Breda 2024

Embrace change, discover your voice

#BRC’24

Welcome to Breda 2024, the first Regional Conference of EYP the Netherlands in 2024!

26-28 JANUARY

Friday: Officials Training (Officials only)

Saturday: Teambuilding & Committee Work

Sunday: General Assembly

64 participants

Delegations from Dutch high schools

Breda

Cambreur College Dongen & Oude Raadszaal Breda

Travel information

for international officials and participants

The Netherlands is one of the central rail and bus hubs of Western Europe. In addition, chronic delays at Schiphol Airport have resulted in additional travel time, both to and from the Netherlands. What may have been a four hour travel time (airport-flight-airport) might now be six or seven hours. At this travel time, bus and rail travel are more competitive time wise.

General information

The NS is the main provider of rail services within the Netherlands. Train travel within the Netherlands is the quickest and easiest way to get around, with frequent train services connecting all areas of the country. Information about train travel can be located from the Official NS App, or through the third-party 9292 app. Public transport within Amsterdam is possible on the extensive tram and metro network – though it is just as easy to walk or cycle through the entire city. 

Tickets can be bought on the NS App, or at stations, where a €1 surcharge applies for printed tickets. It is also possible to purchase a travel card – called the OV Chipkaart – for €5 at these kiosks. Using the OV Chipkaart allows you to avail of discounts and avoid paying for surcharges. 

When travelling in the Netherlands on NS services during non-peak times, it is possible to avail of a 40% discount when travelling with a subscription holder. This can be activated in the NS App (for registered cards) or at a kiosk through the ‘Joint Journey Discount’ or ‘Samenreiskorting’ option.

Rail

Amsterdam is one of the most well connected European capitals, with a wide variety of international connections through both Amsterdam Centraal and nearby Utrecht Centraal. The Eurostar has five daily trips between London and the Netherlands (3h 30), hourly Thalys services between Amsterdam, Antwerp, Brussels, and Paris (2h 30), as well as high frequency Intercity Direct services between Belgium (Antwerp and Brussels) and Amsterdam (1h 30). There are also a number of ICE high speed connections between Amsterdam and German cities, including Cologne, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Nuremberg, and eight direct services a day to Berlin. 

There are also Nightjet services – overnight rail connections between Amsterdam and other cities across Europe, including Vienna, Prague, Basel, and Zurich. These can be more costly, but may well be cheaper (and less stressful!) than flying. 

Air

Schiphol Airport is the main airport of the Netherlands, as one of the busiest airports in Europe with daily flights to dozens of European countries. There is a direct rail connection between Schiphol Airport and Amsterdam Centraal, with direct connections every 10 minutes, and journeys lasting less than 15 minutes.

WARNING – Schiphol Airport has been experiencing severe security delays, upon both arrival and departure. It is recommended to get to Schiphol at least 3 hours before your flight to ensure sufficient time, and even longer if you have a tendency to get lost, if you’re checking in bags, or if you want additional buffer time. 

Eindhoven Airport is the secondary airport of the Netherlands, mostly containing budget airline carriers, such as Ryanair and Wizz Airways. Destinations include Dublin, Vienna, Barcelona, Rome, Budapest, Bilbao, Riga, Sofia, and others.

There are also flights from The Hague Rotterdam Airport and London, Barcelona, Edinburgh, Lisbon and other seasonal destinations. These are fewer in number than flights to Schiphol or Eindhoven, but it is also worth researching.  

Packing list

Essentials
  • ID and/or passport
  • Health insurance card 
  • Food for Eurovillage (delegates)
  • Money to spend on the (non-obligatory) non-alcoholic drinks and/or snacks during other Evening Programme events
  • Reusable waterbottle and/or coffee cup
  • Sleeping bag and sleeping mat
Clothing
  • Casual clothing for Teambuilding (Friday for officials, Saturday for delegates)
  • Smart casual clothing for Committee Work (Saturday & Sunday)
  • Business formal clothing for General Assembly (Sunday)
  • Pyjamas
  • Enough underwear/socks etc. for four days
  • Shoes
Academics
  • Research material & Topic Overviews for Committee Work (digitally available, preferably not printed)
  • Pen, notebook, paper (the Oxford notebook from your Regional Conference maybe…)
  • Laptop & charger if you have them
Personal
  • Any (emergency) medication you may need
    Please note: we are not allowed to provide you with any form of medication. This even includes coughing tablets or painkillers. If you think you may need these, please bring them yourself!
  • Toiletries
  • Towel
  • Phone & charger
  • Lots of excitement and a good mood!

Academic Topic Overviews

With support of the President and Vice-Presidents, the Chairpersons of Breda 2024 have written extensive Academic Topic Overviews for their Committees. It is mandatory for all delegates to thoroughly study the paper, follow the links and answer the guiding questions in research of their own topic. If you want to further understand other committees’ resolutions, it is also recommended to explore the corresponding Topic Overview. Good luck with your academic preparation!

  • CULT

    CULT

    #DigiEU: The Digital Economy and Society Index shows that four out of ten adults who work in Europe lack basic digital skills. Moreover, one out of every three 13-year-olds lack basic digital skills. What actions can the EU take to promote digital literacy among people of all ages?

    Explore the topic

  • EMPL

    EMPL

    Working robots: As automation becomes dominant in numerous global industries, the younger generation faces upheavals in the job market, leading to a decline in motivation to join the workforce. What steps can Member States implement to build a sustainable job market and inspire career development among the youth?

    Explore the topic

  • ENVI

    ENVI

    Vegetarian by circumstance: In 2022, due to a rapid increase in food prices, 8.3% of people in the EU were unable to afford a meal containing meat, fish or a vegetarian equivalent every second day, disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups. What steps can the EU take to ensure that access to food is both sustainable and…

    Explore the topic

  • ITRE

    ITRE

    Secure G: From telemedicine operations to fully networked production facilities, high-performance 5G networks are driving digitalisation in all areas of life, making it a very good opportunity for hackers to obtain highly sensitive data and metadata. Considering the possible advantages and risks of 5G networks, what can be done to ensure the highest possible level…

    Explore the topic

  • JURI

    JURI

    Complete euphoria: With doctors prescribing marijuana as a medicine for seriously ill patients in some Member States, concerns rise about the supply of the drug through legal means as many patients are still turning to the black market. Taking into account the advantages of marijuana use for medical purposes, what steps should the EU take…

    Explore the topic

  • LIBE

    LIBE

    Under the bridge: Over the past decade, there has been a 70% rise in homelessness within the EU, also affecting 39,000 people in the Netherlands. This coincides with a growing trend of adopting defensive urban architecture in European municipalities. How can the EU extend assistance to individuals striving for social integration while concurrently working to…

    Explore the topic


RESOLUTIONS

With support of the President and Vice-Presidents, the Chairpersons of Breda 2024 have written extensive Academic Resolutions. If you want to further understand these resolutions, it is also recommended to explore the corresponding Topic Overviews. Good luck during the General Assembly!

  • CULT

    CULT

    #DigiEU: The Digital Economy and Society Index shows that four out of ten adults who work in Europe lack basic digital skills. Moreover, one out of every three 13-year-olds lack basic digital skills. What actions can the EU take to promote digital literacy among people of all ages?

    Explore the topic

  • EMPL

    EMPL

    Working robots: As automation becomes dominant in numerous global industries, the younger generation faces upheavals in the job market, leading to a decline in motivation to join the workforce. What steps can Member States implement to build a sustainable job market and inspire career development among the youth?

    Explore the topic

  • ENVI

    ENVI

    Vegetarian by circumstance: In 2022, due to a rapid increase in food prices, 8.3% of people in the EU were unable to afford a meal containing meat, fish or a vegetarian equivalent every second day, disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups. What steps can the EU take to ensure that access to food is both sustainable and…

    Explore the topic

  • ITRE

    ITRE

    Secure G: From telemedicine operations to fully networked production facilities, high-performance 5G networks are driving digitalisation in all areas of life, making it a very good opportunity for hackers to obtain highly sensitive data and metadata. Considering the possible advantages and risks of 5G networks, what can be done to ensure the highest possible level…

    Explore the topic

  • JURI

    JURI

    Complete euphoria: With doctors prescribing marijuana as a medicine for seriously ill patients in some Member States, concerns rise about the supply of the drug through legal means as many patients are still turning to the black market. Taking into account the advantages of marijuana use for medical purposes, what steps should the EU take…

    Explore the topic

  • LIBE

    LIBE

    Under the bridge: Over the past decade, there has been a 70% rise in homelessness within the EU, also affecting 39,000 people in the Netherlands. This coincides with a growing trend of adopting defensive urban architecture in European municipalities. How can the EU extend assistance to individuals striving for social integration while concurrently working to…

    Explore the topic


Safety & Welfare

In the European Youth Parliament we work hard to ensure the physical and mental wellbeing of all participants and volunteers. At all our conferences, there will be at least individuals committed to safety and welfare: trained Event Safe Persons (Vertrouwenspersonen) & licenced Emergency Response Officers (Bedrijfshulpverleners – BHV’ers).

Minke van der Heide

emergency response officer

Lara Odabaş

emergency response officer

Sophie Gatsonides

emergency response officer

Mara van Hermon

emergency response officer

Elena Stunda

EVENT SAFE PERSON

Additionally, there is a National Safe Person for back-up and extensive Safety & Welfare policies on an international level.

Team

Breda 2024 is run by a group of dedicated volunteers. All are previous participants of the European Youth Parliament, from the Netherlands and abroad. Each team is responsible for a different aspect of the conference and led by an experienced member.

Head-Organisers

Tatum van Dijk

Zima Marjanovic

The initiators and project managers of Breda 2024