The\ninformal icebreaker reception will take place on Monday, 17 November 2025 at\n18:30\u201320:30 local time at Winkel van Sinkel<\/a> (Oudegracht\n158, 3511 AZ Utrecht, see pin<\/a>), which is\n450 m from the ECSS2025 venue (a 6-minute walk).<\/p>\n\n\n\n A welcome cocktail (drinks) and hors d\u2019oeuvres (fingerfood in modest amounts \u2013 not a full dinner) will be provided. The selection of food and drinks will be based on local traditions. Special dietary requirements can be handled by the caterer. The icebreaker reception is a sponsored event and it is included in the conference fee. Pre-booking is mandatory. <\/p>\n\n\n\n IMPORTANT: To reserve your place free-of-cost, you need to “buy” a ticket and, before payment checkout (do not pay!), apply the coupon code printed on your conference registration ticket here<\/a>. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Please note that a “First come, first served” principle will be applied until the maximum capacity of the venue is reached. A small number of tickets for accompanying persons can be purchased. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Four different options for guided tours are available, each with a limited number of places. Again, a “First come, first served” approach is taken for the reservation of tickets. Pre-booking is mandatory. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To reserve your place free-of-cost, you need to “buy” a ticket and, before payment checkout (do not pay!), apply the coupon code printed on your conference registration ticket <\/strong>here<\/strong><\/a>. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The guided Dom\nTower tour is a 1 hour tour and will take place on Wednesday, 19 November 2025\nat 14:30\u201315:30 or 15:30-16:30 local time. It will start at the entrance of the Tourist\nInformation Centre (Domplein 9, 3512 JC, Utrecht, see pin<\/a>), which is 1.0 km from the\nECSS2025 venue (a 14-minute walk).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Utrecht\u2019s\niconic symbol is the Dom Tower, at a height of 112 metres the tallest church\nspire in the Netherlands. During a likely derecho event on 1 August 1674<\/a>, the nave\nof the Dom church was literally blown away. The choir and the tower remained\nstanding. The nave was never rebuilt and thus the Dom church is now only half a\nchurch. A long renovation<\/a> project\nwas completed very recently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Climb the\n465 steps to the top, discover its history, and enjoy the spectacular view over\nUtrecht.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The guided city\nwalk tour is a 1.5 hour tour and will take place on Wednesday, 19 November 2025\nat 14:30\u201316:00, 15:00-16:30 OR<\/strong> 15:30-17:00 local time. It will start at\nthe entrance of the Tourist Information Centre (Domplein 9, 3512 JC, Utrecht,\nsee pin<\/a>), which is 1.0 km from the\nECSS2025 venue (a 14-minute walk).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Take in Utrecht\u2019s\nhighlights on this walk! See the Dom Tower, the Oudegracht canal and its famous\nwharf cellars, the various churches that tell a thousand tales and the secret\nalleyways you would never have discovered by yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The guided bike\ntour is a 1.5 hour tour and will take place on Wednesday, 19 November 2025 at 14:00\u201315:30,\n14:30\u201316:00, 15:00-16:30 OR<\/strong> 15:30-17:00 local time. It will start at the\nentrance of the Tourist Information Centre (Domplein 9, 3512 JC, Utrecht, see pin<\/a>), which is 1.0 km from the\nECSS2025 venue (a 14-minute walk).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Utrecht is\na cyclist\u2019s paradise. There\u2019s a rack full of bikes on every street corner and\nplenty of storage for parking. Cycling is a fantastic way to crisscross the\ncity. An experienced guide will show you the best parts of Utrecht and its\nsurroundings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The boat tour is a 1 to 1.5 hour tour with a digital guide and will take place on Wednesday, 19 November 2025 somewhere between 14:00\u201317:00 local time, depending on your booking. It will start at Schuttevaer boarding point (\u201caanlegplaats\u201d) at Oudegracht 69 under the Rembrandt Cinema (see pin<\/a>). It\u2019s located 350 m from the ECSS2025 venue (a 4-minute walk).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dive into\nthe history of Utrecht. Departing from the historic Oudegracht, this extensive\ncity cruise takes you along the picturesque outer canals and the most\nbreathtaking sights of Utrecht. Sail through two centuries of history, not\nforgetting the beautiful canals on the east side of the city. A journey that\ntakes you to the past and present of Utrecht. The sailing time may fluctuate,\ndepending on the traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A small number of tickets is available for accompanying persons. Those tickets can be purchased for \u20ac30\/person here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Please note that the accessibility for disabled individuals is limited. We ask you to contact us for details regarding handicapped access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The conference dinner will take place on Wednesday, 19 November 2025 at 19:00\u201322:30 local time. The dinner will be held at the Nicola\u00efkerk<\/a> (St Nicholas\u2019 Church, Nicolaaskerkhof 8, 3512 XC Utrecht, see pin<\/a>). It\u2019s 1.6 km (a 21-minute walk) from the ECSS2025 venue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The\nNicola\u00efkerk was built in the 12th century as a parish church dedicated to St\nNicholas. The name of the church reflects its position at a junction of\nwaterways, as St Nicolas is the patron saint of sailors. In 1556 and 1579, the\nchurch was damaged during the Iconoclastic Fury and fell into Protestant hands,\nand the layout was changed significantly as a result. Through the years, much\nhas been changed and the church has been expanded on numerous occasions, but\nthe unique 14th-century cupola painting in the crossing, with its ornamental\nand geometrical shapes, can still be admired today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The conference dinner is a sponsored event and it is included in the conference fee. Pre-booking is mandatory. Please note that a “First come, first served” principle will be applied until the maximum capacity of the venue is reached. <\/p>\n\n\n\n IMPORTANT: To reserve your place free-of-cost, you need to “buy” a ticket and, before payment checkout (do not pay!), apply the coupon code printed on your conference registration ticket here<\/a>. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A small number of tickets for accompanying persons can be purchased for \u20ac95\/person and will include a starter, a main course and a dessert as well as drinks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Please also note that the accessibility for disabled individuals is limited. We ask you to contact us for details regarding handicapped access.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Networking events are an important part of a scientific conference. The organizers of the ECSS2025 support this idea through the following offers: Informal icebreaker reception The informal icebreaker reception will take place on Monday, 17 November 2025 at 18:30\u201320:30 local … Continue reading ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.essl.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/Picture5.png\")
Utrecht guided tours on Wednesday afternoon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
OPTION 1: Guided\ntour up the Dom Tower<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.essl.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/csm_Oudegracht_herfst_d2d5136d22-1024x512.jpg\")
OPTION 2: Guided\ncity walk tour: Utrecht\u2019s Top Attractions<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
OPTION 3: Guided\nbike tour: Utrecht by Bike<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.essl.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/domkerk-en-domtoren-1024x682.jpg\")
OPTION 4: Boat\ntour along Utrecht\u2019s canals with digital guide<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Accompanying persons<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.essl.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/Nicolakerk-1024x600.jpg\")
Conference Dinner at Nicola\u00efkerk (St Nicholas\u2019 Church)<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n