Convention Review
Erasmuscon – The 2024 Eurocon
The 2024 Eurocon
16th – 19th August -1st, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Leadie Flowers reports.
The 2024 Eurocon, known as Erasmuscon, was held in Rotterdam in the Netherlands from August 16th through the 19th. The venue was the WTC (World Trade Centre) convention centre (all wheelchair accessible), which is newly remodelled with a large, spacious and quiet (Surprise!) atmosphere. The quiet was due to all the meeting rooms being soundproof even though the back walls of the rooms to the main hall are solid glass.
Cosplay competition
Check in was quick and easy without having to visit multiple areas for participant packages or volunteer staffing. Once inside the Green room and volunteer areas were all together making it easy to get around, especially if you chose to be a volunteer or participant. It was not very crowded even though there were approximately six hundred people. I imagine it may have been less as some people were missing after having contracted CoVID at Worldcon or in their travels. (Sorry if you missed the Con but thanks for thinking of others and we hope you are well!)
If you decided to partake of the (not very tasty and expensive) limited food court offerings, you could see what was going on in the presentation/panel rooms (Although it was not possible to hear them.)! Alas, there were no alcoholic beverages to be procured there.
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If one wanted to gather with other attendees after the day’s festivities (the programme ran from 9:30 to 17:00 all four days.) they had two designated restaurant/bars outside the con area. The Brewdog appeared to be a microbrewery with an outdoor patio which seemed popular just about a block away. The other was Paddy Murphy’s Irish Pub which was to have had live music and was in the same building, but you had to go outside and walk around it. It was worth it to enjoy the perfect weather! I was unable to attend this one and cannot verify the food, drink or entertainment.
The feedback on restaurants was minimal. I believe this had much to do with the cost of eating out. There was a grocery store near the centre that many people seemed to visit then return to their rooms to imbibe and enjoy their meals then go out to the named restaurants and buy a token drink while chatting with friends.
The Postillion hotel was connected to the venue, so it was easy to get from your room to the venue without having to stay in distant places. (I opted for the more distant place for a deeper discount that was a mere three blocks away.)
Now for the activities! The main hall held the dealer’s and art show areas. There were plenty of tables and chairs in the Lounge (right next to the dealer’s and art sections) for relaxing between events. I have attached a photo of the hall layout that shows how easy it was to get around without exhausting oneself.
Filk programme item
The programme book was full of helpful information from who the Guests of Honour were, kaffeeklatsch sessions and book signings. Blurbs about the events helped one decide which of the five tracks would be best for them. As well there were lists of free walks/tours that could be taken to learn more about Rotterdam and a two-page programme that kept one in line with which programmes were in what rooms.
