[xprotocol]

So tickets are already on sale for Supersized III. I'm seriously considering flying in for this. Was thinking this could be a Q and A thread for traveling to Belgium and any other miscellaneous tips.

[eurokdj]

So do I. But I really wonder why there are only places which are the furthest from the stage. We are 10 monthes from the concert, which I think is quite far, and the first ranks are already booked ? Or were they booked by some other booking agency than Teleticketservice ?

Where will you be coming from ? I went to the 2 previous Supersized editions from France by car. Quite tiring. I think we'll try it by train this time.

[xprotocol]

Those are the kind of the questions I wanted to post here eventually. I live very close to an airport that flies non-stop to Amsterdam, but do I really want to go through two customs? Could also fly into Brussels from a farther airport but what is the best way to get around? Can foreigners rent and drive cars over there? Is public transportation better?

[eurokdj]

If like me you come from another European country which also belongs to the Schengen zone, things are pretty straightforward : no border, same currency, same driving license. All your have to deal with is the language barrier, lol...

Anyway, between Amsterdam and Antwerpen there won't be a second custom barreer (I mean, maybe at certain hours you'll see one or 2 customs officiers at what used to be the border, but it's just to check if you don't carry with you the famous Amsterdam herbal specialities, if you see what I mean...).

Driving license : before a trip to the US a few years ago I asked for a temporary document which was delivered for free, a sort driving license equivalent which allowed me to rent a car in Colorado for a week without any problem. Maybe the invert situation is true too (but to be sure, you may ask the Belgian and Netherlands embassies).

Between Brussels and Antwerpen there is less than 1 hour by road.
Between Amsterdam-Schiphol airport and Antwerpen there is about 1h45. Belgian highways are free and lighted.

Parking near the Sportpaleis costed about 5 € as far as I remember. For Supersized II we parked at the Metropolis cinema multiplex, it was free, then took the tramway which led directly to the Sportpaleis.

If it's the same situation as the 2 previous concerts, all public transportation in Antwerpen are free if you show your concert tickets. There are still buses and tramways after the show. Especially in the direction of Antwerpen centre. No tramway anymore and a little less often buses if you want to go the opposite way, lol (for instance, getting your car back at the Metropolis, looool)...

[eurokdj]

Just one thing I forgot, in your country most cars have automatic transmission... Here in Europe, it's not the case. Think about it if you wish to rent a car

And 1 mile is 1.609 km (our damn metric system...)

And finally, after about 10 attempts I could find a decent place (blok 112) at Teleticketservice.

[xprotocol]

Thanks for all the info Eurok.

What did you mean about blok 112? That have something to do with the tickets?

Planning on spending a week in the area. Is public transportation (free or reasonable charge) available between major cities? Car rentals can be pricey but if its necessary I guess we'll have to get one.

Language: how much Dutch do I need to learn to get around norther Belgium just for general things (restaurants, food, shopping, site seeing, etc.)?

[zaro]

Language: how much Dutch do I need to learn to get around norther Belgium just for general things (restaurants, food, shopping, site seeing, etc.)?

To be honest ... not much , belgians are polyglots so if you can't say it in flemish (not dutch that's holland) or french then you can try in english/american. I bet most of us will understand. I mean English lessons in school , look on the net , games , films , music, ... English is not much of a problem for the youth nowadays (in Belgium). English is just a international language. But it's always nice (appreciated) to know some words in the native language .

[xprotocol]

I won't sweat it too much then. If I do get around to it though, would learning Dutch be somewhat close? Flemish is just a dutch dialect right? I don't think I've ever seen a book or audio CD on learning Flemish.

Thanks for all the info guys, all the web sites in the world can't help like speaking with natives

[zaro]

If I do get around to it though, would learning Dutch be somewhat close? Flemish is just a dutch dialect right?

Yes it sounds a lot alike but a dialect, no way (people will get insulted if you say that). It's like saying that American (or Irish or Scotch) is a dialect of English ... they sound a lot alike but they got there differences in words and pronunciation (and more).

I think you understand what i mean since you live in the U.S.A.

[xprotocol]

I'm just reading this stuff off Wikipedia .

So still, would learning Dutch be at least close? I just don't think I'm gonna find Flemish learning tools very easily. I know British and American English are different but I'm fairly confident I could carry on a good conversation with someone in Britain.

[Psy D-Groover]

If you learn dutch, people will certainly understand you

Flemish people understand the people of the Netherlands.
It's not always so the other way around but that doesn't happen that offen...

Two of my exes are from the Netherlands & they did understand my very often
I life in the Flemish speaking part of Belgium so...

Don't worry: if the Dutch doesn't work, we will help you futher in English

[eurokdj]

Sory for the delay in my answer but I thought the forum warned us when replied are added to a topic

When you see the concert hall plan on Teleticketservice, it is split in parts with numbers, these are called bloks. I was quite happy, since blok 112 seems to be very close to the stage.

[zaro]

Sory for the delay in my answer but I thought the forum warned us when replied are added to a topic

It does but then you have to set the option on ('yes') in your profile (3rd option in the preferences menu) .