Registration and Opening Hours
Further information regarding registration schedule & prices can be found here.
Please note that no cash payments will be accepted on site.
Opening Hours Registration
| Friday, June 11 | 14.00 – 18.00 hrs |
| Saturday, June 12 | 07.30 – 20.15 hrs |
| Sunday, June 13 | 08.00 – 19.00 hrs |
| Monday, June 14 | 08.00 – 19.00 hrs |
| Tuesday, June 15 | 08.30 – 14.00 hrs |
Opening Hours Speaker Service Centre
| Friday, June 11 | 14.00 – 18.00 hrs |
| Saturday, June 12 | 07.30 – 20.15 hrs |
| Sunday, June 13 | 08.00 – 19.00 hrs |
| Monday, June 14 | 08.00 – 19.00 hrs |
| Tuesday, June 15 | 08.30 – 15.00 hrs |
Opening Hours Exhibition
| Friday, June 11 | CLOSED! |
| Saturday, June 12 | 09.30 – 17.15 hrs |
| Sunday, June 13 | 09.30 – 17.15 hrs |
| Monday, June 14 | 09.30 – 17.15 hrs |
| Tuesday, June 15 | CLOSED! |
Opening Hours Exhibition Service Desk
| Friday, June 11 | 08.00 – 18:00 hrs |
| Saturday, June 12 | 08.30 – 17.45 hrs |
| Sunday, June 13 | 08.30 – 17.45 hrs |
| Monday, June 14 | 09.00 – 21.00 hrs |
Access to the conference venue and participant badges
Participants should print and collect their name badges from the self-printing registration desks. As only registered participants will be permitted to attend the scientific sessions, the exhibition and poster areas, you are required to wear your badge when entering and while remaining in the conference venue. 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 EUR 50.- will be charged.
Cancellations and Refunds
Notice of cancellation (e.g. in case of sickness, lack of funding or any other personal reasons) must be made in writing by e-mail to the ESHG Conference organisers: conference@eshg.org
Registration fees may be refunded if written cancellation if received as follows:
until April 15, 2027 75% refund
– between April 16-May 20, 2027 25% refund
– as of May 21, 2027 no refund
The date of the email is the basis for considering refunds. Refunds will be made after the conference.
Certificate of Attendance / CME Certificates
Participants will be able to download their certificate of attendance (as of June 12, 2027 at 10:00 CEST) and CME certificate directly from the ESHG Virtual Conference Platform. You can access the virtual conference platform with the same email and password you used to register and submit an abstract. More information on how to obtain CME credits will follow soon.
Certificate of Presentation
Presentation certificates will be available for download to all abstract authors on the abstract submission portal one week after the conference. Please do not request certificates onsite, via phone or email.
Insurance
By registering to the ESHG 2027 participants agree that neither the organising committee nor the conference office assume any liability whatsoever. Participants are requested to make their own arrangements for health and travel insurance. The conference fee does not include insurance. Cancellations made after the deadline (May 20, 2027) cannot be refunded for any reasons.
Online participation
Access to the virtual conference platform
All participants (in-person and online only) will have access to the conference virtual platform. To access the platform attendees will need to use their email address and password used for their registration.
What will you find in the virtual conference platform?
In the virtual platform you will have access to:
- Real time live stream of sessions with the possibility of interaction through the session chat
- Access to all posters presented at the conference (hybrid posters and e-Posters)
- Presenter profiles
- Sponsor and Exhibitor information (if booked by sponsor)
- CME evaluations
- On-demand recording of presentations (on the following day)
General Conference Information
Mobile App
The mobile app with full programme and other useful information will be available for download one week before the conference.
Coffee Breaks
During the session breaks, refreshments (coffee, tea and water) will be served free of charge to participants wearing name badges. Coffee and lunch bags will be served in the exhibition area.
Lunch and Refreshments
Lunch tickets for lunch bags needed to be pre-ordered – they cannot be purchased on site. Please note that lunch tickets are not refundable after the deadline (tba). Please take care of your lunch vouchers on site. They will be printed together with your badge. If you lose them, we cannot hand them out again to you due to reasons of fraud. So please bring them with you on each according day and do not lose them.
Lunch bags can be picked up from 12.00 – 13.00 hrs CEST on Saturday to Monday and from 12.30 – 13.30 hrs on Tuesday at the respective stations in the exhibition halls.
A cash bar is also available in the exhibition area.
Official Networking Events
The ESHG Conference offers multiple networking events such as the Networking Mixer (welcome reception) and the ESHG Networking Evening. For more information please click here.
Sustainability
The ESHG Conference is committed to host an event that bears in mind the responsible use of resources, our environment and the use of sustainable conference materials. Hence, we would like to encourage all of our participants to keep these aspect in mind when attending the in-person meeting.
Venue
Sustainability is never a finished thing. It is continuous and needs to be constantly adapted, developed and refined to lead to improvement.
At Rotterdam Ahoy, we don’t see sustainability as a destination, but as a way of working. Since our foundation in 1971, progress and responsibility have been part of our DNA. Today, we continue to build on that pioneering spirit — together with our partners, suppliers, visitors, and employees. Our long history in sustainability forms the foundation of who we are today. We continue to innovate, invest, and inspire to make a positive impact: now and for the future. Read the story of our origins and our ongoing journey toward sustainability. On this page, you’ll discover what sustainability means to Rotterdam Ahoy and which themes shape our strategy — enriched with inspiring examples that show how we put them into practice.
Click here for more information on sustainability at Rotterdam Ahoy.
It is not allowed to bring any animals into the building. Exception will be made for service dogs.
Catering
The catering at the conference follows the following criteria:
- Food and catering waste will be disposed of properly and in an environmentally sound manner.
- We do not use “open front coolers“.
- We do not use electric or gas heaters for in outdoor areas.
- We mainly use beverages from glass bottles or reusable PET bottles.
- In guest areas we mainly use reusable tableware, if not otherwise possible we resort to bio-degradable disposable tableware.
- We offer vegan or vegetarian alternatives.
- Catering employees are informed about the criteria of catering and youth protection regulations before the event.
- We will pass on the special features of the catering (regional products, seasonal or organic products, etc.) to the participants through the wording in the offer and the menu cards.
Materials
Bags
Since 2014 the ESHG Conference has aimed to provide congress bags that are made from durable materials, such as cotton. This is aimed at increasing the re-usability of the bags and decreasing the amount of waste created, and in the best case, making it biodegradable.
Pens
As previously mentioned, we are committed to using the recourses responsibly. For this reason, we have always seek for pens that are made of recycable/recycled materials with a long lifespan.
Printed Materials
In this area ESHG has been making hard efforts to reduce its printed materials over time, while ensuring to keep high standards for its conference participants. The ESHG stopped printing the abstract book over 10 years ago. This 500+ pages publication totalised around 5 tons of ink and paper each year. Instead we implemented the online programme planner as well as the conference app, which we continue to improve over the years, and have been adopted by our participants. The convenience in using these tools as preparation ahead of the meeting is a quasi standard today, however the fringe benefits of reducing the number of produced items seems less obvious, but definitely contributes to the whole. Starting with ESHG 2019, we implemented an “self-printing” approach for registration materials. By using this procedure, we have been able to reduce the registration materials of each participant to a single sheet of paper. Moreover, all participants will receive their confirmation of attendance and CME certificate as pdf via the ESHG Portal. These initiatives will help us reduce more than 8000 printouts and other materials, having a significant impact in the amount of paper and ink used for the ESHG conference and in consequence largely reducing the CO2 footprint of the transport of all print work from Rotterdam to the conference location. Concerning printing of posters, the ESHG has been introducing e-Posters to its poster exhibition. Currently more than 700 posters are available only in an electronic version located in the exhibition hall next to the live stream and on the virtual conference platform. This has not only helped in reducing the amount of printed posters but provide a new experience in terms of interaction between the participants and abstracts being presented.
Hybrid Conference
For the fourth time the ESHG will be held as a hybrid conference. This means participants have the option to participate in-person or online via the ESHG virtual conference platform. By providing an online option, we aim at, not only connecting more geneticists worldwide, but at helping decrease the necessary travel carbon footprint participants create when assisting the in-person conference.
YOU!
Keep in mind that you as participant play an important role in the responsible use of the resources at the ESHG conferences. You can help us to do this by recycling your waste, using only the necessary amount of water and eating only those catering items that you know you will completely consume. Furthermore, you can contribute to reduce the amount of waste created by reusing your conference materials, such as conference bag and pen, as long as possible. Together with your efforts and ours we can continue to strive for a more environmentally friendly ESHG conference.
Venue
Rotterdam Ahoy
Ahoyweg 10
3084BA Rotterdam
The Netherlands
For more information about the venue please visit our Venue & Location page
Cloakroom and Luggage
A cloakroom and luggage storage are available in the registration area.
Opening hours:
- Saturday, June 12: 07:30-22:00
- Sunday, June 13: 08:00-20:30
- Monday, June 14: 08:00-19:30
- Tuesday, June 15: 08:30-17:00
WIFI
WiFi is available throughout the conference venue.
Staff
If you should have any questions, the congress staff (recognizable by a pink badge and lanyard) at the registration area will be pleased to help you.
Conference Policy
Language
The official language of the congress is English. No simultaneous translation will be provided.
Pictures
Please note that taking pictures during the sessions is allowed, unless indicated otherwise by the presenter or the poster author. Persons who will not observe this rule will be excluded from the session by the chairpersons.
Smoking Policy
The ESHG 2027 is officially a “No-smoking-Conference”. Note that smoking is banned in public buildings and private businesses – including restaurants, pubs, shops, public transport, entertainment venues and workplaces.
Social Media Guidelines
Please see our full policy here.
The ESHG supports the use of social media around the European Human Genetics Conference to network with your colleagues and friends attending the meeting. Please do however respect the ESHG social media guidelines.
The views and opinions posted on ESHG’s social media do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or policies of the ESHG, its Board or membership. The ESHG reserves the right to remove comments it deems to be inappropriate.
Rotterdam – General Information
Location
Rotterdam is situated in the Netherlands (Northern Europe).
The Rotterdam ‘make it happen’ mentality fuels innovation across the city, driving breakthroughs in key industries and powering events with world-class connectivity, premium venues, and reliable infrastructure.
Official language
The official language is Dutch.
Currency and exchange
EUROS – EUR, €
Climate
The Netherlands has a temperate, maritime climate, generally involving mild winters and cool summers. The climate is mainly due to the coastal proximity of the Netherlands to the North Sea. In general, the coastal provinces – including Rotterdam – usually have milder autumn and winter months than the inland, eastern provinces. Spring and summer in the west is usually slightly cooler than the east and south of the country. The weather is a favourite topic of conversation in the Netherlands. Not in the least because it can vary greatly, influenced by weather fronts and wind conditions. There is no universal advice or prediction we can give, so check the current weather info and forecast online before and during your trip, for instance with the Buienradar.
Tipping
In the Netherlands, tipping is purely a voluntary gesture of appreciation for good service
- The Custom: Locals usually just round up the bill by a euro or two, or leave small spare change.
- Good Service: For a nice meal with good service, leaving 5% to 10% is common and appreciated, but not required.
Telephone codes
The telephone prefix for calling Rotterdam from other countries is: + 31 06
GSM Cell Phone Roaming
Roaming charges within the European Union have officially been abolished. For more information please contact your phone provider.
Shopping
Shops in the city centre and in shopping streets are generally open 10.00 a.m. to 08.00/09.00 p.m. 6-7 days a week.
Shopping centres and department stores have prolonged opening times
Safety
Rotterdam is like any other big city: it has safe areas and less safe areas, and the basic common sense rules apply.
The centre of Rotterdam is very safe and you should not encounter any problems. All of the city centre and tourist areas are well policed.
– Try not to carry all documents, money, credit cards and other essential items and valuables in one bag or purse. 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 centre.
– In heavily frequented tourist zones and the metro at rush hour, be aware of attemps of scam and pickpocketing.
– Do not respond to anybody unknown to you who comes up to you on the street engaging you in a conversation, no matter how safe they appear to be
Smoking
Tobacco smoking is generally allowed in ordinary outdoor public spaces unless signs, temporary restrictions or local house rules say otherwise. That does not mean every outdoor location is available to smokers. School grounds are legally smoke-free. Transport operators, hospitals, sports venues, festivals, attractions and other site managers can make their outdoor grounds smoke-free as well. Rotterdam can also introduce temporary smoking restrictions in forests and nature areas during periods of increased fire risk. Check the signs rather than relying on an old list of supposedly smoker-friendly parks.
Smoking is prohibited inside cafés, bars, restaurants, hotels, coffeeshops, shops, workplaces, stations, cultural venues, healthcare buildings and other publicly accessible buildings. Indoor smoking rooms are not an exception. They have been prohibited in every sector since 1 January 2021. The ban also covers waterpipes containing tobacco and joints mixed with tobacco.
Electricity & conversions
The typical mains voltage for households (as well as hotels) in Rotterdam is 230 volts (alternating current).
Time zone
Rotterdam is in the Central European time zone (CET = GMT / UCT + 1). During the conference it is CEST.
VAT
In the Netherlands we have VAT which is a tax on consumption. VAT rates vary depending on the type of goods or services involved.
Common VAT rates in the Netherlands:
21% : Applies to most goods and services, e.g. electronics, clothing, professional services, software, and luxury items.
9%: Applies to food and non-alcoholic drinks, books, newspapers, medicines, and certain cultural or sports events.
Emergency services
- 112 – The national emergency phone number. You can use this to receive urgent care from doctors, police and fire departments. You can reach them on any phone.
- 0900 8844 – Police. This is the national phone number for non-urgent care and problems. For emergency care, dial 112.
- 010 446 89 00 – Rotterdam Fire Department (for non-emergency calls).
Getting around Rotterdam
Rotterdam has an excellent public transport network, provided by the RET. You can use the bus, tram and metro to get almost anywhere in the city and region. This makes it easy to explore the city, both for short and longer distances.
- Metro: The metro is a fast and efficient way to travel through Rotterdam and the surrounding region. There are five lines, marked with the letters A through E, that connect different parts of the city and region. Station Beurs is the main hub, where all subways converge. Line E (RandstadRail) connects Rotterdam to The Hague, while line B travels from Nesselande to Hoek van Holland Haven. Check the RET website for further information about routes and stops.
- Tram: The trams are ideal for a ride through the city center and connect popular destinations. Many lines run through the city and converge at Rotterdam Central Station. This makes the station the perfect boarding point to take the tram. Check the RET website for further information about routes and stops.
- Bus: The RET provides several bus routes which connect the centre with several city districts, neighbourhoods and the greater metropolitan area. Check the RET website for further information about routes and stops.
How to pay in public transportation
With the Rotterdam City Card, you can travel unlimited on RET public transport for 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 days. In addition, you’ll enjoy a 25% discount or more at attractions, museums, tours, and restaurants.
OVpay
You can also travel on public transport without the Rotterdam City Card. Simply pay contactless with your debit card, credit card or mobile phone using OVpay. OVpay also works with many international debit and credit cards, provided they are issued by Maestro, V PAY, Mastercard or Visa. Watch the instruction video for more information.
Please note: In many cases, travelling with OVpay is more expensive than unlimited travel with the Rotterdam City Card. You can also travel with an OV-chipkaart or a mobile ticket in the RET app. The RET app lets you buy tickets for the metro, tram and bus directly on your phone.
You can also buy various public transport cards (fares 2026):
- RET 1 day: on sale at Rotterdam Tourist Information (Central Station and Hoek van Holland), RET service stores and service points. Full fare € 12.00 / RET 1 Day Ticket Child € 6.00.
- RET 2-hour : on sale and rechargeable at sales and recharge points in metro stations, on sale from bus driver (pay only with pin), in streetcars (pay both pin and cash), Rotterdam Tourist Information (Central Station and Hoek van Holland). € 5.50.
- RET Tourist Day Ticket: 1 day of unlimited travel throughout South Holland (bus, streetcar, metro, waterbus) for € 17.50: on sale at Rotterdam Tourist Information (Central Station and Hoek van Holland), RET service stores and service points and the Vending & charging machines in metro stations.
For more useful general information about Rotterdam visit: https://www.rotterdam.info/en/visit
For a more personal information, please contact Rotterdam Tourist Information
+31 (0)10 790 01 85
See you in Rotterdam!
