1 Year Together – Rotterdam Anniversary Walk & Dinner

🗓 Sunday, July 20th
🕐 Meeting time: 13:00
📍 Rotterdam Central Station

Can you believe it? It's been a whole year since our very first Meetup together — and to celebrate, we're going back to where it all began: Rotterdam! But this time, we’re doing it differently. Instead of retracing the same path, we’re mixing things up with a modular day full of sweet treats, a hidden-gem walk, and an optional authentic Italian dinner. You can join for the full program or jump in at any point during the day.

🧁 Stop #1 – The Sweetest Start (13:30)
We’ll kick things off at L'Épicerie Petitjean, what I truly believe is one of the best pastry shops in the Netherlands. Think refined French-style pastries, perfectly dosed sweetness, and great coffee. A cozy, delicious way to warm up the day and have a first toast (with cappuccino) to our anniversary.

🌳 Stop #2 – A Hidden Rotterdam: Walk in Hillegersberg (15:00–18:00)
Instead of the city center, we’ll explore Hillegersberg, a charming residential area that survived the WWII bombings and still holds its original late 19th–early 20th century character. Built on a rare sand dune, this neighborhood blends natural beauty (lakes, green paths, peat history) with cultural and architectural gems. A perfect discovery walk off the beaten track.

🇮🇹 Stop #3 – Southern Italy in Rotterdam: Dinner at Panzerò (18:30)
We’ll end the day with a celebratory dinner at Panzerò, an authentic Pugliese restaurant run by people from southern Italy. Their specialty? The panzerotto — a delicious deep-fried calzone-style dough stuffed with traditional fillings like mozzarella and tomato.

We’ve arranged a set menu for €30, which includes:

• A tasting selection of Panzerotti and Pucce (a type of stuffed sandwich made with pizza dough),
• One dessert,
• One drink (alcoholic or non).

The dinner is optional, but if you’d like to join, please indicate “Yes” when RSVPing. I’ll then send you a link to prepay and secure your spot. Reservations for the dinner must be confirmed at least one week in advance, so the restaurant can prepare accordingly.

✨ Whether you’re joining for pastries, the walk, the dinner — or all three — this day is meant to be a celebration of the lovely community we’ve built over the past year. I hope you’ll be part of it.

Here’s to the next 12 months of walking, tasting, laughing, and discovering together! 🥂