On this page you will find all the relevant practical information to help you plan your trip to and stay in ‘s-Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch). 

Good to know: the city is officially called 's-Hertogenbosch but commonly called ‘Den Bosch’. 

As always, don’t forget to pack lightly, but consider bringing your walking shoes and a warm coat. Please bring your own water bottle and reusable mug. 

Please also use the IETM Forum to share your suggestions on how to minimise your footprint travelling to and at this meeting.

You can click on the links below to jump to the desired section.

CONTENT

• Community Guidelines
• Accessibility: Information on the accessibility of the city
• Locations: General info about the meeting venues 
• Map: Overview of the meeting venues 
• Travel: Advice on how to get to and around the city 
• Accommodation: Tips to reserve your accommodation 
• Restaurants and drinks: Places to enjoy a good meal and drink
• Visa: Info on visa requirements
• Currency: Info on exchange offices and cash dispensers
• Useful numbers
• Environmental consciousness at the meeting
• FAQ

IETM Focus meetings are unique gatherings of our peers, partners and friends from across the globe. These sessions are opportunities for us, individually and collectively, to champion and challenge our work, our opinions and our thoughts for the future.

IETM is committed to do all it can to create a safe space in which all voices can be heard; and an environment in which opposing views can exist without judgement and prejudice.

To achieve this, we encourage speakers and participants to show respect when you speak and listen to others.

1. For many people in the room, English is not their native language, so please take care to speak slowly and clearly (with the use of amplification where available).
2. Moderators and speakers should be mindful of supporting participants when they ask questions and if needed, repeat the question before answering it to ensure all in the room are equally informed.
3. Please allow all speakers and participants to complete their statements without interruption; however, please also be mindful to allow space for many voices to be heard and for moderators to manage it.
4. Respect everybody’s right to both hold and share an opinion, listen actively to what someone is saying, and ask questions if you need clarification. Show that you value their perspective and experience.
5. Use the language that the individual prefers when referring to their gender, disability, or racial identity. If you are unsure what language to use, ask respectfully.
6. Acknowledge and respect Indigenous sovereignty: Indigenous peoples have unique histories, cultures, customs and traditions that deserve respect and recognition.
7. If a speaker or participant is using access support, please communicate directly with the individual concerned and not via their translator or support worker.
8. If a speaker or participant is using a wheelchair and the conversation lasts more than a few minutes, be aware of your height and physical positioning.
9. Always ask for someone's permission before touching them or getting physically close to them.

Please keep in mind

• We all have knowledge, something to share, something to learn and hold valuable experiences and inputs;
• No-one is the holder of ‘the truth’;
• Respect the physical, mental and emotional boundaries of others as well as our own;
• Strive to act with positive intent and take care of each other.

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The Netherlands is considered to be a very flat country, and Den Bosch is no exception, as there are no hills.

Some of the old inner city has cobble stones and is pedestrianised, and therefore only accessible by foot. When booking your accommodation, check with them about the accessibility of their entrance in this part of town. 

You can see pictures and find out more about the city’s accessibility by visiting the official website. 

At the meeting

It is our aim to make IETM Den Bosch Focus as accessible as possible. If you need more information, you can get in touch with the venue directly.

There will be a range of accessibility services available at the meeting. As we have budget restrictions and are dependent on the local infrastructure, we cannot always guarantee that the conditions will be the same from one meeting to another. 

Nevertheless, for this meeting we are able to:

• Offer free registration for your support worker;
• Send you a large print version of the programme;
• Provide speech-to-text captions for all plenary sessions of the meeting programme – details of these services will be available online upon confirmation of the full programme;
• Ensure that the venue hosting the working and artistic programme is wheelchair accessible.

If you have any questions about the accessibility at IETM Den Bosch Focus Meeting, please get in touch with us by writing to [email protected].

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Main venue - Meeting and artistic programme

Verkadefabriek

Address: Boschdijkstraat 45, 5211 VD 's-Hertogenbosch 

The Verkadefabriek will be the main and daytime venue for the Focus meeting, and the artistic programme will take place here. Once a cookie factory, it is located in the old industrial part of the city and considered to be the cultural hotspot of Den Bosch. With two theatre halls, five cinemas, a café-restaurant, club room, shop and several rehearsal rooms, there is always something on offer for everyone. 

The Verkadefabriek  received more than 230,000 visitors in 2023 for a programme of film, theatre, cabaret, dance, music, children's performances, festivals and events.

Verkadefabriek works intensively with six resident theatre and dance companies, while also making room for newcomers - the Studio is available to young and upcoming artists for free. 

Verkadefabriek Atelier offers training and master classes to artists, including inspiring workshops by makers for the public and insight into the making process during presentations and open rehearsals.

At the Verkadefabriek, we will be using the following spaces: 

• Big hall
• Small hall 
• Clubzaal  
• Cinema’s 1, 2, 3, 4, 5  
• Verkadefabriek Atelier 
• Studio 
• Serre (central spot)

For more information and pictures of the venue spaces, you can view a virtual tour of the building here.

Accessibility: The Verkadefabriek is accessible for wheelchair users. The venue is step free. All rooms are accessible with a lift and there are wheelchair adapted toilets on the ground floor. There is an accessible parking space in car park P1, near the entrance to the Verkadefabriek. There are also wheelchair-friendly toilets inside. In the theatre and cinema rooms, there are allocated spaces for wheelchair users. If you wish to book such a space ahead of time, then it is best to order your tickets by phone: +31(0)73 681 81 60. You can also access the Verkadefabriek by wheelchair but sit in a regular chair during a film or performance, which needs to be requested in advance.

The Verkadefabriek has facilities to increase the audio of the film presentation for people with a hearing impairment. The theatre halls are equipped with a system that allows you to follow the performance via in-ear headphones. If your hearing aid has a special T-position,  we can provide you with a loop that your own hearing aid can use to pick up the sound.

A quiet room will also be available for anyone who requires a bit of space or a quiet moment. You can ask the IETM or Verkadefabriek staff about this upon arrival at the meeting. The Verkadefabriek is also able to provide a pumping room for breastfeeding mothers or a prayer room.

If you would like to discuss your access requirements for the meeting, contact the IETM team on [email protected]. When booking tickets for the artistic programme, contact Verkadefabriek directly to discuss your access requirements:

Tel: +31(0)73 681 81 60

Email: [email protected]

The reception is open from 09:00 to 22:00 local time.

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Click here for a map  of the meeting locations: venue, restaurants, and hotels.

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IETM is a strong advocate for rail travel, and we therefore encourage you to travel by land if you are able to.

If you are a category 1 or 2 IETM member, you may qualify for one of our travel grants. Learn more about the travel grants here.

For accurate travel plans, in this section we will refer to Den Bosch by its official name, ‘s-Hertogenbosch.

Getting to ‘s-Hertogenbosch

By coach

‘s-Hertogenbosch is connected with several Flixbus lines. 

By car

If you choose to drive to ‘s-Hertogenbosch, don’t forget to ask other participants if they want to share a ride by posting on our Forum. 

Free parking is available in the peripheries of the city. At the Verkadefabriek itself there is  paid parking available. 

In ‘s-Hertogenbosch’s City Car Park, car parking spaces for disabled people are marked in plain blue with a wheelchair sign. In ‘s-Hertogenbosch’s City Car Park, car parking spaces for disabled people are marked in plain blue with a wheelchair sign. If you are from an EU country, you can park there using a EU disability parking card. 

By plane

Schiphol International Airport is one of the biggest and busiest airports in Europe, and well connected with several domestic and international flights arriving and departing per day.

For live flight information, check out their official website.

There is a direct train from the airport train station to Den Bosch. Trains leave about every half an hour and take around an hour. The ticket costs €19.10 one way.

By bus

The regular bus routes within the city of ‘s-Hertogenbosch can be found on the 9292 website.

By bike

In the Netherlands, cycling is the most popular form of short-haul travel. Some hotels rent out bikes so check with them when you book your accommodation. 

By taxi

You can find more information about the taxis in ‘s-Hertogenbosch on the Taxi Den Bosch website or Sneleentaxi website. 

Once in ‘s-Hertogenbosch

Reaching the Verkadefabriek

By car, bicycle or public transport, the Verkadefabriek is easy to reach. From the train station it is only a 10-minute walk, or you can park your car in one of the three car parks. There is also bicycle parking at the front of the Verkadefabriek or at the back of P1 car park.

Parking

The Verkadefabriek has three car parks around the building: behind the building Parkeren voor Bezoekers Verkadefabriek (P1), on the Tramkade (P2) and on the Veemarktweg (P3).

You can buy a parking ticket at the ticket machine or - even more convenient - pay contactless with your debit card. When entering, hold your debit card near the 'Wave & Pay' logo. When you leave, do the same and the parking fee will be automatically debited from your account.

The car parks are open 24 hours a day. If you park outside our opening hours, pay contactless. The payment terminal is located in the Verkadefabriek, accessible 09:00 - 00:00.

Parking costs €2.40 per hour. You pay per 20 minutes.

If you drive an electric vehicle, then you can find charging stations at P1. The rate is €0.66 per kWh, excluding transaction costs. There are charging stations for your bicycle at P1.

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Hotels

As accommodation in ‘s-Hertogenbosch can be expensive, you may want to look for accommodation in nearby cities such as Utrecht, Eindhoven and Tilburg, which are a short train ride from Den Bosch.  Please note that we will not provide shuttle buses between the hotels and the main venues and you will be responsible for getting yourself to the meeting each day. 

Prices listed below are approximate as they are variable in Den Bosch.  We recommend you book your accommodation as soon as possible.

In ‘s-Hertogenbosch

City Centre Hotel Den Bosch ****

Address: Kerkstraat 56, 5211 KH 's-Hertogenbosch
Contact: + 31 73-6137777 / [email protected]

Rates:

Accessibility: Wheelchair adapted rooms are available. You can find more details by contacting the hotel.

Golden Tulip Hotel Central ****

Address: Burgemeester Loeffplein 98, 5211 RX s-Hertogenbosch
Contact: +31 73 692 6926 / [email protected]

Rates:

Accessibility: Wheelchair adapted rooms are available. You can find more details by contacting the hotel.

Fletcher Hotel’s-Hertogenbosch  ***

Address: Burg. Burgerslaan 50, 5245 NH Rosmalen
Contact: 073 - 521 91 59 / [email protected]

Rates:

Accessibility: Wheelchair adapted rooms are available. You can find more details by contacting the hotel.

Hotel Campanile 's-Hertogenbosch

Address: Goudsbloemvallei, Maaspoort 21-25, 5237 MH ’s-Hertogenbosch
Contact: +31 73 6 422 525 / [email protected]

Rates: 

Accessibility: You can find more details by contacting the hotel.

In Utrecht

Stayokay Utrecht Centrum

IETM Focus Den Bosch participants can book at Stayokay Utrecht from October 26 to October 31 2024 with the discount code IETM.

Address: Neude 5, 3512 AD, Utrecht
Contact: +31307501830 / www.stayokay.com 

In Tilburg

HOSTEL ROOTS Tilburg

IETM Focus Den Bosch participants can book at the Hostel Roots Tilburg from October 26 to October 31 2024 with the voucher code IETM2024. Guest will receive a 20% discount with a minimum of two nights stay

Address:  Stationsstraat 41, 5038 EC Tilburg
Contact: +31 652308518 / [email protected]
 

Share a room or host an IETM participant

Looking for someone to share a room with? Post your accommodation offer or find a bunkmate on our Forum.

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Click here for a map of all restaurants 

Verkadefabriek café and restaurant

Address: Boschdijkstraat 45, 5211 VD 's-Hertogenbosch

The main venue Verkadefabriek has a café and a restaurant. You can visit the café-restaurant every day from 11:00 local time. The menu consists of delicious meals produced with local products and seasonal flavours.

Vegan options are available. If you have food allergies or intolerances, let the team know and they will prepare a tailor made meal for you. 

Reservations for dinner can be made at 17:00 and 19:00 local time. The restaurant only reserves a small number of tables at a time, so if there is no longer an option to reserve online, then feel free to drop by and they will find a spot for you.

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If you are not from an EU or  EEA country, you must have a valid passport to enter the Netherlands and it must be valid for the whole length of your stay. 

Persons of several nationalities do not require a visa to visit The Netherlands. To check if you require a Schengen visa to enter The Netherlands, please follow this link. 

You can find out about visa requirements for The Netherlands and how to apply here.

If you need an invitation letter to apply for a visa, please register for the meeting and contact Heleen Moors, [email protected].

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Major credit and debit cards, such as Visa, MasterCard and American Express, are accepted and you can pay any sum by card.

The currency in The Netherlands is the Euro. You can check the conversion rate to your currency here.

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Emergency number for injuries: 112

In case of emergency, the 112 emergency number is the European number to call for help and get quick and vital assistance. 112 allows you to be quickly connected to the fire department, an ambulance or the police and civil protection. It is available every day, at any time.

This service must be reached in case of a life-threatening emergency such as an accident,  fainting spell, suicide attempt, fire, etc.

Poison Control Centre: 112

The Poison Control Center should be contacted whenever there is a risk of poisoning with hazardous products, household products, drugs, carbon monoxide poisoning, etc. You will be put in contact with an emergency toxicology information service immediately. Free service, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.

Remember to keep the offending product nearby to give all the information to the emergency poison control service.

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In addition to the precautions we take to make the impact of the Focus on the environment as gentle as possible, we ask you to also contribute by following these tips:

• Switch off your computer and your smartphone when they are not in use;
• Connect to the venue’s public Wi-Fi instead of your 3G/4G data if possible;
• Avoid disposable tableware whenever possible and bring your own tote bag to shops and grocery stores;
• Sort your waste according to the instructions at the Focus venues and throughout the city if possible. 
• Recycle bottles and cans. In the Netherlands you pay a deposit each time you buy drinks in cans or bottles with a deposit mark. You get your deposit back by returning empty cans and bottles using the dedicated vending machines located in grocery stores. Some public bins in the city also have a platform, where you can leave your bottle or can for someone else to pick up;
• Bring your own water bottle and reusable coffee mug to spare the environment the plastic and yourself the money;
• Refill your bottle. Tap water in the Netherlands is completely safe to drink. We recommend that you fill up your water bottle in the morning at your hotel, and do refills during the day. You can do so in the bathroom at the meeting venues.

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