Join us on Wednesday evening, the 9th of September 20:00-23:00 for the EMS AM Social activity! This year, the local organizers will host a pub quiz, accessible for everyone attending the conference.

Come along with your fellow colleagues, or use this opportunity to get-to-know new people!
The pubquiz venue is NEEL, which is a separate room attached to restaurant LEEN, located just on the border of Utrecht city centre, and only a 30 min walk or 10 min public transport commute from the EMS2026 conference venue.

You can expect good vibes, questions on meteorology, science in general, and the beautiful city of Utrecht, so please come along!
We ask an entrance fee of 5 euros to support the costs for the event. Drinks are at own costs, there is no opportunity to have dinner during the event.

The main body of the Society is the General Assembly of representatives of the Member Societies. It convenes at least once a year and decides on constitutional and financial matters of the Society, hears the report of the Council and the statement of the Society’s auditor. Ten Members constitute a quorum. All Associate Members are eligible to attend the General Assembly as observer.
For more information on the EMS General Assemblies see:
https://www.emetsoc.org/about-ems/general-assembly/

The 28th EMS General Assembly will be held on Sunday, 6 September 2026 at the Jaarbeurs conference centre in Utrecht in the room Expedition.
Starting time will be 13:00; invitations and a proposal for the agenda will be sent to all Member organisations by the end of June and become available on the EMS website.

Rising above the flat Dutch polder landscape near the village of Cabauw stands one of Europe’s most important atmospheric observatories. The Cabauw Atmospheric Research Station has been observing the atmosphere and underlying surface for decades. Its most recognizable feature is a slender 213-metre meteorological tower, built in the early 1970s to probe the atmosheric boundary layer with in-situ measurements. Currently, the site is equipped with a dense collection of instruments that continuously monitor wind, temperature, humidity, radiation, aerosols, clouds, and greenhouse gases. Together, they provide a detailed picture of how the atmosphere behaves over time — how air mixes, how clouds form, how pollutants disperse, and how energy flows between the land and the atmosphere.

The tour starts with a short introduction, explaining the concept and context of Cabauw atmospheric observational site, its objectives, and providing an overview of the measurements that are being performed there. After that, we will guide you through some of the specific measurements fields such as the baseline radiation network, energy balance terrain, automated weather station, and remote sensing sub-site. At each measurement field, we will provide insights into the research objectives and on the specific measurements that are being performed.

Registration & payment (within the conference registration) is required for participation.

Please find more details at:
https://www.ems2026.eu/programme/excursions-social-events.html#excursion1

KNMI is the Dutch national research and information centre for meteorology, climate, and seismology. KNMI contributes 24/7 to a safe and liveable Netherlands by providing society with independent knowledge, advice, and warnings about risks in the field of weather, climate, and seismology.

During this excursion, you will explore the extensive measurement field, where a wide range of instruments is tested. In the KNMI operations room, you will get a behind-the-scenes look at the products and services delivered 24/7, including aviation services and weather warnings for the general public. We will also visit the KNMI calibration laboratory, and, of course, a presentation on KNMI and its climate research will round off the programme.

Registration & payment (within the conference registration) is required for participation.

Please find more details at:
https://www.ems2026.eu/programme/excursions-social-events.html#excursion2

In this excursion you will visit the so called Maeslantkering, which is the final flood barrier in a long series that the Netherlands has built after the major floods in February 1953. The Maeslandkering consists of two movable doors; it has two gates, each 210 meters wide, 22 meters high, and 15 meters deep. Closing the barrier takes a total of two hours. This Delta project can withstand a tidal wave of 5 meters. The Maeslantkering is located in the Nieuwe Waterweg at the entrance of the Rotterdam harbour and was built between 1991 and 1997. The structure is fully automated. The Maeslantkering is a front-loading barrier, meaning it absorbs the initial impact of high water from the sea. This storm surge barrier thus protects the residents of South Holland. An additional coastal protection measure that was built is the Sand Engine at the coast of South Holland. Sand was put at the coast with the intention that the natural forces of water and wind will re-distribute the sand naturally to develop a strong coastal protection.

Registration & payment (within the conference registration) is required for participation.

Please find more details at:
https://www.ems2026.eu/programme/excursions-social-events.html#excursion4

During this 1.5-hour city walk, you will dive into nearly 2,000 years of history. We begin with Utrecht’s Roman past, when the city was a strategic fortress on the northern frontier of the Roman Empire. Then stroll through medieval streets, along canals, wharf cellars, and impressive monuments that tell the story of a thriving trading city.

Of course, we will also pause at one of the most dramatic moments in the city’s history: the destruction of the nave of the Dom Church by a devastating tornado in 1674. How this event permanently changed the cityscape is something you will discover on site.

Registration & payment (within the conference registration) is required for participation.

Please find more details at:
https://www.ems2026.eu/programme/excursions-social-events.html#excursion5