Your Attendance Guide

All you need to know for a smooth congress experience in Amsterdam

This section is regularly updated. Attending ESC Congress online? See the dedicated page.

Your quick accesses

• Before you travel  
• When you arrive in Amsterdam 
• While at the congress 
• Don’t miss 
• Plan some time to visit the following areas 
• After the congress

Before you travel

Visa requirements and invitation letter

A customised invitation letter for visa purposes is available for delegates with a confirmation that registration has been paid in full. 

Book your hotel

The ESC has selected several hotels with negotiated rates, either close to the venue or in the city centre with easy access. Take advantage of booking online with our official housing agency RAI Hotel Services.

Create your programme

Online Final Programme

Get a general overview of all sessions taking place during the Congress.

To personalise your programme, we recommend you sign in first (in the top right corner of the screen) with your My ESC login and password.

Important: In the online programme, the timing is CEST.

To include the sessions you don’t want to miss in your personal programme, click on the heart. The session will be saved in “My Programme”.

ESC Congress Mobile App

The app gives you instant access to all sessions, presentations, abstracts, exhibitors, maps, general information and the latest news. 
Search for "ESC Congress" in the App Store® or Google Play, then download the ESC Congress 2023 app.

Programme-at-a-Glance

Download the programme at a glance (.pdf) organised by day, main topic and starting time. 

Print your badge

To ensure you can access ESC Congress with no delay, your congress badge must be printed in colour ahead of the congress and presented at the congress entrance.

Please note:

• Digital versions on mobile phones, tablet and other devices will not be accepted.
• Badges are personal, individual, and non-transferable. If printed in duplicate and shared or used in breach of any of these rules, the badge will be deemed not valid and entrance in the Congress denied. Entry may be refused without a valid Photo ID (Passport / ID Card/ Driving Licence).

Your badge will be available in your My ESC account from 10 August. A confirmation email will be sent to you.

Badge holders will be available at the entrances. However, you are encouraged to reuse your badge holder from previous ESC Congresses.

Plan your journey to the Congress Centre

There are many ways to reach the Congress from the city centre: you can either take the train, the metro, the tram or even rent a bike!

See transport information to access the congress venue.

When you arrive in Amsterdam

Venue access

RAI Amsterdam

Europaplein 24
1078 GZ Amsterdam
The Netherlands

Nearest Metro: Amsterdam Europaplein (Metro line 52 direction "Station Zuid" if you are coming from Amsterdam Central or direction “Noord” if you are coming from “Station Zuid”)

See transport information to access the congress venue.

While at the congress

Building overview

Download the congress building overview (.pdf)

See the walking distance table (.pdf) which will help you to organise your congress day in the best possible manner.

Congress opening hours

Public transport tickets and congress bags

If you have purchased in advance public transport tickets, please go and pick them up between the Hub and the Exhibition next to the congress bags.

If you would like to purchase them, you can do it at the Welcome Area – 'Tickets Transport Sales' Desks.

Please pick up your congress bag between the Hub and the Exhibition at any time during the congress days (while stocks last).

Facilities at the congress centre

More information on left luggage and cloakroom facilities, cash dispenser, childcare services, medical care, charging stations, information points, lounges, lost & found, and more, can be found on this webpage: Facilities and local information.

Wi-Fi network: esc-congress    Password: esc-congress

Step into a greener congress!

The ESC cares about the environment and is committed to delivering a more sustainable congress.

See some initiatives to reduce our carbon footprint while joining together.

Like, share, interact

Be part of the conversation on Social Media and don’t forget to add the #ESCCongress tag. Teams of cardiovascular professionals will be covering Hot Lines, guidelines, and everything in between.

COVID-19

Maintaining safety and hygiene measures for all participants is our priority. Participants are also personally responsible for observing the safety and hygiene measures mentioned below.

Mouth and nose coverings: All restrictions are lifted, but we strongly invite delegates to wear face masks in all enclosed spaces.

Cleaning and disinfection measures: 

• All surfaces will be disinfected on a regular basis.
• Hand sanitiser dispensers will be provided at the venue.
• A reduced number of paper documents.

The government of the Netherlands has decided to lift all travel restrictions related to the Coronavirus. For more information, please consult the government website.

Don’t miss

Inaugural Session

Friday, 25 August, 17:45-18:45 in room Amsterdam (Main Auditorium)

Doors will open at 17:30.

Drinks in the Dam

Saturday, 26 August from 18:00 to 20:00,  Strandzuid, located just behind the RAI Congress Centre

Join forces during the get-together networking event. Follow the signs outside the main entrance to easily find your way. See the access plan. 
Please show your badge at the entrance. 

If you don't have a ticket yet, book now as places are limited. 

ESC General Assembly

Monday, 28 August from 10:00 to 11:00 in Room Podgorica.

See details

Awards Ceremony

Sunday, 27 August from 15:30 to 16:15 in Hub Mondrian

See details

Plan some time to visit the following areas

Come, meet, relax and discuss in the ESC Lounge and Exchange Area

Take time out for yourself – and find something unexpected: Discover Everything the ESC Can Do for You!

Sit at our picnic tables in the Celebrating Data area for informative chats about subjects ranging from Registries and our famous Clinical Practice Guidelines to our EuroHeart project, ESC Atlas, EU Projects and vital advocacy efforts.

Grab a coffee in the Knowledge Café and get hands on with ESC's knowledge platform ESC 365, while checking out Series One of ESC TV Today.

Open the door to your involvement with ESC’s Associations, Working Groups and Councils at Your ESC Home.

See the world through patients' eyes at our Patient Central area.

And at The Young Corner, the ESC Committee for Young CV Professionals has lined up many onsite activities tailored to your career stage.

See more on all activities dedicated to young cardiovascular professionals

Drop into the ESC Library to hear how ESC approaches lifelong learning, test your knowledge with a mock EECC exam and flick through our journals and publications (buy them at the ESC Publications stand).

Discover how ESC and its partners are trying to do better for the planet at the ESC Environmental Sustainability area.

Talk to our friendly team at ESC Membership about why members matter so much to the ESC’s mission - and take your first steps towards becoming a Fellow of the ESC (FESC).

Don’t forget your congress souvenirs - including member specials - at the ESC Shop (ESC Professional Members and FESC get 25% off!).

Admire your colleagues’ artistic talents at the ESC heART Gallery with paintings and drawings created by talented Members and Fellows.

And of course, benefit from the private ESC Professional Members lounge and FESC Lounge if you have joined these lively communities – there is space to work, network (and enjoy free coffee).

ESC TV

The A-list of cardiology Who’s Who will be walking the red carpet of the ESC TV live production studio.  The innovative and inclusive television studio hosts a plethora of special guest stars participating in a variety of formats. Discussions, debates, informal chats, and of course a full line-up of exciting quizzes. Come and see what everyone is talking about. See the programme.

Research Gateway

The home of abstracts and clinical cases. Discuss original science and clinical practice with presenters. Don’t miss the Moderated ePoster sessions and Clinical Cases presentations in the Science Box and Case Corner.

The Global Community

Visit this innovative area dedicated to our Partners and National Cardiac Societies. Meet your national cardiac society representatives and exchange with colleagues from all over the world.

Enjoy international joint sessions and attend the Daily Highlights at the Global Stage - coverage of the day's hot topics curated by your national society. This is ESC science set in your local context!

Digital Health Area

A Digital Health Stage will set the scene for scientific sessions related to digital transformation and its implications for daily practice today and in the near future. Visit the dedicated exhibition area and meet with leading innovators in modern healthcare.

Exhibition

Come and exchange with our industry partners.

Friday, 25 August to Monday, 28 August

Opening hours: 10:00 - 17:00

CPR Workshops

Book your participation to the CardioPulmonary resuscitation (CPR) workshops organised by the European Resuscitation Council

25 August:
14:00 – 15:30 : Basic life saving - 16:15 – 17:45 : Advanced life saving
26 and 27 August:
08:30 – 10:00 or 14:00 - 15:30 : Basic life saving
11:00 – 12:30 or 16:15 - 17:45 : Advanced life saving
28 August:
08:30 – 10:00 : Basic life saving - 11:00 – 12:30 : Advanced life saving

Register in advance online or onsite above entrance C (between Main Auditorium and Stockholm Room).

After the congress

Scientific resources

Presentations on-demand, for you to watch again or view the ones you have missed, will be accessible on the congress platform, for all registered delegates, until 11 September.

ESC Professional Members and FESC can access these resources on ESC 365, the cardiology knowledge hub, all year long.

Not yet an ESC Professional Member? Join now!

CME accreditation and certificate of attendance

• Onsite delegates: Access your certificate of attendance and CME credits from 11 September in your My ESC account
• Online delegates: Access your certificate of attendance and CME credits from 25 September in your My ESC account

Find out more on certificates of attendance and CME credits.

Any questions?

If you have read the above and have a question, do not hesitate to contact us. We're always here to help you.