IMPS 2005: In and Around Tilburg

Tilburg is a medium sized town (pop. 195.000) in The Netherlands (see map of the Netherlands) located 5 kms. from the Belgian border, 100 kms. south of Amsterdam, 100 kms. north of Brussels, and 150 kms. northwest of Cologne.

Tilburg has a relaxed atmosphere with a surprising diversity in cultural activities, restaurants, bars, and shopping facilities. The town is surrounded by forest and green pastures dotted with small villages, which makes the Tilburg area an ideal environment for cycling. Three famous theme parks (Efteling, Beekse Bergen, and Land van Ooit) are in the immediate vicinity.

The Conference is held at the campus of Tilburg University (map of the campus) in the western part of town close to railway station Tilburg West. Participants of IMPS2005 can use the wireless network facilities (WiFi) of Tilburg University.

The following websites can be used to obtain information about Tilburg and Tilburg University:

The English homepage of Tilburg University
A powerpoint presentation about Tilburg University (Note: the pictures in this presentation are copyrighted)
The site of Tilburg Tourist information
The site of the Municipality of Tilburg
Museum `De Pont' (recommended)
Textiles Museum (Dutch only)

Near Tilburg

Here we give a list of cities and other places of interest in the immediate vicinity of Tilburg.

Beekse Bergen (Dutch only) (5 km to the south east on Route N269, Tilburg-Hilvarenbeek, Bus 142, 143 from Tilburg Railway station). Safari park.
De Efteling (8 km to the north on Route N261, Tilburg-Waalwijk, Bus 137 from Tilburg Railway Station). Fairy tale theme park and amusement park in Kaatsheuvel, actually quite good.
Loonse en Drunense Duinen (10 km. to the north east, east of Route N261 Tilburg-Waalwijk, no railway station). National Park just north of Tilburg with sand dunes.
's-Hertogenbosch (20 km to the north east, 0.15h by train) Provincial capital, cathedral, authentic city center, underground canals.
Land van Ooit (Dutch only) (25 km to the north east on Route A59 Waalwijk-'s-Hertogenbosch, Bus 137 from 's-Hertogenbosch). Fairy tale theme park and amusement park in Drunen, for little children.
Baarle-Nassau (15 km to the south west). Geographical anomaly: 7 Dutch enclaves surrounded by Belgian territory, which themselves are Belgian enclaves surrounded by Dutch territory. A little flag near the doorbell of each house in the village Baarle indicates whether the house is in Holland (Baarle-Nassau) or in Belgium (Baarle-Hertog).

A little further away

Aachen (Germany; 200 kms. to the south-east, 2.49h by train). City of Charlemagne, many historic festivals.
Amsterdam (110 kms. to the north, 1.30h by train) Capital of The Netherlands, beautiful city center (17-th century), canals, museums, major transportation hub.
Antwerp (Dutch name: Antwerpen, Belgium; 70 kms. to the south west, 2.00h by train). Second largest city in Belgium, busy colorful city, large port, cathedral.
Bruges (Dutch name: Brugge, Belgium; 150 kms. to the south-west, 3.00h by train). Beautiful undamaged medieval city.
Brussels (Dutch name: Brussel, French name: Bruxelles, Belgium; 120 kms. to the south, 2.30h by train). Capital of Belgium, Flanders, and the EU, worldly city, shopping, culinary delight, Grand Place.
Cologne (German name: Koeln, Germany; 200 kms. to the south-east, 2.40h by train). Cathedral, shopping, beer.
Delft (70 kms. to the north west, 1.10h by train) In between Rotterdam and The Hague, Delft blue (china), authentic city centre (17-th century), canals.
Maastricht (110 kms. to the south west, 1.30h by train) Oldest city in The Netherlands, undutch.
Rotterdam (60 kms. to the north west, 0.45h by train) Second largest city in The Netherlands, largest port in the world, modern skyline, European cultural capital 2001.
The Hague (Dutch name: Den Haag, 80 kms. to the north west, 1.05h by train) Third largest city in The Netherlands, beaches, Peace palace, international court of justice, seat of the Dutch government, Residence of the queen.