Location
The Collaboration Meeting will take place in Building G on the VUB campus in Elsene, Brussels:
Pleinlaan 2
1050 Elsene
Belgium
https://goo.gl/maps/5A9VUR8e26B7qSQN6
Brussels is a blingual city, French and Dutch, but it is frequently possible to get around in English.
Metro, bus, and tram services are operated by STIB/MIVB. Contactless cards can be used to tap in at automatic payment stations on all metro lines, buses, and trams. It is also possible to purchase a MOBIB card from automatic ticket counters, that can be used in English. These can be charged with a certain number of trips or day tickets for use on all metro lines, buses, and trams. Ticket inspections on buses and trams are rare, but carry fines of up to €110 per infraction. Trams stop at both Etterbeek and a dedicated VUB stop (tram 7 or 25). The closest bus stops are Elsene Fraiteur (bus 71) and Etterbeek Gare (bus 95). The closest metro station is Petillon (line 5).
Trains are operated by NMBS/SNCB. Tickets can be purchase from automatic ticket counters at most train stations, which can be used in English. You can also purchase tickets online (www.belgiantrain.be/en) or on the NMBS/SNCB app to use from an email or on your phone. Conductors will frequently walk through the trains checking tickets, so make sure that you have a valid ticket with you at all times, purchasing a ticket on the train costs an extra €9. The closest train station to the VUB campus is Etterbeek.
If you want to venture outside of Brussels, buses in Flanders are operated by De Lijn, in Wallonia they're operated by TEC. Tickets purchased for STIB/MIVB cannot be used for these services. You'll need to purchase separate tickets if you want to use these services. Train services are national and tickets purchased in Brussels can be used to get anywhere in the country.
Accommodation Suggestions
Near VUB campus:
all.accor.com/hotel/B5M6/index.nl.shtml
Central Brussels:
All these suggestions are located around Sint-Katelijneplein in Central Brussels. To reach the VUB campus from here, you will need to use the Metro line 5 or Bus lines 71 or 95.
nl.hotels.com/ho182336/ibis-brussels-city-centre-brussel-belgie/
www.discoverasr.com/en/citadines/belgium/citadines-sainte-catherine-brussels
Transport to/from Brussels Airport Zaventem
Brussels Airport Zaventem is outside the city but well connected to the city centre by train, bus, and metro.
The train station at Brussels Airport Zaventem in the only train station with ticket gates and you will need to scan a barcode or QR code on your ticket to enter and exit the station.
Brussels Airport Zaventem to Etterbeek (VUB Campus)
The easiest journey from the airport directly to Etterbeek is with the train. station. There are IC and S19 trains that connect the airport directly with Etterbeek station. Each train runs once an hour, the IC at 16 minutes past the hour and the S19 at 47 minutes past the hour. Both trains take approximately 25 minutes to reach Etterbeek. From the station it is a 5 minute walk to Building G.
It is also possible to take the number 12 bus from the airport bus station to Meiser, where you change to tram 7 or 25 to Etterbeek. The bus departs every 8 minutes but the total journey takes just under an hour.
Brussels Airport Zaventem to Sint-Katelijneplein (Central Brussels)
Getting from the airport to the centre of Brussels require use of the train and bus or metro. There are 6 IC trains per hour from the airport station to Brussel-Centraal/Bruxelles-Centrale, leaving at 3, 13, 25, 30, 41, and 53 minutes past the hour. From Brussel-Centraal/Bruxelles-Centrale you can change to bus lines 29 or 71 and travel to De Brouckere whch is within walking distance of Sint-Katelijneplein. Alternatively, you can take metro line 1 or 5 from Brussel-Centraal/Bruxelles-Centrale to the Sainte Catherine metro station.
If you want to go somewhere else in central Brussels, Google Maps is a reliable source of information and provides you with the necessary information to make connections between different public transport options.
