Travel

Where can I fly to?

While Rolduc feels like a Medieval retreat, there’s actually a choice of airports nearby:

• Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS)
  1 hour drive / 2 hours by public transport
• Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport (AMS)
  2.5 hours drive / 3.5 hours by public transport
• Brussels International Airport Zaventhem (BRU)
  1.5 hours drive / 3 hours by public transport
• Frankfurt International Airport (FRA)
  2.5 hours drive / 3 hours by public transport
• Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport (CDG)
  4 hours drive / 7 hours by public transport

Tip: how about a stopover in Iceland for a mini vacation?

Can I take a train to the venue?

Public transport in Germany and The Netherlands is safe, easy, and on time. No wonder it’s so popular!

Find Your Route
1- Google Maps (Transit setting)
Overview of the route options.
2- Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS)
Detailed door-to-door routes in The Netherlands, parts of Germany & Belgium: ns.nl/en (English).
3- Deutche Bahn (DB)
Detailed routes for Germany and part of The Netherlands: int.bahn.de/en (English).

The Dutch (NS) and German (DB) websites both offer routes from Düsseldorf and Frankfurt to Rolduc, though Frankfurt may involve more transfers. We recommend flying into Düsseldorf or Amsterdam for the easiest connection.

At Düsseldorf Airport you take a train at the airport to Düsseldorf Hbf (main station). There, take the train to Herzogenrath (departs every hour). From Herzogenrath train station it’s a 10 minute taxi or Uber ride. Or take mini-bus 27 to the stop ‘Rolduc’ (departs every hour, costs €1,70).

Total travel time: 2 hours
Plan your trip: int.bahn.de/en

At Schiphol Airport you take the train to Eindhoven Centraal. There you transfer onto the train to Heerlen. At Heerlen Station you take the train to Kerkrade Centrum. From there it’s 15 minutes with bus 27, or a 10 minute taxi or Uber ride.

Total travel time: 3.5 hours
Plan your trip: ns.nl/en

How about car rental?

Rental cars are available at all airports mentioned. Be sure to book in advance!

In Europe a stickshift is the standard. If you prefer an automatic transmission, please select this when making your car reservation.

The costs vary per availability, rental company, and car model. For comparison, at Hertz Schiphol Airport an economy car for the week is about €370,- including insurance.

Tip: share a car with fellow dreamers! Check our Roommate & Travelshare blog to arrange a ride.

What’s the address for my GPS?

Abbey Hotel Rolduc
(“Hotel Abdij Rolduc” in Dutch)
Heyendallaan 82
6464 EP Kerkrade, The Netherlands
+31 (0)45 54 66 888.

Some navigation systems have trouble with the address. To avoid this, you can program ‘Roderlandbaan, Kerkrade’ as your destination. At Roderlandbaan, simply follow the plentiful signs to Hotel Abdij Rolduc.

(Note: If your GPS directs you onto the unpaved Kloosterlindenweg, reprogram it to Roderlandbaan).

What travel documents do I need?

Your passport.
Make sure that existing passports are up to date and no less than 6 months away from expiration.

Visa requirements vary based on nationality. For example:

• If you’re a US resident but not a US citizen, and your home country has a visa-free agreement with the EU, you can travel to Europe without a visa.
• If your home country does not have such an agreement with the EU, you’ll need to apply for a Schengen visa in the US before traveling to Europe

What’s the weather like?

Expect pleasant temperatures with an average daytime temperature at 21°C (71°F), going down to 11°C (52°F) at night. June is considered one of the best months to visit The Netherlands. Rainfall is moderate, the humidity is between 60 and 80 percent. It’s breezy, sometimes warm, ‘light-jacket’ weather.

But the Dutch weather is mercurial, so we recommend packing layers. A t-shirt, a jacket, a warm sweater for the cooler evenings, and shorts for a hot day.

Is the venue wheelchair accessible?

While in a 12th century Abbey, The Rolduc conference center and restaurant are made wheelchair accessible.

There’s an elevator to all of the rooms. However, please note that the lodging rooms themselves are typical room configurations not specifically equipped for disability or wheelchair users.

What is the time zone?

The Netherlands and most of Europe is in on Central European Standard Time (CEST). That is 6 hours ahead of the US East Coast, and 9 hours ahead of the US West Coast.

Another thing: Europe uses the 24 hour clock in writing. So if for example a train departs at 4pm, it will say 16:00.

However, in conversation 4pm is simply ‘four o’clock’ (and yes, they all speak English).

What about money?

Visa, Mastercard, and American Express are accepted widely in The Netherlands. Taxis, coffee places, stores, restaurants, and at the bar in Rolduc: the Dutch are happy to accept plastic.

Still, we recommend to have some euros handy just in case.

You can get Euros from any ATM (betaalautomaat or geldmaat), to be found at European airports, banks, and in most grocery stores. The costs are about € 4,50 per transaction.

Another option is a GWK Travelex office, at the airport or most large train stations. Charges range from €3,95 to €7,50 per transaction.

Note: While the Dutch love card payments, the Belgians and Germans are more cash focused. Most large stores take cards, but buying a cup of coffee will usually require that you pay in cash.

Will I need coins?

Yes, for one purpose specifically: public restrooms.

Most gas stations and train stations have safe, clean public restrooms that require about one euro to use.
Cafes and restaurants let you use their restroom, but expect to pay fifty cents to a euro if you aren’t a customer.

Will my phone charger work?

Bring your power plug converter! The European power outlets are different from the US, and so is the voltage.

Europe uses the 2 pin Europlug: a flat, two-pole, round-pin domestic AC power plug, rated for voltages up to 250 V and currents up to 2.5 A.

You can buy a converter plug at most international airports or simply order it online in advance.

Will my US cell phone work in The Netherlands?

No, calling and sending an sms will not work in Europe with a US cell phone carrying a US SIM card.

However, wifi is widely available in cafes, hotels (including Rolduc), and even most trains. Download a calling app like WhatsApp, or Facebook Messenger to stay connected for free using WiFi.

Want a Dutch number? Prepaid cell phones are easy to find at Schiphol Airport, phone shops, and electronics stores.

Pro tip: Always check your roaming charges before you travel and turn it off to avoid surprise bills!