For those who want to spend the weekend after the meeting in the Netherlands, we offer a trip to the island of Schiermonnikoog. One of the Frisian Islands, Schiermonnikoog, was in 2006-2008 officially exclaimed as the most beautiful place of the Netherlands. It is car free, but bikes can be rented at several locations for € 5 - 10 per day. The nature there is overwhelming, ranging from its comprehensive bird fauna, with harriers, various kinds of seagulls, ducks and sandpipers, spoonbills, cormorants to the rich marine life, with seals at the top of the ecosystem. Moreover, all kinds of halobiontic beetles can be collected on the beaches and in the salt marshes.
Programme
09:30 Leaving Westerbork direction Lauwersoog and optional excursion to the Lauwersmeer polder, "celebrating" the end of Jan Meijer's 40-year investigation in that area from 1969-2009 11:00 On the way to Schiermonnikoog there is an optional excursion to the Lauwersmeer polder sites of Jan Meijer. Persons who do not have a reservation for the post-meeting excursion can also attend this excursion. Additional costs for this excursion are € 12, including boat trip, coffee and a small lunch. Parking fee per car: € 2 per day.
The boat for this excursion will leave at 11:00 from Oostmahorn harbour. We will make a 90 minutes boat trip to the field, followed by an excursion of about 90 minutes to the sampling sites. Please take care of boots or water resistant shoes. We end with a boat trip to Lauwersoog, where the ferry to Schiermonnikoog leaves at 15:30.
Those who do not take part in the excursion to Schiermonnikoog, can return with the excursion boat to Oostmahorn without extra costs, or take the bus straight from Lauwersoog to Groningen railway station (costs € 5).
Rising sea levels? We know how to defend our coasts!
Participants of the Schiermonnikoog excursion who want to collect their cars in Oostmahorn on Sunday (or Monday) can take a special direct catamaran ferry that leaves at 10:30, 15:30 or 17:30. For this return an extra charge of € 3.50 has to be paid. Others can take the ferry back to Lauwersoog; this return is free. Here a bus is waiting to bring you directly to the Groningen railway (costs: € 5). From Groningen there is a direct connection by train to Schiphol Airport. You might also use a general journey planner for public transport.
More information will be given at the meeting.15:30 Ferry Lauwersoog - Schiermonnikoog info 17:00 Settling in Hotel, apartment or camping Evening meal in one of the nine restaurants and a drink in one of the three local pubs. (Costs not included in excursion fee) 10:00 Excursion to the national park Schiermonnikoog (see miscellaneous info on congress website) 16:00 Boat trip with the "Albatros" to the Engelsmanplaat, a sand bank which acts more or less as an uninhabited island, and meet the seals. Back at Schiermonnikoog 18:00 / 19:00 h. 19:30 Dinner at "De Marlijn", the northernmost restaurant of the Netherlands. Time for yourself, or to go homewards.
Accommodation
Price indication for the stay. Please follow the links below for actual prices.
€ 60per person, per night, including breakfastno vacancies € 1112 persons, per night, including breakfastno vacancies € 123 luxury room for 2 persons, per night, including breakfast € 355 2 persons Friday to Monday € 430 4-6 persons Friday to Monday € 15.70 first night (bring your own tent) € 11.70 per night (second and following nights)
A fee of € 85 will be asked for the trip Westerbork-Schiermonnikoog (boat ticket is a return), both excursions (field trip and boat trip to Engelsmanplaat) and the dinner at De Marlijn. The way back is at the time you wish and at own expense. This applies to parking at Lauwersoog for those that come by car. Please pay to the organisation of the 14th ECM by mentioning "Excursion Schier" (for bank account number, please see Registration on congress site).
If desired, the organisation can arrange your overnight stay. Please use the registration form in order to inform us.