On this page, you'll find all those useful bits and pieces you don't really think about, until something happens and you need them right there, right then, at your fingertips.
For example ...
IBC 2008 Opening Hours
Friday 12 September 12:00 - 18:00
Saturday 13 September 09:30 - 18:00
Sunday 14 September 09:30 - 18:00
Monday 15 September 09:30 - 18:00
Tuesday 16 September 09:30 - 16:00
IBC Weather
There are live, up-to-date reports on current conditions, and forecasts, brought to you by Weather Underground. You'll also find a 5-day forecast on the BBC website.
IBC Travel
Are your colleagues delayed? What's happening with your flight home? Check Schiphol Airport Arrivals & Departures.
Thinking of using the Amsterdam Urban Rail system? Here's a map.
Here's another great tool. An online taxi fare calculator.
If you're up for a bit of gentle exercise, why not hire a bicycle? The two most popular rental companies are Mac Bike, and OrangeBike.
Lost your passport, or need to contact your local embassy?
Courtesy of GoAbroad.com, a list of the websites for all the foreign embassies & consulates located in The Netherlands.
I didn't realise until I started to write this page that I don't know what to do if I fell ill, or lost something, or worse.
Here are some useful telephone numbers.
Police and Fire: 112
GVB Head Office: 020/460 5858
Gevonden Voorwerpen office at the nearest station :020/557 8544
Central Lost Property Office at Utrecht: 030/235 3923
Police lost property at Stephensonstraat: 020/559 3005
Schiphol airport's lost and found office: 020/601 2325
ATAS (Amsterdam Tourist Assistance Service): 6253246
Police Storage Yard (Bureau Opslag Vervoer) 5592194
National Water Police: 5230230
Police Station (for information that is not urgent) --0900-8844
Afdeling Inlichtingen Apotheken helpline (that offers information on pharmacies): 020/694 8709
Consulates in Amsterdam: Germany: 020-673 62 45, UK:020-676 43 43, USA: 020-575 53 09
For train travel outside The Netherlands: 0900 9296
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport: 0900/0141
AMC (Academisch Medisch Centrum) Hospital: 020-5669111
Things to bore your friends with
On those long balmy IBC evenings spent chatting to friends and colleagues, it's good to have a few choice local facts and figures tucked into your waistband. Always ready to help, here's the "Why IBC?" guide to things you possibly thought you'd want to know about Amsterdam.
At the last count, Amsterdam has about 750,000 inhabitants, who represent 174 nationalities.
For you transport junkies, there are 232 trams, 600,000 bicycles, 110 glass-topped canal boats, and 9 ferry boats operating.
There are 165 canals, which contain 2,500 houseboats, and which are crossed by a total of 1,281 bridges.
For you culture vultures and art lovers, there are 51 museums and 141 art galleries containing 22 paintings of Rembrandt, and 206 of van Gogh.
Possibly of more relevance to us IBC exhibitors and visitors, there are 1,215 cafes and bars, 36 nightclubs, 1,250 restaurants and almost 38,000 hotel beds.
