Expat Irish

**Strangers to Friends, 15th event! Friday evening January 9th.** Happy new year! Let's cheers together! I'm excited to host the 15th edition of *Strangers to Friends*! Every event so far has been warm, fun and full of great connections. So we’re doing it again! Curious about our previous events? Check out our photo albums (only visible on the laptop version of Meetup). **What to expect** * A safe, relaxed environment to meet both locals and expats, whether you want to meet new people, experience an international atmosphere or talk about business, it’s all possible. * Start the evening with a few rounds of conversation cards: pair up with someone you don’t know, answer meaningful questions and rotate every 10 minutes. Within just one hour, you’ll get to know several people really well and enjoy meaningful conversations. * Everyone comes on their own, so it’s easy to connect. **Practical details** * Doors open at 20:00, after 30 minutes we start with conversation cards * Venue: Boekencafé Libertas, Klarendalseweg 477-1, Arnhem * 20 min walk from Arnhem Central * 7 min walk from Arnhem Velperpoort * You’ll receive 2 drink tokens for (beer/wine/soft drinks) and snacks all night! * Find us on the right side of the café at the bar, by the window and garden Bring a smile and join us for an evening where friendships grow, business ideas spark and real-life connections happen. Back to basics, away from screens, meeting face-to-face. Warm regards, Julia

Gegroet watertandende weerwolven, Op vrijdag 9 januari gaan we weer het spel Weerwolven van Wakkerdam spelen! Vul de RSVP in, zodat we weten dat we op je kunnen rekenen. Nog niet eerder het spel Weerwolven van Wakkerdam gespeeld? Dat is geen enkel probleem, nieuwe spelers zijn altijd welkom. Ook leggen we de regels van Weerwolven nog een keer uit! Neem allemaal wat lekkers te snacken 🍪 en te drinken 🧃 mee, zodat we niet verhongeren of omkomen van de dorst! De vragen die je hebt kan je altijd stellen door een berichtje te sturen of te bellen / smsen / whatsappen naar Gideon op nummer 06-209 818 49 of door hieronder een bericht achter te laten. Kom je ook? Groetjes, Gideon, Rosanne, Iris & Marijn het Weerwolven van Nijmegen team p.s. Lukt het niet meer om te komen? Geen probleem, maar laat het dan a.u.b. wel even weten. **F.A.Q.** *Do you guys play in English?* * **No,** we play the game in Dutch. *Is het event echt gratis?* * **Ja**, we spelen bij iemand thuis en spelers nemen zelf drinken en snacks mee. Hierdoor blijft het gratis en laagdrempelig *Help, welke snacks kan ik meebrengen?* * Goede vraag, hier volgen een paar **tips** als je **inspiratie** nodig hebt: 1. Stokbrood met smeersels (kruidenboter, hummus, aioli) 2. Gezonde frisse snacks (snoeptomaatjes, komkommer, druiven, mandarijntjes, wortel) 3. Chips, koekjes, brownies 4. Of duik de keuken in en bak je favoriete baksel. 5. Neem vooral iets mee wat je zelf ook lekker vindt. ;) *Mag ik iemand meenemen?* * Ja, geef dit aan met een +1 bij het aanmelden. Wil je meerdere mensen meenemen? Stuur ze dit event dan even door en laat ze zichzelf aanmelden voor dit event.

Join us for a fun session of improv theatre in English! A great opportunity to meet new people in Utrecht and learn something new with [Improv Utrecht](https://improvutrecht.nl). Everyone can partcipate, you don't need any experience in theatre nor fluency in English. In this session you will: * Meet fellow international and local players. * Learn the basics of improvisation, a 21st-century skill that is useful in many aspects of life. * Get out of your head. * Enjoy failing. * Play funny and moving theatre games. * Laugh a lot, while surprising yourself and others. Doors open: 19:50-20:00, come in with the others ([SIDE entrance, at the Troelstralaan](https://maps.app.goo.gl/ntLDUqbkDxMHjp7B7)). After 20:01 the door may be closed, but you may find a participant who knows the door code. Workshop: 20:00-22:00 Every Friday except in school holidays Afterwards we have drinks at [O'Leary's](https://maps.app.goo.gl/gL878K1MZf8v5fpm7) pub together ### How to sign up Full details about how to sign up and any other questions you may have can be [found on our website](https://www.improvutrecht.nl/drop-in-workshops/). An RSVP in this Meetup event is not enough! We track attendance by counting the attendants in GrasshopperSignup. If you flag yourself as attending and can no longer make it, please delete your x in the sheet so that someone else can take your spot. If you leave your contact details at the Signup form we will contact you if there is a problem with a drop-in you are scheduled to attend. We also have a WhatsApp group with a variety of members from across Utrecht where we share events and updates. You can find our courses and shows on [our website](https://www.improvutrecht.nl). Participation is pay-what-you-can, but we suggest a donation of €10-20 by cash or Tikkie to help cover costs (location, travel) and show your appreciation for our professional trainers who dedicate their Friday to promoting improv.

Ben jij gefascineerd door de wereld van hacking en cybersecurity? Goed nieuws! Wat ooit een exclusieve serie workshops was voor studenten van NOVI, is nu toegankelijk voor iedereen met een passie voor hacking. 🚀 **Hack Friday** is jouw wekelijkse dosis cybersecurity praktijk. Elke vrijdagochtend duiken we samen in de diepe, duistere wereld van een nieuwe machine of challenge, onder de deskundige begeleiding van een van de cybersecurity experts van NOVI. Het is de perfecte manier om je skills te testen, te verbeteren en iets nieuws te leren in een vriendelijke en ondersteunende omgeving. 🛠️💻 ### Wat heb je nodig? * **Een werkende Kali Linux installatie**: Zorg dat je klaar bent om de uitdaging aan te gaan met je eigen Kali Linux setup. * **Een nieuwsgierige geest**: Heb je zin om te leren en uitgedaagd te worden? Dan pas je perfect in onze Hack Friday! ### Waarom meedoen? * **Leer van de besten**: Onze cybersecurity experts staan klaar om hun kennis te delen en je door de challenges te begeleiden. * **Wekelijkse uitdagingen**: Elke week bieden we een nieuwe machine of challenge aan, zodat je je vaardigheden kunt blijven ontwikkelen. * **Ontmoet gelijkgestemden**: Sluit je aan bij een community van enthousiaste hackers en cybersecurity professionals. ### Details: * **Wanneer**: Elke vrijdagochtend * **Waar**: op locatie in Utrecht * **Voor wie**: Iedereen met een interesse in hacking en cybersecurity, van beginners tot gevorderden. Ben je klaar om je hacking skills naar een hoger niveau te tillen en deel uit te maken van onze groeiende community? Sluit je dan aan bij Hack Friday en daag jezelf elke week uit met nieuwe en spannende cybersecurity avonturen! 🌟🔒 Registreer nu en laat zien wat je in huis hebt! Wij kunnen niet wachten om je te ontmoeten.

Deze avond markeert de opening van Loods Utrecht als professionele ontmoetingsplek voor ondernemers en professionals. In een sfeervolle en rustige setting komen we samen voor informele ontmoetingen, gesprekken en verbinding. Loods Utrecht is geschikt voor vergaderingen, trainingen en workshops en vormt het decor voor zakelijke ontmoetingen en netwerkbijeenkomsten.

*Since this evening will be in Dutch, this description is too.* Wil je je drukke week afsluiten en ontspannen aan het weekend beginnen? Dan ben je geheel vrijblijvend welkom bij de vrijdagavond meditatie van [Jewel Heart](https://www.jewelheart.nl/). Deze meditatieavond heeft een licht en open karakter. De meditaties bestaan uit drie delen. We beginnen met het gewaarworden van je lichamelijke sensaties. In een korter deel twee doen we een loopmeditatie en in deel drie is er een eenvoudige, geleide visualisatie meditatie. Het geheel wordt afgesloten met een gesprek onder het genot van een kop thee, voor wie daar zin in heeft. 📍[Jewel Heart, Hatertseveldweg 284, Nijmegen](https://maps.app.goo.gl/D4FzqLbkaqs2JNDG8). Loop de oprit op en dan is de ingang aan je rechterzijde 🕒Zaal open vanaf 19.30 uur, meditatie van 20.00 tot 21.00 Je bent van harte welkom! Aan deze activiteit kun je per keer meedoen. Er zijn geen verplichtingen. Op vrijwillige basis kun je op de avond zelf een donatie doen. Kijk ook naar onze -[Open activiteiten](https://www.jewelheart.nl/nl/open-activiteiten/) -[Cursussen](https://www.jewelheart.nl/nl/cursussen-overzicht/)

**DSTI AWS Cloud Club - Welcome Event (Paris / Sophia-Antipolis / Online )** Join us for the **first AWS Cloud Club event at DSTI** to meet the team, discover what we’ll build together, and get a clear roadmap to start learning (and using) AWS with real, practical use cases. **📅 9th January** \| **🕔 16:30 (CET)** \| **⏱️ \~2h** \| **📍 DSTI (Paris & Nice & Online)** **What we’ll cover** * **Club intro:** what the AWS Cloud Club is, how to join, and how we’ll run events. * **Cloud basics:** what cloud/AWS is and why it matters (scalable, flexible, pay-as-you-go). * **Learning platforms:** Skills Builder vs AWS Educate vs AWS Academy + Free Tier basics. * **AWS certifications:** roadmap overview, choosing your first cert, and prep resources. * **AWS use cases by specialty:** DA, DS, DE, and Cybersecurity examples aligned with DSTI tracks. * **Live demo:** a quick real-world AWS solution to show what club projects will look like. **Why join the club?** Build **hands-on cloud skills**, explore **real industry use cases**, and connect with a community of DSTI students across Paris & Nice.

## 🎨**Activity for EXPATS & English Speakers** ☕ Are you an art enthusiast living in or around **Amersfoort, Hilversum, Utrecht, Nieuwegein, IJsseltein, De Bilt and the rest of cities of the Utrecht's province** who love painting or drawing? Maybe you've felt the joy of creating but struggled to find others who share your passion and speak **ENGLISH**? **You're not alone! 😉** ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ## 🖌️**About this event** You will meet other Art Lovers like you to Draw, Paint and have some drinks Together ! Our events are not just about sketching or creating art—they’re about building connections. Every two weeks, we meet at a café to have a relaxing time drawing a painting. Please keep on mind that **ENGLISH i**s the official language we will use to integrate everyone in our conversations. ⭕⭕⭕➡️ **IMPORTANT ⬅️** ⭕⭕⭕⭕ ### 👩🏻‍🎨**Book formally your Seat 🪑via [WHATSAPP](https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f)** **If you want to confirm officially your attendance and separate your seat🪑. Book your seat in meet-up, and contact us via [WHATSAPP HERE](https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f) to receive more information on the address of our activities.** **Thanks a lot for your understanding!** 💐🥰 ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ### 👩🏻‍🎨**How Does It Work?** This event is simple, this initiative takes 2 Hours. Most of the participants use pencils, water pencils or watercolours. Main aim is to socialize while we draw. There will be plenty of time to talk and get to know each other. We have to mention that this event is suitable for all levels. Many have started to draw in our event actually. Also it is very important that you **[JOIN US AT OUR WHATSAPP COMMUNITY](https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f),** to stay up to date on our upcoming events and participate in our Drawing and Painting Contests! **👉: [https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f](https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f)** 🍀 ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ### ☕**Where?** We will meet in different cafes mainly in the *center of Amersfoort ( and some occasions in other cities around)*. I will inform you of the exact place some days in advance this event. The place will depend on the number of attendees. ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ### **🎟️ What is included?** 🟢 **2 HOURS TO HAVE FUN!** 🟢 **15 mins warming-up creative activity and paper material**🖌️🎨 🟢 New friendships and **conversations in ENGLISH** in a relaxed atmosphere 🟢 **Souvenir picture** with you and the rest of Art Lovers 📷 🟢 Exclusive **access to our Art Lovers Community** on which you will receive: ***\~\~\~ Drawing challenges,*** ***\~\~\~ Training content,*** ***\~\~\~ FREE Entries only to members*** ***\~\~\~ Drawing Competitions*** 🟢 Time to **create alongside fellow artists and amateurs** 🟢 The freedom to **work at your own pace** 💃🕺🎈 ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ### 🖼️**Art Materials?** Bring your own practical art materials to be adaptable to sketch on a coffee table. Like your sketchbook, pencils, watercolor, markets, pencils, your Tablet..etc ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ## **See you to Paint, Draw, and drink together!🌟☕🍷🍪🍰**

**Meetup & Mad Cow Comedy Show (please purchase a ticket in advance for the show [here](https://shop.weeztix.com/7644a480-d5a7-4264-a27a-ed697bb17fc9/events?shop_code=3qjd24qv))** 🎟️ TICKETS: https://bit.ly/Expats_Utr_Comedy 🕒 Show starts at 15:00 \| Doors open at 14:00 🍺🥨 Grab a drink or snack from Kartoffel’s tasty menu **From 14:00 – Join the Meetup!** Before the show kicks off, come by early for our pre-show Meetup from 14:00. It's a relaxed and friendly way to meet other internationals living in Utrecht, especially if you're new in town or just looking to connect. Our lovely host **Gisele** will be there to welcome you and introduce you to a few friendly faces. Whether you come solo or with friends, you're guaranteed a warm vibe and some easy laughs before the comedy even starts! 🐮 **From 15:00 - The Show!** Mad Cow Comedy hosts an afternoon of stand-up comedy performed by various international acts, all performing in English. Utrecht-based comedian, Rachel Morton-Young, introduces a different mix of comedians every 2 weeks, so no two shows are ever the same. **Kartoffel:** Our show now takes place in the Biergarten at Kartoffel, a German-themed restaurant along the historic Oudegracht (only a 10 minutes walk from Utrecht Central Station). The venue has great, affordable food, so considering coming early for lunch, or staying for a bite after the show. 🐮 **Hosted by Rachel Morton-Young** Rachel brings the energy, warmth and cheeky charm Mad Cow Comedy is known for. She’s a British comic living in Utrecht and the mastermind behind these monthly mayhem-filled shows. **Line-ups 11th January:** * **Adam Bloom** – UK comedy legend, TV favourite (*Mock The Week*, *Never Mind The Buzzcocks*), and master of sharp, clever stand-up. * **Nik Coppin** – award-winning globetrotting comedian and crowd-pleasing MC, bringing high-energy laughs from around the world. * **Frank Buytendijk** – sweet-looking but strikingly sharp, Frank blends life experience and wit for comedy that’s surprising and thoughtful. * **Alice Raffegeau** – French newcomer with a fun, chatty style and clever observational humour. Hosted by **Rachel Morton-Young**, Utrecht-based comedian and Mad Cow Comedy founder. **Upcoming Dates:** * 11th January 2026 * 25th January 2026 * 8th February 2026 * 22nd February 2026 * 8th March 2026 * 22nd March 2026 * 5th April 2026 * 19th April 2026 * 3rd May 2026 * 17th May 2026 (Season finale!) **What Customers Say about Mad Cow Comedy (from Tripadvisor):** ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\*"The highlight of my visit to Utrecht!! I had tears laughing, the absolute perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Very professional show, lovely community vibe, cosy venue and fab food and drinks."\* ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\*"Great mix of comedians. Rachel the host is energetic and brings a different mix of stand up acts every two weeks. I have been a few times now and it's always a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon."\* ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\*"Amazing line up of comedians. A fun afternoon. The best 3 hrs full of laughter. Great line, witty people, well organised"\* 🐮 See you there?

Come over to the Ducosim game fair in Amersfoort. For a small fee (or become a member) many publishers are ready to demo their published games. Next to that you can meet up and network with game designers, playtest their games and bring what you are working on and put it on the table. More details: https://www.ducosim.nl/

Welcome to the event page for the city trip to Tilburg, held on Sunday January 11th, 2026. This event has a meetup at Arnhem Centraal (11:40) and Tilburg station (13:00), so you can easily join us from anywhere in the Netherlands. This is a social event open to everyone to meet new people in a friendly environment while exploring a city together! ***Summarized overview:*** 11:40 Arnhem Station meetup, near Burger King 11:53 Departure Arnhem: 63 minute train ride 13:00 Tilburg Station meetup, near Starbucks\* 13:10 Group city walk 14:25 Choice: Free time or continue walk With a coffee break at a café if there’s enough interest 17:00 End U&R event… But at 17:00 the Sterrentocht starts from Willemsplein! Sign up by RSVP on Meetup, OR via [Google Forms](https://forms.gle/C6JCCUH68X7QbQtV7). Travel by your own OV-chipkaart. Contribution: €3,- pp (to help maintain our Meetup page). \**Train delays and cancellations could affect the meetup time in Tilburg. If this is the case, it will be announced in the discussion chat of this event page.* *** **City walk, Free time & Sterrentocht** This event consists partly of a group walk in the city center of Tilburg and partly of offering free time. The group walk is at a slow pace so you can connect with others, while enjoying the scenery of the city and taking photos along the way. In case of bad weather: bring an umbrella! After about 75 minutes, free time starts: we’ll check in if people like to continue our group walk or if there are other ideas to do in the city. For instance going to a museum, a café, do photography or anything else. If we continue our walk it will be at the same pace, we’ll go to new areas and if there’s enough interest we’ll go for a coffee in between. At 17:00 we’ll stop hosting the event, but on this day the Sterrentocht is organized in Tilburg, starting at 17:00 @Willemsplein. This is a real recommendation if you like light, arts and Dutch cultural events. **Meetup in Arnhem & Tilburg** This event has a meetup in Arnhem (11:40) and Tilburg (13:00), as described above. If you're joining us in Arnhem, you have to use your own OV-chipkaart. Tip: check [ns.nl/reisplanner](http://ns.nl/reisplanner) on the day itself to be in time at either meetup spot! For car users, I suggest checking the official municipality website to find parking spaces and what fares apply. U&R is originally based in Arnhem, but invites people from anywhere to join our travels. **Sign-up: RSVP on Meetup or Google Forms** Sign up for this event by RSVP here on Meetup or sign up via Forms: [https://forms.gle/C6JCCUH68X7QbQtV7](https://forms.gle/C6JCCUH68X7QbQtV7). Everyone is asked to pay a 3 euro contribution to help us maintain our costs on Meetup. This is refundable if U&R cancels the event or reschedules it to a different day, or if you cancel 72 hours before the meetup. Hope to see you in Tilburg!

Come and join us for a 7.5 km hike along the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal in Utrecht on Saturday 10th of January! Starting and ending at Utrecht Leidsche Rijn train station, we will be walking a pretty straightforward route along the water, passing points of interest like the Douwe Egberts coffee factory, Sportpark Marco van Basten, the Daphne Schippers bridge and a mini Dom Tower. After the walk there's the option to go for a lunch together. Do you think about joining, but you're not sure if it's something for you? Let us explain. Utrecht Hiking Community aims to organise one hike per month in or around Utrecht. If you're in for a hike with a bunch of friendly other hiking enthusiasts, you're very welcome to join, no matter whether you're an expat, local, nomad, student, professional, beginner, alone or with friends. The hikes are a way to meet people while being active and going to places you otherwise might not be going to. We call this 'Social Hiking'. If your aim is to hike fast, we might not be the right hiking group for you though. We're organising our hikes together with UR-Glocal, the organisation of expats in Utrecht Region organising several kinds of activities. For an impression of our previous hikes, check www.instagram.com/utrecht.hiking.community We're gathering in the tunnel under Utrecht Leidsche Rijn train station at 10.30AM. Just look for a group of people who look like they're going for a walk and you'll probably find us. Please arrive before 10.30AM, as we don't want to let the whole group wait for you. If you're unexpectedly arriving late, you can send a message on WhatsApp to +31621177691. We'll then share our location with you, so you can try to catch up with the group. Please check the weather forecast and dress accordingly. It may be cold, snowing and slippery, so it may be wise to wear warm clothes and waterproof shoes with a good grip. Dogs are allowed on this route. As we'll have to climb down some stairs at the bridges over the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal, the route is not suitable for people with strollers. There is no public toilet at Utrecht Leidsche Rijn train station, so please visit a restroom before arriving. For those coming by car we recommend to either use the parking garage at Brusselplein (first two hours are free, after that it's €2.50 per hour), or park the car at the Laurierweg (free parking at about 5 minutes walking distance). Parking on the street closer to the train station costs €5.34 per hour. Participation in the hike is free of charge. We do have some costs for organising our hikes though, like the yearly subscription for MeetUp that costs quite a lot. Therefore we would really appreciate it if you could support us by making a small donation through this link: https://www.ing.nl/payreq/m/?trxid=hGMLSyFFHLGutO1Con05XYedRw8bB6V3 If you have any questions, please let us know. We hope to see you on Saturday!

Hey Everyone! Let's meet at Paris Baguette on Lane Avenue. There is lots of free parking and easy access to the cafe and many shops and restaurants as well. This is a great way to meet new and old friends while chatting about life and practicing English language speaking skills. All are welcome and encouraged to join us anytime between 11am and 1pm. Looking forward to seeing you soon.

Experience the breathtaking theatrical presentation of Rodgers & Hammerstein's® iconic musical film The Sound of Music. Meticulously restored and remastered in 4K for its 60th anniversary, the beloved classic is more brilliant than ever with pristine picture and sound. In this true-life story, Julie Andrews lights up the screen as Maria, a spirited young woman who leaves the convent and becomes a governess to the seven unruly children of Captain von Trapp (Christopher Plummer). Her warmth, charm and songs soon win the hearts of the children and their father. But when the threat of war rises, Maria is forced to attempt a daring escape with her new family. One of the most successful movie musicals of all time, The Sound of Music features unforgettable treasures like “Edelweiss,” “My Favorite Things,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” and “Do-Re-Mi.”

Come and join our lively Japanese language meetup, where Japanese language learners and native speakers come together to learn, play, and connect. We’ll practice through fun games and interactive conversation in a relaxed, welcoming environment. Whether you’re just starting out, more advanced, or a native speaker who enjoys helping others, everyone is encouraged to join and participate. After the library we'll take a leisurely walk together to get food/drinks. There are many options around including North Market Bridge Park. It's a perfect opportunity to continue our conversations and enjoy each other's company over a meal.

The aim of this group is to get together and practice our German. Doesn’t matter if are a beginner or a native speaker. The goal is to speak and improve our German. Everyone is welcome! If the weather is good, look for us in the Biergarten. Pro Tip: Get there before 6:00 for happy hour pricing.

We are excited to host Guided Meditations on Sundays at 6 pm in our Ashram/Gallery/Home! !! !! Everyone wants to know what kind of God we worship and what kind of meditation we do. We worship the GOD that LOVES US! We understand that god is an energy and it lives in us as us. Our meditations guide others to actually experience that energy! xoxo We don't just talk about peace, love and affection, we experience it :) Also we are a home not a business, so we enjoy building community one friend at a time. We always build in time for people to mingle & develop friendships! xoxo Much Love, Frank Tennyson Namaste, Frank Tennyson http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/a/f/9/9/600_447824953.jpeg

Let's grab some coffee/food and share a morning chat! The East Market has an ample parking lot and outdoor and indoor seating. Grab a cup of coffee from Winston's Coffee & Waffles or on your way to East Market and meet us on the second floor - table behind or east of the elevator. If the weather cooperates we will be meeting in the patio. Per what this group is about: "Everyone is welcome! International transplants to Columbus who want to improve language skills, Columbus residents who want to discuss international travel and culture, and anyone who enjoys getting together for good conversations."