VENUE

The SPARC Data Assimilation Workshop 2011 will take place at the Belgian Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO) in Brussels, Belgium. The Belgian Federal Science Policy is located on a very smart and pleasant avenue created in 1847. This avenue, named in honor of Princess Louise, eldest daughter of King Leopold II, links Place Louise to Bois de la Cambre. It is situated in the upper part of Brussels.

Venue Address

Belgian Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO),
231, avenue Louise
1050 Brussels-Belgium
Conference room Christian de Duve.
Tel: +32 2 238 34 11
Web: www.belspo.be

For further information on the organization, do not hesitate to contact Q. Errera (email: quentin@oma.be).

The Belgian Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO) implements its federal science policy mainly through three main types of intrevention: funding of national and international R & D activities carried out by Belgian researchers; support actins for science policy; and performing research carried out in the ten Federal Scientific Institutions of which one of them is the Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy.

MAP

A google map has been created, which indicates the location of BELSPO, three hotels, the tow main train staions and some other places
(click here).

Photos of the Venue

TRANSPORTATION

Travelling by Air

Two airports are situated in the surroundings of Brussels:

1. Brussels International Airport is approximately 20 km (35 minutes) from the venue and is served by a good variety of intrenational carriers. For a full list of air carriers, and up to date timetables follow the link to the airport website: www.brusselsairport.be. Trains from Brussels Int'l Airport to Brussels central station exist. Four trains an hour depart from or arrive at the airport. The trains depart/arrive below terminal (basement -1). Timetables and prices are available on the website: www.b-rail.be. Taxis are available to hire from Brussels Int'l. The journey is about 35€.

2. Brussels South (Charleroi) Airport is around 60 km (60 minutes) from the venue and is served by he low cost company Ryanair. Every 30 minutes a shuttle coach leaves the airport and goes to the main Brussels railway station (Bruxelles Midi/Brussel Zuid).

Travelling by Train

Thalys and Eurostar arrive at and depart from Brussels Midi/Zuid Station. Timetables and prices are available on the website: www.thalys.com or www.eurostar.com

Travelling by Car

The following car rental companies all operate out of Brussels International Airport: Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz. Note that all car parks in Brussels are charged even on avenue Louise.

Travelling in Brussels - Metro-Tram-Bus

The STIB (www.stib.be) is the main company that organizes the public transportation in Brussels. BELSPO can be reached from the station "Brussels-Central" (Bruxelles-central/Brussel/centraal) (from the Int'l Airport) by bus (line 38, direction "Héros" and stop at "Vleurgat"). From the staiton Brussels Midi/Zuid (Thalys or Eurostar) you will need to take the underground (metro, line 2 or 6, direction "Simonis (Elisabeth)"), then change at "Louise" and take the tram (line 94), direction "Herman Debroux" and stop at "Bailli".

A ticket for a combined transport metro/tram/bus within an hour travel time costs 1.70€.

Travelling in Brussels - By Bike

It is now possible to travel in Brussels by using shard bike that you can pick-up/deposit at numerous stations within the city. Visit http://en.villo.be/ for more information.