Our daughter is defending her PhD in the Netherlands. How do we plan the day?
Plan backwards from the start time, because Dutch defenses do not wait. At Leiden, for instance, ceremonies take place in the Great Auditorium of the Academy Building at set times, late guests are let in only once the defense has ended and the committee is out deliberating, and the questioning ends after 45 minutes when the beadle announces "hora est", the hour has come. Children under six may not attend the defense itself but may attend the conferral, and there are very few parking places near the building. Have the car drop you at the door 30 minutes early and keep it for the day: eight hours by the hour is €520 in Business Class, or €640 in a Van for six.
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With a chauffeur by the hour: prices per vehicle
| Option | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Business Class, with a chauffeur by the hour | €65 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · E-Class, EQE, EQE SUV, BMW i5, BMW 5 Series · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
| Van Class, with a chauffeur by the hour | €80 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · V-Class, EQV · up to 7 passengers, 7 bags |
| First Class, with a chauffeur by the hour | €100 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · S-Class, EQS, EQS SUV, BMW i7 · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
By the hour: minimum 2 hours, 40 km included per hour, starting and ending in the same city. The chauffeur waits between stops. Prices are per car, not per person, with 9% Dutch VAT included, and the same day and night. During ADE week (pickups October 20 to 26, 2026) fixed ADE-week prices apply, shown before you book; promo codes cannot be used that week. Booked less than 12 hours before pickup: +10%. At an airport or an intercity station the first 60 minutes of waiting are free, elsewhere 15 minutes; after that waiting is charged per minute at the class's hourly rate (Business €65 an hour). Free cancellation up to 1 hour before pickup.
What is included in the price
- A fixed price confirmed at booking, with VAT included: no meter and no surge
- The chauffeur’s name, car and phone number before pickup, plus e-mail reminders 24 hours and 2 hours ahead
- Water and phone chargers (iOS and Android) in the car
- Status updates to the person who booked, if that is not the passenger: confirmed, chauffeur en route, guest in the car, arrived
The day, in order
| Time | What happens | The car |
|---|---|---|
| T minus 60 min | Leave the hotel | Pickup |
| T minus 30 min | Arrive, find seats | Drop at the door |
| T | The defense, about 45 minutes at Leiden | Waits nearby |
| T plus 1 h | Conferral, photographs, reception | Waits |
| Evening | The family dinner | To the restaurant and back |
Questions families ask the university first
Who may attend, whether the ceremony is livestreamed for relatives at home (Leiden streams it publicly), where the reception is, and what the dress code is for the candidate and paranymphs. Then book the car around the answers.
Related questions
Is it the same at every university?
The format is similar; slots, lengths and rules differ, so check the candidate's university page.
Grandparents with limited mobility?
Say so; the chauffeur stops at the entrance, and a folding wheelchair travels in the trunk.
Can we add a day trip afterwards?
Many families add a day at Keukenhof in spring or the windmills at Kinderdijk.
Sources
- Leiden University: practical matters concerning the PhD ceremony (checked October 31, 2026)
- Erasmus University: the day of your PhD defence (checked October 31, 2026)
Book it, or ask dispatch first
Book online in a few minutes (no account, no app), or send your flight number and address on WhatsApp and dispatch replies in English, 24 hours a day.