Conference Venue
Amsterdam RAI Conference Center, Europaplein 22, 1078 GZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Badges
Participants should collect name badges from the conference registration desks. As only registered participants will be permitted to attend the Scientific Sessions, the Exhibition and poster areas, you are kindly asked to wear your badge when entering the congress venue.
Accompanying persons and exhibitors will also receive badges to allow access to the appropriate areas.
Lost badges can be replaced at the registration desk. However, a handling fee of EURO 50.- will be charged.

Bank services - Money matters
Banks are generally open weekdays between 8.00 or 9.00 hrs and 16.00 or 17.00 hrs and are closed over the weekend. There are multiple bank machines (ATMs) open 24 hours a day throughout the city which accept all major international bankcards. The official currency of The Netherlands is the Euro (€). Major credit cards are widely accepted, but please always check beforehand.

Cancellations and Refunds
Notice of cancellation had to be made in writing by registered letter or fax to the Congress Office.
The policy for refunding registration fees is as follows:
Written cancellation received:
- before April 1, 2011: 75% refund
- between April 1 and May 1, 2011: 25% refund
- after May 1, 2011: no refund
The date of the postmark or fax ID is the basis for considering refunds. Refunds will be made after the congress.

Car Parking
Amsterdam RAI conference center has plenty of parking facilities at and near the exhibition centre. To reach them follow the road signs. The charge for parking in the RAI underground car park and the surrounding car parks is EUR 15,50 per day.

Certificate of Attendance
Certificates of attendance will be issued at the registration desk.

Climate
The weather in May is generally nice, evenings may be cooler and of course occasional rain showers have to be expected.

Cloakroom and Luggage
A cloakroom and luggage storage is available in the RAI Conference Center.

CME credits
The European Society of Human Genetics is accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME) to provide the following CME activity for medical specialists. The EACCME is an institution of the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS), www.uems.net
The European Human Genetics Conference is designated for a maximum of 20 hours of European external CME credits. Each medical specialist should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the educational activity.
EACCME credits are recognized by the American Medical Association towards the Physician's Recognition Award (PRA). To convert EACCME credit to AMA PRA category 1 credit, contact the AMA.
EACCME credits: Each medical specialist should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the educational activity. The EACCME credit system is based on 1 ECMEC per hour with a maximum of 3 ECMECs for half a day and 6 ECMECs for a full-day event.

Coffee Breaks
During the session breaks refreshments (coffee, tea, and water) will be served free of charge to participants wearing name badges.

Currency
The official currency of The Netherlands is the Euro (€). 1 EUR = 1,44 USD = 0,87 GBP = 116 JPY = 1,26 CHF = 1,33 AUD as per date of printing.

Dress code
Amsterdam is a casual city. Although business attire is more relaxed than in other capital cities, dark suits are still the norm for executives and people in the financial sector. As for dining, only the smartest hotels still maintain a strict dress code, so ties for men are not normally obligatory.

Drinking water
The tap water in The Netherlands is of good quality and can be used without concern.

Drugs
Although The Netherlands has a tolerant attitude towards drug use (possession of small quantities of soft drugs for personal use being tacitly allowed), hard drugs and marijuana are still technically illegal. Buying drugs offered by street vendors is a dangerous and risky business, especially in the red-light district, and should be avoided at all costs.

Eating Out in Amsterdam
In casual settings, Amsterdam's multicultural cuisine ranges from Argentinian to Vietnamese, as well as classy takes on Dutch cuisine or Indonesian and Balinese feasts from the former Dutch colonies. Lunch in the Netherlands is usually casual and simple - a filled roll. In the evenings, charming neighbourhood ”˜eetcafés' are where you can mingle with the locals for a relaxed, simple dinner in a cosy ambience. A good place to look first is Utrechtsestraat, which offers a large variety of cuisine. To the south of the city centre, restaurants and eateries in the Pijp neighbourhood serve everything from Sushi to Surinam dinners.

Electricity Supply
220-240 V - 50Hz AC.

Emergency Services
Call 112 for police, ambulance or fire brigade. For non-urgent police matters, call 0900-8844 (€0.20/minute).

Events
Amsterdam Tourist Board publishes day by day, a summary of events in English with tourist tips, available at newsagents for around €1.50. The Uitkrant has the most complete listings of cultural events in the city. Shark is a monthly English-language publication with ”˜alternative' listings. It's distributed free at bars, cafés, coffee shops, and cultural centres throughout the city. The easiest place for visitors to pick it up is at the AUB Ticket Office, on the corner of Leidseplein and Marnixstraat.

Exhibition Opening Hours
Sunday, May 29 08.30 - 18.00 hrs
Monday, May 30 08.30 - 18.00 hrs
Tuesday, May 31 09.00 - 13.30 hrs

GSM Cell Phone Roaming
GSM cell/mobile phone roaming is available without any problems for all major international providers. It is advisable to inquire beforehand or online at your provider which roaming company in the Netherlands offers the cheapest tariffs.

Insurance
In registering for the ESHG 2011 participants agree that neither the organising committee nor the congress office assume any liability whatsoever. Participants are requested to make their own arrangements for health and travel insurance.

Internet and Printing Facilities
Besides many small Internet cafés throughout the city, Amsterdam has two branches of EasyEverything, one on Reguliersbreestraat (near Rembrandtplein), the other on Damrak close to the Central Station. For printing, copying and computer services, Kinko's at Overtoom 62 (close to Leidseplein) is open 24 hours a day.

Language
The official language of the congress will be English (no simultaneous translation)

Lunch and Refreshments
Lunch tickets for lunch boxes had to be pre-ordered - they cannot be purchased on site. Please note that lunch tickets are not refundable.

Message Centre
A Message Centre is available in the Registration Area.

Poster Removal
The organisers cannot assume any liability for loss or damage of posters displayed in the poster area. Posters that were not removed after the end of the meeting on Tuesday, May 31, 2011, 14.00 hrs, will be removed by the staff and will not be kept or mailed to the author after the meeting.

Preview Room
Equipment for a final check of the sequence of your presentation is available in the preview room in the first floor. All presenters should bring their electronic presentation to the preview room preferably in the morning of the day of the talk, but not later than 2 hours before the start of the session (45 minutes for the first morning sessions).

Registration Desk opening hours
Saturday, May 28 08.30 - 20.00 hrs
Sunday, May 29 07.45 - 18.45 hrs
Monday, May 30 07.45 - 18.45 hrs
Tuesday, May 31 08.30 - 15.30 hrs

Safety - Crime
Crime levels are rather low in Amsterdam, at least in terms of violent crime, and it is one of the few cities where women will happily cycle home alone. However, watch out for cunning pickpockets, especially when on the train from Schiphol Airport to the city centre, watching street performers, or travelling by tram.
Unfortunately experience has shown that some basic precautionary measures should always be kept in mind in any city:
- Do not carry important items like flight tickets, passports etc. with you when visiting the conference or strolling through the city, leave them in the hotel safe during your stay. Rather carry a Xerox copy of your passport or an identity card with you.
- Try not to carry all documents, money, credit cards and other essential items and valuables in one bag. If it is lost or stolen, everything will be gone and might be difficult to replace on short notice, especially passports and visa to return to your country of residence.
- Take off your name badge when leaving the conference center.

Shops
Shop opening hours have been liberalised, but most stores still open at 10.00 hrs and close at 18.00 hrs (17.00 hrs on Saturdays). Shops are closed on Monday mornings, opening at 13.00 hrs. On Thursdays, many shops in Amsterdam are open until 21.00 hrs, and many shops in the city centre are also open on Sundays. All major credit cards are generally accepted, but it is not possible to pay with foreign banknotes.

Smoking Policy
The ESHG 2011 is officially a “No-smoking-Conference”. Note that smoking is banned in public buildings, restaurants and bars.

Staff
If you should have any questions, the congress staff recognizable by a yellow badge and a black polo shirt will be pleased to help you.

Taxis
There are taxi ranks throughout the city, but calling is often your best option. (Taxis are not permitted to pick up passengers who hail them on the street.)

Telephones
Many public phones only accept prepaid phone cards (available at newsagents) or credit cards. The country code of the Netherlands is 31 and the area code for Amsterdam is 20. If calling Amsterdam from within the Netherlands, dial 020 before the subscriber number.

Tipping
Tips are not obligatory, but they are welcome. The norm is 5-10%, but for smaller bills in cafés and bars it's customary to round up to the nearest whole number.

Travelling - Accessibility
Amsterdam RAI Conference Center has its own railway station and is less than ten minutes' travelling time by train from Schiphol Airport. Although the RAI Congress Centre is located on the outskirts of Amsterdam, the city centre with its attractive canals, pavement cafés, tourist attractions and a wide range of entertainment is just fifteen minutes away by public transport. The express trams are ideal for longer journeys within the city boundaries, and the ordinary trams stop right in front of the RAI and provide a quick and convenient service to all parts of Amsterdam. Amsterdam RAI has its own harbour on the side of the complex that borders on the park. This provides a direct connection to Amsterdam's extensive canal network.

Travelling from and to the Schiphol Airport
You can reach Amsterdam RAI Conference Center from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol by car or public transport in less than 15 minutes. Schiphol Airport is one of Europe's biggest airports and offers passengers a high standard of service. Many hotels offer a Shuttle service at cost from and to Schiphol Airport.

Travelling to the RAI by Public Transportation
If you arrive at Amsterdam Central Station (CS), you can take the Amstelveen express tram 51 (travelling time: 12 minutes, exit at the Amsterdam RAI station) or tram 4 (travelling time: 30 minutes, exit at the RAI Europaplein). If you are travelling by train to the Amstel station, you can take the Amstelveen express tram 51 (travelling time: 5 minutes) or the bus (route 15, 69 or 169), which will bring you to the RAI within 10 minutes. In this case you should get off at RAI Europaplein. From Amsterdam Sloterdijk station, the best way to reach the RAI is with express tram 50.

Travelling from and to the RAI by train
The intercity trains from Roosendaal/Belgium connect at Schiphol with trains going to the Amsterdam RAI station. At Schiphol you can change trains on the same platform. The fastest way to reach the RAI if you are coming from Arnhem/Germany, is to take the train to Amsterdam Duivendrecht station. Here you can change trains for the Amsterdam RAI station. There is also direct train connection with the Amsterdam RAI station from Rotterdam, the Hague, Leiden, Weesp, het Gooi and the Flevo polders.

V.A.T.
The general rate is 19%. A rate of 6% applies for certain goods and services, such as food products, books, medicines, art, antiques, entry to museums, zoos, theatres and sports.