Before leaving home
Download the Sched app on your phone to customize your own programme and have access to the most up-to-date version! There will be no printed programmes at the venue. Please bear in mind there might be some last-minute changes in the schedule (e.g. sessions changing time slots or rooms), and the updates will be visible on Sched.
Create or update your profile on Sched. Mention your topics of interest and what you’re working on (maybe you are just the person someone needs for their next investigation)!
The venue
The venue of the conference is the Thomas More Journalism School at the Campus De Ham, Raghenoplein 21, 2800 Mechelen, Belgium. It is within walking distance from the city centre along the Dyle path.
Getting to Mechelen
Arriving by plane: Brussels Airport (BRU) is the main nearby airport. The airport train station is directly under the Departure and Arrival Halls of the airport (level -1), from which you can take a train directly to Mechelen, taking about 11 minutes. From Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL), there is a shuttle bus to the train station. Travel time from Charleroi is 1-2 hours.
Arriving by rail: Brussels Midi/Zuid/South is the main station in Brussels. Be aware of the dual name of this station – Midi (French), Zuid (Flemish). This station is used by all mainline trains including Eurostar to London, Thalys to Paris, Amsterdam & Cologne, German Railways ICEs to Cologne & Frankfurt, Intercity trains to Luxembourg and Belgian domestic trains to Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp & so on. Travel time from central Brussels to Mechelen is 20-25 minutes.
Go to Belgian Rail to plan your journey and buy your ticket.
Arriving by car: The nearest car park is ‘Parking Zandpoortvest‘, address: Zandpoortvest 70, 2800 Mechelen.
The conference:
At check-in, please have your Dataharvest ticket QR code ready, so that we can quickly scan it and avoid queues.
You will receive a name tag and a conference bracelet. Please wear your name tag and bracelet at all times and remember to bring them all days. You will not be allowed into the conference venue without it (for security reasons).
Meals and coffee
- Lunch will be served in two places: In the Media Café (ground floor, lobby) and rooms Z1.06 and Z1.07 on the first floor. We apologise in advance for the potential queues. Please be patient, there will be enough food for everybody!
- All food served during the conference will be vegetarian or vegan.
- Vegan, lactose-free, gluten-free meals and meals catering to different allergies will be served on the 1st floor only!
- Coffee will be served in the Media Cafe, and there will be a coffee station on the 3rd floor as well. During the final break in the afternoon, only cold drinks will be served.
- Please remember that food and drinks are not allowed in the conference rooms and classrooms: you can eat and drink during the coffee and lunch breaks, in the Media Café, designed lunch spaces in the building and outside the venue.
Going out
An easy option for food is the food court Vleeshalle with many food and drinks stalls. You will also find restaurants in all price ranges in the centre of Mechelen. Some examples are:
- L’ameau, Van Beethovenstraat 8
- Sava, Grote Markt 13, 2800 Mechelen (Tapas)
- Ronda, Vismarkt 10, 2800 Mechelen (Moroccan)
- Via Via, Zandpoortvest 50, 2800 Mechelen (World)
- Pintxos, Nauwstraat 10, 2800 Mechelen (Tapas)
- Graspoort, Begijnenstraat 28, 2800 Mechelen
- Il Cardinale, Sint-Romboutskerkhof 1, 2800 Mechelen (Burgerbar)
Drinks in Mechelen can also be had at dozens of different places, but most conference participants go to the Vismarkt. Located in the centre of town, next to the river Dijle, Vismarkt is a charming square lined with nothing but bars and restaurants.
Some of the most popular places at Vismarkt are:
- De Gouden Vis, Nauwstraat 7: perfect for conversations over a good Belgian beer in an 18th century Art Nouveau-style house; also good for late-night dancing
- Bar Popular, Vismarkt 1: perfect for cocktail fun and upbeat contemporary music
- D’Hanekeef, Keizerstraat 8: Mechelen’s oldest café and that’s exactly how it feels, too
- Kafee Zapoi, Onze-Lieve-Vrouwestraat 115: a ‘brown bar’ par excellence, as the Belgians like to call them; cosy, democratic and with a lot of character
About Mechelen
Mechelen is both cosy and picturesque. In after-conference hours you will easily find other conference participants along the pedestrians streets and city squares, plotting their next investigations. Eyecatcher of the city center is Saint-Rumbold’s Cathedral towering over the city with its unique silhouette. Adjacent to it is the main square, Grote Markt, surrounded by the town hall and other 16th and 17th century buildings.
Mechelen has played an important role in the history of Belgium. The city lived its heyday in the 15th and 16th century. In 1507, Margaret of Austria had a palace built in Mechelen (Hof van Savoye) from where she ruled over the Netherlands until her death in 1530. During that time, the city was renowned for its broadcloth production. Today, Mechelen counts four UNESCO World Heritage listings and over 370 heritage buildings.
Fancy taking a walk? We have organised two walking tours Friday evening – you can also get your own inspiration here.