Holiday Parties

Kom naar het HaHaHo Makers Lab Utrecht voor een avond vol kennis & ervaringsdelen en maken, met de focus op elektronica met microprocessoren zoals Arduino & Raspberry Pi, LED’s en meetapparatuur. 19:00 Inloop + opzetten apparatuur 19:45 Standup: wat wil iedereen doen en/of leren deze avond? 20:00 Parallelle activiteiten: – startactiviteiten voor nieuwe deelnemers (Arduino, soldering, meetapparatuur, etc.) – onderlinge kennisuitwisseling adhv de wensen uit de standup – werken aan het gezamenlijke [PraatPaal-project](https://github.com/hadoopmarc/hahaho-interactive-pole) – werken aan je eigen project – ordenen/markeren van de ladenkasten met elektronisch componenten 21:30 Start met opruimen 21:45 Einde en verlaten van de Bibliotheek Wij zijn meestal met een groep van een kleine tien (er is ook nog een whatsapp aanmeldingslijst). Een laptop is niet noodzakelijk maar komt vaak van pas! We vragen een vrijwillige donatie van €5,55 per avond om de inventaris met apparatuur en elektronische componenten op peil te kunnen houden. English 19:00 Room available for setting up equipment 19:45 Standup: what are the participant’s plans and wishes for the evening? 20:00 Parallel activities: – starter activities for new participants (Arduino, soldering, measuring equipment, etc.) – sharing knowledge as follow-up on the plans and wishes expressed during the standup – working on the community [Interactive Pole project](https://github.com/hadoopmarc/hahaho-interactive-pole) – working on your individual project – sorting the chest of drawers with electrical components 21:30 Start decluttering the room 21:45 End: leave the Public Library Most evenings see a group of about 10 people (there is an additional whatsapp list). Bring your laptop if you want to program microcontrollers! We ask for a voluntary donation of €5,55 per evening to maintain the inventory with equipment and electrical components.

***English invitation*** You are invited to visit the Dutch Deventer Toastmasters. Toastmasters is an organisation where you can develop your public speaking and leadership skills in a safe, positive and inspiring environment. It grows your self confidence and gives your energy a boost. Want to visit us? Send an email to deventertoastmasters@gmail.com ***Nederlandse uitnodiging*** Je wordt van harte uitgenodigd om onze Nederlandse bijeenkomst te bezoeken bij Deventer Toastmasters. Toastmasters is een organisatie waar je je vaardigheden op het gebied van spreken in het openbaar en leiderschap kunt ontwikkelen. Dit doen we in een veilige, opbouwende en inspirerende omgeving. Je zelfvertrouwen groeit en je energie krijgt een boost. Wil jij meedoen? Stuur een email naar Deventertoastmasters@gmail.com

**Hey fellow AWS enthusiasts! ✨** This April we welcome **[Philipp Hoyer](https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipp-hoyer-621555174/)**, Lead Engineer at Rackspace Technology. He'll walk us through a journey of AWS' popular containerization services Amazon ECS and Amazon EKS running on Fargate by discussing which fits best for which use case, where EKS can make you go nuts and when ECS might shines brighter - or vice versa. **📆 Tonight's Agenda** 19:00 - Welcoming **19:15 - Talk by Phillip** 20:15 - Networking Thanks to our friends at **[CodeCam:N](https://www.codecamp-n.com/)** who open their offices for us and sponsor food and drinks for this evening. Looking forward to seeing you 👋🏻 Nora & Frank \-\-\- The talk ⤵️ **An AWS Container Journey - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly featuring ECS and EKS** EKS on Fargate promises fully managed Kubernetes with zero node management—but the reality is often more complex than expected. This talk explores the journey of building a production workload on EKS Fargate, starting with the initial motivations and architectural decisions. It uncovers three non-obvious pitfalls that only surface during real-world implementation, including challenges with load balancing, EFS integration, and logging. For each case, the underlying issues and the required workarounds are dissected to reveal the hidden operational complexity behind the “serverless” promise. Based on these insights, the talk takes a critical look at whether ECS on Fargate would have been the simpler alternative. It provides a concise overview of ECS, highlights its own limitations, and delivers a direct comparison between ECS and EKS. The session concludes with clear, experience-driven guidance on when to choose which service—helping teams avoid costly assumptions and make better architectural decisions in AWS container environments. The speaker⤵️ Philipp is a Lead Engineer at Rackspace Technology who enjoys turning complex cloud architectures into solutions that actually work in practice. He started in software development, moved through the DevOps world of pipelines, containers, and Kubernetes, and eventually specialized in AWS. He has built and operated cloud solutions ranging from big data and streaming platforms to containerized and serverless workloads. With experience in both insurance and automotive, his focus today is on real-world cloud challenges—especially the ones that don’t show up in the docs. Get in contact with Philipp on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipp-hoyer-621555174/) \-\-\- **Please note:** At the event, photos and videos will be taken for marketing purposes both by our hosts and our location sponsors. We try to offer a hybrid experience by providing a video stream of the talk. There will be no recording published after the event. Please also keep in mind, that we try our best effort to provide a good streaming experience. We don't offer a professional stream, so delays, technical issues or other interference are a matter to be tolerated.

A great ride along the Vecht and Gein rivers. You will love this route. Please ride single file along the winding river as there can be cars around each corner. **Route:** https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/441606271 GPX: https://drive.google.com/file/d/17-T_pT_GH3QKSFcH1WWgfArvxSdAkVzO/view?usp=sharing **Afterwards:** Drinks at Polder https://maps.app.goo.gl/tbt5DDG7YLU3uWvaA **Rules:** \- Download the route to your cycling computer so you can always find your way home \- Make sure to arrive on time \- Before you ride\, decide as a group how you want to ride: you can split up in a fast and a slow group or stay together\, but make sure to discuss what pace you are going to ride and whether you are going to wait if someone is slower than the group\, or not\.

If you are living in The Netherlands, by now, you may well have noticed the amount of open water. If you enjoy cycling in the city, you may wish to feel safer as you navigate the bridges and canals. And you may also want to get ready for visiting the beach, pools or the many lakes this summer. Learning how to swim takes approx 1 year and it all starts with the very first lesson. New comers enroll via our website and pay € 30,50, this is the first lesson and a goody bag. After the class you agree with the personal swim coach how to continue to obtain your final objectives. Enrolling is only possible via [www.your-personal-swim-coach.nl ](https://www.your-personal-swim-coach.nl/)hence a rvsp via meetup is not enough.

Samen sporten, gewoon voor de fun, elke week een divers programma, met allerlei verschillende sporten. Je hoeft niet de beste te zijn, maar wel zin hebben om samen te spelen en te leren. Tijdens een training doen we verschillende spelletjes, basketbal, voetbal. volleybal, spikebal, honkbal. Kom je ook, de bal ligt bij jou!! Eerste keer meedoen is altijd gratis, daarna kan je beslissen of dit voor jou is, of niet!! Dus kom een keer proberen. Kan je niet op deze dag, we sporten ook op andere dagen nl Zondag om 9:30 of Maandag om 20:30 Stuur mij een berichtje als je op die dagen een keer wil proberen! The amount of people rsvp'd to this game doesn't match the real number of people at the event, as Meetup is only used for promotion purposes.

Gather 'round lakeside legends! 🌊✨ This time we’re trading rugged trails for smooth, accessible realness with a **wheelchair-friendly wander alongside the Leersumse Plassen** — because nothing says queer joy like gliding past shimmering lakes without too many barriers killing your vibe. Serving soft heather and glassy water views at every turn, this route is basically a nature runway. Find out more details about the route here (in Dutch): [https://rolstoelwandeling.nl/wandelroutenatuurzonderdrempels/](https://rolstoelwandeling.nl/wandelroutenatuurzonderdrempels/) Come ready to soak up the scenery! Because queer outdoors joy, like these waters, flows freely for everyone. 🌈💙 **Practical info** 📏 Distance: several options! *\~3.3 km loop, if you come by car (wheelchair accessible) *7.5 km, from/to nearest bus stop Donderberg in Leersum (wheelchair accessible) - 11 km, if you continue on via forest paths to Maarn train station (not wheelchair accessible) **Practical info** 📍 Start: Maarsbergseweg 18a (Leersum) via bus stop Donderberg (Leersum) 🏁 End: Bus stop Donderberg (Leersum) or Maarn train station 🧑‍🦽 Difficulty: easy to moderate -accessible route with some slight bumpy sections *🤝🏼 Meeting point*: **Driebergen-Zeist** station *🕙 Gathering time*: **10:55** *🚆 Travel schedule*: Bus 350 to **Leersum, Donderberg** (direction Wageningen) at **11:04** ➡️ arrival at **Leersum, Donderberg** at **11:33** ➡️Walk to Maarsbergseweg 18a ➡️ arrival at starting point around **12:00** ❗You can also travel on your own from another direction and meet us along the way or in Leersum. 🚗 If you come by car, you can park at De Veldschuur (Maarsbergseweg 18a). Several accessible parking spots available. 🧑‍🦽After a round of introductions, we start our trail around **12:10.** Pack your: 🍱 lunch box & snacks 🚰 water 🧥 rain coat/umbrella ☀️ sun screen 🏳️‍🌈 anything else you might need ❌ If you signed up and cannot make it in the end, please cancel your RSVP attendance so we know how many people will show up and someone else can take your place instead. 💗 A voluntary donation helps us to keep the Meetup group up and running :) you can either pay via a Tikkie or in cash after we finish the hike. *Hiking Queers Netherlands*

## 🎨**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:** **22nd February 2026** ✨ **Diederik Zuurmond** – dry, playful observations from a British-born Amsterdammer ✨ **Ghieslaine Guardiola** – dynamic, multi-talented performer blending storytelling with big stage energy ✨ **Pieter Jouke** – seasoned international comedian with sharp, intelligent humour ✨ **Kyle Lucey** – high-energy Canadian headliner with punchy, no-nonsense comedy **Upcoming Dates:** * 22nd March 2026 * 5th April 2026 * 19th April 2026 * 3rd May 2026 * 17th May 2026 (Season finale!) * We'll be back in September! **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?

## **🎨 Intuitive Art Workshop — Utrecht ([Booking via link](https://artools.nl/product/intuitive-making-workshop/))** ## A hands-on creative workshop for adults who want to make freely. No rules, no pressure, no expected outcome— just materials, movement, and exploration. This 1h30 session is designed as a space to step out of your head and into making. You’ll work intuitively with a range of materials, guided gently but without fixed instructions. **What to expect:** – explore colour, texture, and mixed media – experiment freely, no “right way” – create multiple pieces through process – calm, welcoming environment Most people come in a bit unsure — and leave surprised by what happens when they let go of needing to get it right. Details: **📍**Utrecht **🕒** 1h30 **💶**€35 All materials included No experience needed **👉 ⚠️ RSVP on Meetup does not confirm your spot** 👉 Please book via the link: **[https://artools.nl/product/intuitive-making-workshop/](https://artools.nl/product/intuitive-making-workshop/)**

After not having the the monthly meetup of march, we are back on **14 april** at **Enrise**! Pascal Baljet will join us to talk about Laravel and Inertia. js! Enrise is easily reachable by car (located right next to the A1 exit "Amersfoort Noord") as well as by public transport (there is a bus stop 100m walking from the office). If you are coming by car, you can park your car on the roof of the building. Also good to know; **Enrise will be sponsoring Pizza for this meetup** 🍕! 18:30 - Pizza delivery (around this time) & doors open 19:30 - **Modern front-end without API: Laravel + Inertia. js** \- Pascal Baljet 20:30 - Social **Modern front-end without API: Laravel + Inertia. js** Inertia.js lets you build modern single-page applications using your favorite backend and frontend frameworks, without needing to write an API. You use server-side routing and controllers, but render frontend components instead of server-rendered templates. In this talk, I’ll show how features like forms with real-time validation, deferred props, prefetching, infinite scroll, and polling work. All within a single repository.

**Do you enjoy walking in nature?** Would you rather do it **together** than alone? And are you someone who’s open to meeting new people, without the small talk? Then you’re warmly invited to join this **Walk & Talk** through the beautiful *Sonsbeekpark* and *Park Zypendaal*, a mix of forest and elegant landscape. Along the way, I’ll hand out **conversation cards** with thought-provoking questions. The goal? **Real human connection**, not just “Where are you from?” but deeper questions that help you discover common ground, shared values and maybe even new friendships or business sparks. ### What to expect: * A relaxed, open-minded group of locals & internationals * A beautiful walk through one of Arnhem’s most stunning green areas * Inspiring questions that help break the ice in a natural way ### Practical details: * **Start time:** 15:00 (3:00 PM) * **Meeting point:** In front of StadsVilla in *Sonsbeek Park (Big white building, de Witte Villa)* * **What to bring:** Comfortable shoes, a bottle of water and a smile :) See you then! Warm regards Julia

Ontdek de nieuwste ontwikkelingen in tech, samen met vakgenoten, collega's en externe professionals. **De sprekers van de avond:** Richard Vincent Nederlog & Edwin van Wijngaarden * Eigenaren en oprichter van Two Rocks. Een bedrijf die zich specialiseert in AI & Procesautomatisering voor MKB organisaties Mysterie guest! * Dit jaar hebben we een mysterie guest op de planning! Benieuwd naar het onderwerp? Meld je aan en kom erachter op 16 april bij 4CEE. **Het programma van de avond:** * 17:00 - 18:00 Inloop & Pizza * 18:00 - 18:45 Opening & Talk 1 met Richard en Edwin * 18:45 - 19:00 Pauze * 19:00 - 19:45 Talk 2 met een mysterie guest * 19:45 - 20:00 Q&A * 20:00 - 21:00 Borrel & netwerken Aanmelden kan [hier](https://werkenbij.4cee.com/tech-talk)!

Dinner and dancing

Click Here For More Videos: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/17vTa7EuwG/ ********************************* The Biggest Salsa Night to hit your mid-week is happening at Latin City Wednesdays. Get the feel of the Latin Beat as your hips and feet groove the right way. As always, we will provide refreshments and food. ********************************* Viva Dance Columbus (2809 Festival Lane Dublin, OH 43017) 830pm-930pm Cuban Salsa Lessons 930pm-Midnight Open Latin Dance Party $15 With Lesson $10 Just Open Dance ********************************** Free Parking, No Need to Bring a dance partner, No Sandals Please and Plenty of Space to Move Around.

Over 50 CINCO de MAYO HAPPY HOUR - FLIGHTS N TACOS!!! Join us for a fun and relaxed Over 50 Happy Hour on Friday, May 1st from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Giant Eagle Grandview Yard Event Center! (upper level) **Plenty of free parking**. The event center is huge! Pics are in the comments. Over 50 CINCO de MAYO HAPPY HOUR!! – Flights n Tacos Let’s join together for a fiesta! (Invite friends - we have lots of room!) • Taco Bar • Margarita and Beer tasting • Complementary chips and salsa • Margs/cocktails at the bar for purchase • Festive Band/Music Margaritas/Mexican Beer Tasting + Taco Bar: Optional - For $15.00 per person you can also get 4 Margarita or beer) Get ready for a fun evening filled with live music, great conversation, and a lively crowd of 50+ singles and friends looking to mix, mingle, and enjoy the night. Whether you come solo or with friends, you’ll quickly feel the welcoming, social vibe. Enjoy happy hour at the bar until 6 PM, or take part in the special Cinco de Mayo experience featuring margarita flights and delicious Mexican bites. It’s the perfect setting to relax, meet new people, and celebrate in style. Our private upstairs space gives us plenty of room to connect, laugh, and enjoy the energy of the night. Come when you can, stay as long as you like — the best conversations (and the most fun!) tend to build as the evening goes on. No agenda — just great people, live music, and a Cinco de Mayo celebration you won’t want to miss!

You are cordially invited to a beautiful Ladies’ Tea Party. Whether you are a mother, daughter, sister, aunt, grandmother, or wife, this special gathering is a graceful celebration of you—the love you share, the strength you carry, and the elegance you embody. Join us for a refined afternoon of tea and light fare, filled with laughter, meaningful connection, and the opportunity to meet new friends in a warm and welcoming setting. You are also invited to bring your daughters, granddaughters, nieces, and cherished friends as we create a truly memorable experience together.

Details Let's join together for a fiesta! (Invite friends - we have lots of room!) Taco Bar Margarita and Beer tasting Complementary chips and salsa Margs/cocktails at the bar for purchase Freshly prepared snacks in the deli for purchase Festive Band/Music Margaritas/Mexican Beer Tasting + Taco Bar: $15.00 per person (covers 4 Margarita or beer samples and one pass thru the Taco Bar) Where: #MarketDistrict (Grandview Yard) location. The party room (our private space) will be decorated with both patios open! Adjoining upstairs area also open for over flow and mingling. After Party: Sometimes, we head to a venue to hear live music afterwards. LDNL is at Black Swan in Hilliard tonight! Wear your bright colors and cheerful !Salud!