A sponsorship for our annual conference is an excellent opportunity to promote your company during GPLN’s 19th Annual General Meeting at the Hilton Hotel in The Hague from May 18-20, 2024.

Please refer to below terms, conditions and special benefits and contact us now to secure your preferred sponsorship package, as bookings will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Sponsorship Opportunities
GPLN Annual General Meeting at Hilton The Hague / May 18-20, 2024

Benefits:  

• We will include a full-page company presentation with the sponsor’s name and logo in our meeting agenda which is distributed to each attending delegate.
• We will promote your company on a banner throughout the meeting.
• The sponsors will be promoted in the GPLN newsletter and in press releases.

Terms & Conditions: 

• Payment to reach us latest by 15 April 2024.
• Design/artwork to be supplied by all sponsors latest by 15 April 2024.
• Advertisements in the GPLN newsletter will be published in one of our newsletter issues in 2024 at our discretion.   

We are looking forward to receive your reservation of the sponsorship packages to: events@gpln.net
Please note that they will be assigned on a first-come, first served basis and we therefore encourage you to secure your sponsoring in due time.

Entry formalities to The Netherlands

After the signing of the Schengen Convention in Luxembourg in 1990, among the 22 European Union member states and the 4 EFTA member states, the concept of free movement started being implemented just 5 years after, allowing the population of the certain member countries to travel freely and start a life in any of them countries.

Schengen Area nowadays covers most of the European Countries with an exception made for the United Kingdom and the countries that are soon to be part of this agreement. Although not members of the European Union, countries like Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Lichtenstein are also part of the Schengen zone enjoying the same freedom of movement policy as the others.

Who needs a Schengen Visa?

Nationals of most third countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA) are under an obligation to hold a visa for a proposed stay of a maximum duration of 3 months on the territory of the SCHENGEN States.

To find out more, consult the list of third countries whose nationals are placed under the obligation to hold a visa to cross the external borders of the SCHENGEN States and/or the list of third countries whose nationals are exempt from that obligation: 

The Netherlands Schengen Visa Application Requirements: 

See the list of countries whose citizens need a visa to enter Netherlands by clicking Do I need a visa to visit the Netherland

Where to lodge your visa application?

As a general rule, you lodge your visa application with the Dutch consulate or embassy with territorial competence for the country in which you legally reside. You present yourself in person, at the earliest 3 months before the planned start of your journey.

See also: https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/netherlands-visa/ 

Recommendation

Go first to the consulate’s website for any information on the practical arrangements on the lodging of your visa application. The point is that it is possible that you might need to make an appointment. It is also possible that the consulate might cooperate with an external service provider entrusted with sundry tasks (information, making an appointment, receiving files, etc.). In that case, additional service fees will be charged. Bear also in mind that the consulate might invite you for an interview or ask for additional documents. Finally, look at when you will be traveling, because the period for the issue of an appointment and the time taken to process your visa application will inevitably be longer at certain times of the year. 

In short, make sure you lodge your visa application in good time (but at the earliest 3 months before the planned start of your journey) to avoid any disappointment and unnecessary costs. If there is no Dutch consulate in the country where you reside, contact the Dutch consulate competent for that country. This is usually in a neighboring country. They will tell you whether The Netherlands is represented by another SCHENGEN State in the country where you reside.

Introducing The Netherlands

The Netherlands consistently ranks among the top places in the world to live and work, which is great for any expat to learn about the Netherlands. But a Netherlands introduction doesn’t end there. The Netherlands may be a small country in size, but certainly not in impact. The Netherlands is famed for its liberal social policies, maritime trading traditions, battles to hold back the sea, robust multiculturalism and leading technological communications, making Dutch lifestyle a mosaic of cultural intrigue. No Dutch city has yet reached a million inhabitants and each retains a unique character and architectural style. The capital is something else entirely, and in terms of atmosphere and attitude, Amsterdam and the Netherlands could be two different countries. 

The Dutch people are generally receptive, curious, cultured, and friendly. English is widely spoken – a survey by Education First ranked the Netherlands as third in the world for English proficiency as a second language – but this can be a drawback for those learning Dutch. International residents tread a well-worn path to the Lowlands. Out of a population of some 16.9 million people, more than three and a half million have a foreign background (cbs.nl). This multi-ethnic characteristic of the country’s population has historic roots stretching back several hundred years, though most rapid changes in population demographics have come about in the last 40 years.

The Hague (Den Haag)

The Hague is a city of international importance with many faces and home to many different cultures. Once little more than a country house near a pond, The Hague has developed into a city of international character and importance. The Hague is located on the North Sea coast of the western Netherlands. Its Gothic-style Binnenhof (or Inner Court) complex is the seat of the Dutch parliament, and 16th-century Noordeinde Palace is the king’s workplace. The city is also home to the U.N.’s International Court of Justice, headquartered in the Peace Palace, and the International Criminal Court.

For more information on The Hague and its many attractions, visit their website at: https://www.holland.com/global/tourism/discover-the-netherlands/visit-the-cities/the-hague.htm

When to go

Any time is a good time to be in Netherlands. Most people arrive between May and September. This time is fabulous because skies are more likely to be sunny, much of life moves outdoors, beer gardens are in full swing, and festivals and outdoor events enliven cities and villages.

Money 

The Euro has been Netherland’s official currency since 2002. Euros come in seven notes (five, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 Euros) and eight coins (one- and two-euro coins and one-, two-, five-, 10-, 20- and 50-cent coins).
You can exchange money at many banks and post offices as well as foreign-exchange offices. Rates are quite good and service swift at bank offices at large train stations. American Express and Thomas Cook/Travelex offices are also reliable stand-bys. ATMs are the easiest way of getting cash in big cities and are common.
You can use credit cards for many purchases and also to make cash withdrawals from ATMs and banks. Look for the stickers on the machines that say American Express, Visa, Master Card or whatever system your card uses.
Prices for goods and services include a value-added tax (VAT) which is 21% for regular goods and two additional special rates: the 9% rate and the 0% rate (zero rate). If your permanent residence is outside the European Union, you can have a large portion of the VAT refunded, provided you shop at a store displaying the ‘Tax-Free for Tourists’ sign and obtain a tax-free form for your purchase from the sales clerk. At the airport, show this form, unused goods and your receipt to a custom official before checking your luggage. The customs official will stamp the form, which you can then take straight to the cash refund office at the airport.

Tipping

In the Netherlands there is no social or written requirement to tip a restaurant worker. However, if you received good service or thoroughly enjoyed the food, it’s customary to give a small tip — around 5-10% of the bill. If your service was just average, round up the bill or leave some change.