Haarlem Tech Community

The Haarlem Code Collective is a monthly hangout for people in and around tech who want to meet others locally without the structure of a conference, meetup circuit, or networking event. No talks, no slides, no pitches. Just a room full of people talking about what they’re building, breaking, learning, frustrated by, or excited about.

Most of the tech scene in the Netherlands tends to orbit around Amsterdam, but there are plenty of developers, sysadmins, founders, designers, hobbyists, and technical people living right here in Haarlem. This is a space to actually meet each other.

Each month has a loose focus to help start conversations, but nothing is formal and the evening usually drifts naturally depending on who shows up and what people are working on. Sometimes conversations get deep into infrastructure, self hosting, AI, open source, startups, hardware, privacy, or weird side projects. Sometimes people just want to hang out and decompress with others who understand what they do all day.

The Haarlem Code Collective takes place on the first Sunday of every month at Launchpad023 in Haarlem. Show up when you want, grab a drink, join a conversation, or just listen in. Some people come every month. Some stop by occasionally. Both are completely fine.

This is for anyone working in or around tech at any level. Developers, IT professionals, designers, students, startup founders, hobbyists, people changing careers, people who used to work in tech and want to stay connected. If you are reading this and wondering whether you fit in, you probably do.

You do not need to know anyone beforehand, and most people come alone their first time.

You are welcome to bring:

* Yourself
* Anything you want to talk about
* A laptop if you want to show something off, though it is absolutely not required

There is no strict topic each month. The loose theme simply gives the room somewhere to begin, and conversations evolve naturally from there.

You also do not need to be a professional developer to attend. Anyone interested in technology, computing, startups, open source, infrastructure, design, or adjacent fields is welcome.

And if you mostly just want to listen and be around other technical people for an evening, that is completely fine too.

Once a month, we clear the tables, break out the snacks, and settle in for a proper game night. Bring whatever you love to play, whether that is a dog-eared copy of something you have owned for years or that new game still in shrink wrap you keep forgetting to open. We will have games on hand too, and people around who know how to teach them if you want to try something new.

Drinks are available for purchase. Snacks are on the table. The only rule is that you actually play something.
We kick off Thursday, July 17 from 7:00 to 10:00 pm at Launchpad023, Wateringweg 65, Haarlem. Show up, pick a game, find your people.

We are hosting a hands-on MeshCore tinkering workshop at Launchpad023 where we will build, flash, and connect LoRa radios into a real off-grid mesh network with zero internet dependency.

MeshCore is a newer open-source firmware that takes a smarter approach to mesh routing than traditional flood-based systems. If you are curious about resilient communication, privacy-focused infrastructure, or just love tinkering with radio hardware, this one is for you.
We have a few radios here to play with, so bring yourself and your curiosity. If you already own a LoRa radio, bring it along, and we will put it to work. If you would like to purchase one, we are happy to recommend a good option.

Some technical background is helpful.

References/for more info:
•⁠ ⁠https://valleirug.nl
•⁠ ⁠https://www.meshnet.nl/wiki/MeshCore (archive:
•⁠https://web.archive.org/web/20251113053806/https://www.meshnet.nl/wiki/MeshCore)
•⁠ ⁠https://bowshock.nl/irc/#short-version
•⁠ ⁠https://meshcore.io
•⁠ https://www.antratek.nl/lora/meshtastic
•⁠ ⁠https://meereco.nl/communicatie/introductie-meshcore/
•⁠ ⁠https://forum.meshcore-net.nl/

This evening is for anyone curious about Linux, whether you are completely new to it or already experimenting on your own. Maybe you are tired of constant operating system changes, frustrated by older hardware being left behind, interested in privacy and open source software, or simply want to understand what alternatives exist outside the major tech ecosystems. Whatever brought you here, you are welcome.

Bring your computer and we’ll help you get started in a relaxed, beginner friendly environment at Launchpad023 in Haarlem. We’ll guide you through installing Linux step by step, explain what is happening during the process, and help you understand your options rather than just clicking through an installer.

Brian Johnson, co founder of Launchpad023 and CTO of Gozynta, will lead the evening and be available throughout the session to help troubleshoot, answer questions, and explain the process in a practical and approachable way.

You can bring almost any computer, including Windows PCs, Macs, laptops, or desktops. If you want to dual boot Linux alongside your current operating system, we can help with that too. Already using Linux? You are still welcome to come by for tweaks, troubleshooting, questions, or simply to meet others interested in the space.

We will also have several systems already running Linux for anyone who wants to try it before making changes to their own computer.

Monitors, keyboards, and mice will be available for desktop setups and testing.

No prior technical experience is required. Curiosity is enough.

Some installations take only a few minutes. Others may involve experimentation depending on the hardware. Every machine is a little different, and part of the evening is learning together, exploring possibilities, and helping each other along the way.

Please bring:

* A laptop or desktop computer
* A charger and any necessary cables
* A USB stick if you have one
* A backup of any important files
* Your administrator password

Installing a new operating system changes how your computer is configured, so backing up your files beforehand is strongly recommended.

The event will run from 18:00 to 22:00 at Launchpad023 in Haarlem.

If your computer cannot upgrade to Windows 11, that is completely fine. Many older machines run Linux extremely well and often feel significantly faster afterward. If you are unsure whether Linux is right for you, you are also welcome to attend just to watch, ask questions, and learn more before deciding.