Registration Departure and arrival times Contributions towards training 2007 Bank information Directions
Plane & Train
Use the above train planner widget to find train times, and buy train tickets online.
Plane and Train: Buy a plane ticket to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport; from Schiphol follow the directions by train.
If you have coins, or a PIN card, you can also use the ticket machines. If you use the machines, please do the following:
Old style machines: Look up the four digit code for Uithuizen in the list of towns then punch the number into the keyboard. OR
If using a touch screen, press for English and look up U for Uithuizen
Next, press the buttons that say :
"enkele reis" (trans: single journey)
"vandaag geldig" (trans: valid today only)
"vol tarief" (trans: full fare)
New touch screen machines give instructions in English and give the option of purchasing one or more tickets in one time. Old ones only sell one ticket at one time)
The display panel will tell you how much the ticket is. The new touch- screen machines allow payment with credit card. Old machines allow you to put money in the machine (Coins only, but it does give change! Or a card with PIN. )
Embark on a train going to Groningen. Trains to Groningen leave Schiphol airport at 21 and 51 minutes past each hour. The 21 minutes past train is DIRECT to Groningen. The 51 minutes past train to Groningen requires changing trains in Amersfoort or Zwolle. In Schiphol there are new blue signs on the platforms that indicate which side the next train is arriving on. It could be platform one or two!
Trains from Amsterdam Central leave 27 minutes past the hour and 57 minutes past the hour. Passengers might need to change trains in Hilversum, Amersfoort or Zwolle.
Trains sometimes are coupled together then split up half-way. Be sure to be travelling in the right section, or you may end up going to Leeuwarden instead! The train conductors will help you, and so will the other train passengers, most of whom understand English quite well, so please feel free to ask them.(Beware: sometimes you need to change platforms and other times you need to get off one end of the train and get back on the same train at the other end!)
If you have to change trains (often at Amersfoort, Hilversum or Zwolle) the connecting train is usually waiting on the opposite platform - again check with the train conductors or other passengers which section of the train goes to Groningen
Disembark the train at Groningen
When you arrive at Groningen Central Station, and you find you have a problem with walking, or need help with luggage, call for a taxi to meet you at Uithuizen station on 0595 441225 (train journey takes 35 minutes to arrive in Uithuizen) or call the Zen River office Tel. (0595) 435039. Phone booths are located on Platform 2a. Please call before getting on the train to Uithuizen as there are no phones on Uithuizen Station! One local call uses 20 Euro cents.
From Groningen Central Station, embark a smaller train going to Roodeschool. Trains leave hourly at six minutes past the hour from Platform 2a. During afternoon rush hour additional services run at 36 minutes past the hour between 14:36 and 17:36 from Platform 2a . Journey time 35 minutes
Disembark at the sixth station Uithuizen. The fifth station, the one before you need to get off, is called Usquert
It is an approx. 20 - 25 minute walk to Zen River from the station. If in doubt, ask for 't Oldorp or Zen River Boeddhistische klooster at Oldorpsterweg 1, (near Ripperdadrift housing estate)
In Uithuizen, turn right when leaving the station on to the Spoorstraat, going back in the direction of where the train came from. Take any left turn on Spoorstraat, then turn first right onto Schoolstraat. Walk along Schoolstraat until you reach the tamoil gas station at Startstraat/Maarweg. Turn left onto the Startstraat/Maarweg. Walk straight, crossing over the J.F. Kennedylaan. Turn right onto the Oldorpsterweg. Continue along Oldorpsterweg and pass the small hill on your left. We are the first building on the left.
If you needed a ride and were unable to reach the office by phone before leaving Groningen, then please either
1. Walk left out of the station, turn first right, then first left. On the next right corner, past Albert Heijn AH Supermarket, there is a chinese restaurant called "Peking" on the corner of Kaakstraat and Schoolstraat. There you may ask to use their phone. If it is closed, then continue to walk to the end of Kaak straat, turn left and walk straight, passing "Blokker" shop on your left, and the hotel on your right. Ask at the hotel for help. Failing that, continue walking past the hotel until you come the village square called Blink.
2. In the village square Blink there is a public phone where you can call collect (if you don't have the right phonecard). Press the "Collect" button and follow the prompts.
By Car, coming from south of Holland
Drive to Groningen either through the polders via Almere / Lelystad (A6) or Zwolle and Assen (A28). The route through the polders via the A6 generally has less traffic and is a bit shorter.
For a coffee stop, the first BP station on the A7, 1500m after the roundabout at Joure, serves decent coffee and good sandwiches! From there it is a 1.25 hour drive. On the way back, just past Emmelord between exits 14 & 13 on the A6, there is also a nice gas station stop called "Hansstijkel" (Will note more as we know them!)
Ring Groningen, east side
Entering Groningen on the A7 drive straight, merging into the N7. Follow the ringroad around Groningen following signs for Eemshaven & Bedum.
Entering Groningen on the A28 turn right onto the ring road "Ring Groningen Oost", direction Delfzijl, Eemshaven & Bedum N46
Once on the ring, pass Ikea on your left, continue and pass 2 large shell gas stations.
Follow signs for Eemshaven & Bedum
Keep driving until you see the large Hornbach store to your right.
Immediately take the next exit to Bedum / Eemshaven
The road should then indicate N46 direction Winsum/Bedum /Eemshaven.
Drive straight for 12 km or so and take exit Zandeweer / Uithuizen / Garsthuizen
At the end of the exit turn left, and left again at the crossroads signAt the end of the exit turn left, and left again at the crossroads sign
Drive straight, cross the canal and at the Silo in Uithuizen turn right
Turn left at the end of the road onto J.Cohenstraat, sign Usquert / Warfum
Drive along J.Cohenstraat /Kennedylaan
Pass a high school on left, then a Basis primary school on the right, and take a left turn at Maarweg.
First right is Oldorpsterweg. Drive past the small hill. Zen River is the first big building on the left
Ring Groningen, west side
Entering Groningen on the A7 (the polder route) take Exit 36 for Ring Groningen West, Zuidhorn and Bedum. (You will see a large colorful building of architectural interest to your left)
Entering Groningen on the A28, (via Assen and Zwolle) drive to the end of the freeway and get in lane for signs to Ring Groningen West, Bedum and Zuidhorn. Turn left, following signs for Ring Groningen, Bedum and Zuidhorn.
When on the ring, take the slip road at Exit 36 to Bedum.
Continue to drive west around the ring, following signs for Bedum only.
Pass the Vinkehuizen and Paddepoel junction
Just after Karwei and the Esso gas station, take the right turn up the ramp following the sign to Bedum
The roadsign will indicate Bedum /Winsum / Delfzijl
Drive under the train bridge
Pass "Albert Heijn (AH)" and "2Rent" on left.
At the second set of lights, bear left to Winsum /Bedum / Eemshaven
(If you see sign: N46 Delfzijl/Hoogezand/Assen you have missed the turn! Turn back.)
The road should then indicate N46 direction Winsum/Bedum /Eemshaven.
Drive straight for 12 km or so and take exit Zandeweer / Uithuizen / Garsthuizen
At the end of the exit turn left, and left again at the crossroads sign Zandeweer / Uithuizen
Drive straight, cross the river and at the Silo in Uithuizen turn right
Turn left at the end of the road onto J.Cohenstraat , sign Usquert / Warfum
Drive along J.Cohenstraat /Kennedylaan
Pass a high school on left, then a Basis primary school on the right, and take a left turn at Maarweg.
First right is Oldorpsterweg. Drive past the small hill. Zen River is the first big building on the left
From Dusseldorf / East
Taking the 31 going North to Emden is actually quicker than via Arnhem, especially now that the freeway has been completed. There were very few gas stations along this route, so please fill your gas tank before you leave city limits.
Take the 31 direction Emden.
At intersection 14, go west on the 280 / A7 to Groningen
From the A7, get off at Exit 44, taking the N33 North towards Eemshaven, then the N363 towards Uithuizermeeden and Uithuizen. Take a left turn at the fourth exit for Uithuizen, (pass the train station on you right, then turn left and cross the train tracks by the Tamoil gas station. If you get to the roundabout you have gone too far) Go straight down the Startstraat / Marweg for a few 100 metres, crossing two intersections, turning right at the Oldorpsterweg. Drive past the small hill. Zen River is the first big building on the left
Maps Residential Training Shoken & Jukai Schedule 