your best option is to get a map from one of the blue information-machines in the hall of the Central Trainstation. Type our name and a map of the route will be printed.
Otherwise keep on walking straight ahead, into the shoppingmall (Hoog Catharijne) that is connected to the trainstation. Walk all the way till the end. When you are outside you'll see a square and a street on the left side of it. Follow this street in the direction you're going. You will pass the postoffice and a square on your right and after that you will see the "Janskerkhof"-square with the church on your left. Behind the church is a small street called the Boothstraat, our street! You'll find Strowis at number 8.
If you get lost, just ask someone for the "Janskerkhof', everybody knows.
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Facilities
Breakfast, tea & coffee, lunch and dinner
Beakfast is not included in Hostel Strowis. You
can pay for a complete biological breakfast yourself at Strowis (6 euros) or go
to one of many restaurants and bakeries in the city centre.
Tea & coffee can be bought at the vending machines that are in each building. You need a 'chippas' -- the vending machines don't operate with ordinary money / coins.
For cheap lunch it is best to go to the Italian sandwich stall on the Janskerkhof square (on the side furthest away from the Drift);
A dinner for all will be organised on Thursdays -- we will let you know where in due course.
For just sitting down and talking with each other (socializing), all buildings have spaces for this.
For the rest, Utrecht has numerous places -- in the vicinity of the class rooms -- to lunch, eat, dine or drink.
PCs, copying, and library
We will organize a computer room in Drift 21 or 23, with standard facilities.
The library is at Drift 27 (number 7 on the map). You may walk in, search and read without formal identification (a suspicious janitor might ask something, though). You are supposed to leave your coat and bag (in a locker). You cannot borrow materials, but there is a copying machine.
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