Creativity

*Please note: this meetup will be held in English.* In this first meet up, you will be shown a set of immersive artistic and design research experiments. Project Thuis conducts two years of artistic and design research into immersive experiences that place the body at the centre. The central question is: "How can immersive experiences in (semi-)public spaces contribute to a sense of connection, belonging, and 'feeling at home'? To explore this, a multidisciplinary consortium consisting of [Fillip Studios,](https://www.fillipstudios.com/) [affect lab,](https://www.affectlab.org/) [Introdans,](https://introdans.nl/) [Utrecht University,](https://www.uu.nl/staff/SPonzanesi) and the [Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences,](https://civicinteractiondesign.com/) has embarked on a creative journey together. Within the context of Project Thuis, this meetup will focus on artistic and design research forms applicable across various disciplines. **Programme:** 16:00 - 16:15: Opening 16:15 - 17:15: Interactive session 17:15 - 17:30: The role of the maker in the future of immersive experiences 17:30 - 18:00: Networking and drinks (including presence of [CIIIC](https://us2.mailchimp.com/mctx/clicks?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ciiic.nl%2F&xid=f4ced03a90&uid=2313462&iid=e62065ab18&pool=cts&v=2&c=1780312609&h=0b99fb0b79b5fe3d2625a4891bea9d8bc6ef045db3b8ee6ffe56d6cfc6e501c4)) Within the context of Project Thuis, this meetup will focus on experiments that you, as a maker, can use to conduct artistic and design research across various disciplines. *[This event marks the first in a series for Project Thuis (Home). Ontwerp Platform Arnhem has been invited to organise the meetups. We strongly endorse the importance of initiatives like this, and are highly committed to connecting designers with these themes and consortia](https://www.ciiic.nl/)***[.](https://www.ciiic.nl/)**

In Orbit is not just an event — it's an ongoing constellation of thinkers, makers, collectives, and technologists who come together to stay in motion. We believe that when ideas, people, and practices continuously orbit one another, something powerful happens: unexpected collaborations, shared momentum, and new creative possibilities. This is where creative technology and immersive art meet in an open environment designed for exchange and experimentation. Whether you're here to explore, brainstorm, test, observe, or simply connect — you're part of the orbit. We are proud to welcome Max Frimout to perform at this edition sharing his talent as composer and musician. Also Keez Duyves will do an indepth talk about some of the wrong turns he took as a maker.

¡Compartamos juntos con el grupo de personas más divertido de la ciudad!... ¡en español! No necesitas ser un hablante fluido o nativo.... ¡Solo atrévete a compartir! Te esperamos a las 20hrs.... ¡Entrada gratuita! ¡Nos vemos! ¡Hasta entonces! 😃 Let's share together with the funniest group of people in town!... in Spanish! You don't need to be a fluent or native speaker.... Just dare to share! We wait for you at 20hrs ....Free entry! Nos vemos! Tot dan! 😃 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/habladores/ Meetup Link: https://www.meetup.com/nl-NL/los-habladores/ Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/los_habladores_utrecht/ Los Habladores!

[Code & Comedy 2026](https://codeandcomedy.nl/) **Get ready to dive into the world of Code & Comedy 2026!** The conference for and by developers where code and humour come together. Returning for its 7th edition, Code & Comedy is set to unite 250 developers for an evening of coding, laughter, and inspiration. Enjoy inspiring talks and workshops and connect with your fellow developers. This year’s theme is “Trust Me, I’m an Agent,” exploring the rapidly evolving world of AI agents, automation, and modern software development. Join us for an engaging evening where we dive into how autonomous systems are changing the way we build, test, and run software. The event kicks off with a keynote session by Jeroen van der Most, followed by engaging breakout sessions covering a variety of topics across software development. To cap off the night, comedian Kim Schuddeboom will provide the evening with a laugh. **Schedule** **17:00 – 18:20** Welcome & Dinner **18:30 – 18:35** Opening **18:35 – 19:20** Keynote - Beyond the Boundaries of AI by Jeroen van der Most **19:45 – 20:15** Breakout sessions 1: * Be Precise or Be Surprised: Spec-Driven Development with GitHub Spec Kit by Roelant Dieben * SQL 2025 vector searching with a local Ollama hosting the mxbai-embed-large LLM by Theo Ekelmans * Agentic-AI: Building an AI oriented Kubernetes platform using AI agents by Sander Mathijssen * The AI realist by Bjorn Schijff * Be Aware of the Context You Provide by Gijsbert Nutma **19:45 – 20:15** Breakout sessions 2: * Close the gap between AI and Robotics with Java 25 by Ricky van Rijn * Choosing the Right LLM, Automatically by Stuart van der Lee * Building Flexible AI Avatars for Immersive Training by Arco Nederveen & Saskia Groenewegen * Build an AI Agent That Actually Does Your Work: MCP + LangGraph by Peter Eijgermans * Build an agent into any app with the GitHub Copilot SDK by Bart Wullems **21:10 – 21:45** Comedy by Kim Schuddeboom **21:50 – 23:00** Drinks Register @ https://codeandcomedy.nl/

Come discuss books and make new friends 🌈✨ How the meeting works: We will meet at the entrance to the park indicated on the map at 19:00, then find a suitable spot to have our discussion. Bring a blanket or jacket to sit on and your favorite drinks/snacks! Once we are settled we will go in a circle introducing ourselves, followed by a loosely organized chat about the book. June's book will be She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan (they/them). Gender bendery fantasy historical fiction with lesbian rep from what I have heard. It is available at de bibliotheek, as well as to purchase in several formats. In a famine-stricken village on a dusty yellow plain, two children are given two fates. A boy, greatness. A girl, nothingness… In 1345, China lies under harsh Mongol rule. For the starving peasants of the Central Plains, greatness is something found only in stories. When the Zhu family’s eighth-born son, Zhu Chongba, is given a fate of greatness, everyone is mystified as to how it will come to pass. The fate of nothingness received by the family’s clever and capable second daughter, on the other hand, is only as expected. When a bandit attack orphans the two children, though, it is Zhu Chongba who succumbs to despair and dies. Desperate to escape her own fated death, the girl uses her brother's identity to enter a monastery as a young male novice. There, propelled by her burning desire to survive, Zhu learns she is capable of doing whatever it takes, no matter how callous, to stay hidden from her fate. After her sanctuary is destroyed for supporting the rebellion against Mongol rule, Zhu takes the chance to claim another future her brother's abandoned greatness. The meeting will take place at Julianapark. Everyone is welcome who has read the book (or DNF, and is okay with spoilers) by the time of the meetup. The book club is hosted in English. Please update your RSVP if you find out you cannot attend. Hope to see you there! 🏳️‍🌈📚

**Your data, AI's knowledge: who owns what?** Mine, Yours, or the Machine's? The truth about data ownership by [Iwona Droog-Echt](https://www.linkedin.com/in/iwona-droog-echt-a83400/). A practical and thought-provoking talk on one of the most important questions in today's digital world: **who actually owns data?** As Head of Operations & Security, Iwona Droog-Echt combines her experience in security, privacy and governance to explore the complex relationship between data ownership, legal responsibility and artificial intelligence. Her talk will cover the definitions (data, information, privacy, security, owner, controller, processor, etc.), legal aspects of data ownership and grey area about data ownership and AI and share some tricky examples to discuss. The program is as follows: **17.30** Door open, welcome drinks **18.00** Word of welcome by [Stijn Sprenkels](https://www.linkedin.com/in/stijnsprenkels/), serving of snacks **18.15** Talk by Iwona Droog-Echt **18.45** Q&A, discussion **19.15** Networking drinks **20.00** End **Almere Tech** is the meetup for the larger Almere area for startups, entrepreneurs, developers and those interested to discuss new technology. Everybody can join in for a drink and hopefully interesting and inspiring conversations.

Hallo liebe Java User Group Mitglieder! Diesmal haben wir zwei Bonner Kollegen zu Gast: * Martin Stoller: **Backend-Performance in Hochlast-Systemen: Lösungsansätze aus dem Data Engineering** * Andreas Monschau: **Zehn goldene Regeln, um dein Softwareprojekt zuverlässig zu ruinieren** Wir freuen uns euch zu sehen (virtuell oder vor Ort). Dank an [codecentric](https://www.codecentric.de/standorte/nuernberg) für Location, Bier und Pizza! ================= Viele Hochlast-Systeme beginnen als kleine, unscheinbare Prototypen - gebaut mit bewährten Mitteln wie relationalen Datenbanken, objektorientierter Business-Logik und klassischen Request-Response-Architekturen. Doch was passiert, wenn diese Systeme plötzlich nicht mehr Tausende, sondern Millionen von Requests bedienen oder Terabytes an Daten verarbeiten müssen? In der Praxis zeigt sich häufig: Klassische Optimierungen wie Caching, horizontale Skalierung oder effizientere Algorithmen stoßen irgendwann an ihre Grenzen, weil sie innerhalb desselben Paradigmas bleiben. Dieser Vortrag zeigt, warum echte Skalierbarkeit oft ein Umdenken erfordert. Anhand eines durchgehenden Praxisbeispiels wird schrittweise demonstriert, wie sich ein System von einer latenzoptimierten Request-Response-Architektur hin zu einem durchsatzoptimierten, analytischen System entwickelt. Dabei werden zentrale Konzepte aus dem Data Engineering greifbar gemacht - darunter Precomputation, Batch Processing, deklarative Verarbeitung und Denormalisierung - und in den Kontext klassischer Backend-Entwicklung eingeordnet. Die Teilnehmenden lernen, typische Grenzen traditioneller Architekturen zu erkennen und erhalten ein alternatives Denkmodell, um High-Throughput-Systeme gezielt und nachhaltig zu skalieren. ================= Softwareprojekte sind chaotisch, anstrengend und voller Überraschungen. Und ganz ehrlich: So soll es auch bleiben. Ordnung würde ja nur den Spaß verderben. Trotzdem gibt es immer wieder Menschen, die glauben, man könnte Projekte wirklich zu Erfolg führen… unglaublich, oder? Damit dir so etwas nicht passiert, zeige ich dir in diesem Vortrag, wie du ein Softwareprojekt in 10 einfachen Schritten zuverlässig an die Wand fährst. Die „goldenen Anti-Pattern für maximalen Projektschaden“ entstammen jedoch nicht meiner Fantasie, nein, sie werden in der Realität täglich mit beeindruckender Konsequenz praktiziert. Und das Beste: Sie wirken nachhaltig. Manche dieser Muster entfalten ihre volle Zerstörungskraft erst Monate später. Nachdem du alle Regeln kennengelernt hast, kannst du selbst entscheiden: Möchtest du sie weiterhin anwenden, oder vielleicht doch etwas verändern? Solltest du allerdings inspiriert sein, eines dieser Anti-Pattern künftig noch konsequenter zu leben… dann sollten wir uns nach dem Talk dringend unterhalten. ================= Dein Vortrag bei der Java Usergroup Nürnberg! Hast du dich in letzter Zeit in deinem Projekt oder privat mit einem interessanten Thema beschäftigt? Vermutlich ist das nicht nur für dich selbst interessant! Hast du Lust, selber einmal einen Vortrag bei der Java-Usergroup Nürnberg zu halten? Wir sind nicht nur auf Java-Themen fokussiert, sondern beschäftigen uns gern mit und um alles über Software Entwicklung und IT. Wir wollen bei der JUG nicht nur bekannten Speaker\*innen eine Plattform geben und die neuesten State-of-the-Art Technologien vorstellen. Wir freuen uns auch besonders, wenn wir Themen aus unserem technologischen (Arbeits-)alltag Raum geben zu können. Melde dich gerne bei uns, wenn du dazu Lust hast, wir geben wenn gewünscht gerne auch Hilfestellung bei der Vorbereitung!

Maki-e is a traditional Japanese lacquer decoration technique. Techiniques are involved drawing pictures, patterns, and letters on the surface of lacquerware using lacquer, and then sprinkling and fixing metal powder, such as gold or silver, onto the surface. In our workshop, you have the opportunity to create maki-e designs using traditional Japanese patterns (wagara) or your own original designs. Then your canvas can be a glass cup or a glass picture frame. Join us for this unique Japanese art workshop in Utrecht. * Place: CLAY TO PLATE Biltstraat 55, 3572 AG, Utrecht * Price: three options you can choose from €56 pp(for a glass cup) €60 pp (for a glass picture frame) €76 pp (for a lacquerwares) Limited seats available. **Booking is essential for adequate preparations. If you've enrolled/registered on the Meetup app, we'll contact you through the app message. Kindly communicate with us accordingly, and refrain from showing up without prior contact. We appreciate your understanding** Website:[https://japanworkshopnet.com/ ](https://japanworkshopnet.com/) [MAKI-E workshop info](https://japanworkshopnet.com/maki-e-workshops/) Email: info@japanworkshopnet.com Mobile:0616059840

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.

Join the Dutch Outdoor and Hiking Group for a day hike and enjoy Beautiful shell path along the Lower Rhine and visiting De blauwe Kamer and hiking on the Grebbeberg * We **start at 11:00** from the train station in Rhenen https://maps.app.goo.gl/CrbeFtQPutUSYWFp7 * Length: \~18 km (4 - 5 hr hiking) * What to bring: lunch, water, snack. * For whom: As always, sporty folks that like to combine social event with being active in nature. **Getting there by Train:** * To train station in Rhenen. https://maps.app.goo.gl/CrbeFtQPutUSYWFp7 **Getting there by Car:** * Free Parking: Stationsplein, 3911 AP Rhenen https://maps.app.goo.gl/qVrH9pA5JK2prQPg9 **Note:** * Please **pay a small fee (3 euro)** to help us cover the (increased) yearly Meetup contribution of 240 euro. We'll ask you to pay before the start of the hike (can be on the day itself). No refunds, but in the unlikely event that hike would be cancelled and you already paid, you don't need to pay for your next hike. Thank you so much! Use the **safe link** here: https://www.ing.nl/payreq/m/?trxid=WrVKENccZiV4tdRSPrVbFG4WVyikUVQn * Keep in mind that the hike can be canceled when the weather is very bad (**always check the event before you go**). * If you RSVP 'yes' we expect you to show-up. Please do not cancel less than 24 hours before the hike. **No-shows** will lead to your removal from the group. Thanks for the understanding. * By signing up for this event, you agree to release the organizers from any responsibility and liability in all claims. As the participation is strictly voluntary and you freely choose to join, it is the responsibility of individuals participating to ensure that they are fit enough and have adequate coverage to protect themselves.

I'm excited to host the 24st 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 1 drink token 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

Bakery Walk: A Sunday Girls Stroll Let’s romanticize our Sundays in Amsterdam. ☕🥐 We’ll meet and start with a relaxed city walk for coffee & pastries. Between stops, we’ll: ✨ Mix & match conversation buddies ✨ Use fun conversation cards (no awkward small talk) ✨ Get our steps in (pastries taste better after walking 😉) Perfect for new expats and women looking to build genuine friendships in Amsterdam. Come solo. Leave with new connections Please note: everyone buys their own pastries & drinks at the bakeries. That way you can pick what you like best! **Join our WhatsApp group💕** https://chat.whatsapp.com/JFgvbHvRLoP5P9K3GtwGlU?mode=gi_t

📍 AH to go, inside of the Hilversum Station, 10:30 → Pinetum → back by ~15:00 🚶‍♂️ Short walk (~20–30 min each way) 🎯 Main location: Pinetum Blijdenstein (€4 entry) This time we’re keeping it shorter and focusing on one beautiful spot: the Pinetum — a small botanical garden dedicated to pine trees, full of interesting shapes, textures, and quiet corners to sketch. We’ll meet at Hilversum Station at 10:30, walk together to the garden (arriving around 11:00), and spend about 2-2,5 hours sketching. There are some benches, but not many — please bring a foldable chair or something you can sit on, if possible. Around 14:00, we’ll head back toward the station. If people feel like it, we can grab drinks and maybe lunch at Mout before wrapping up around 15:00. Bring: Sketching materials Water Foldable chair No pressure on skill level — quick sketches, detailed studies, or just experimenting are all welcome. Come for the trees, stay for the sketches 🌲✏️

Who says games are just for kids? Remember playing games when you're a kid with no need for a manual and no responsibiliies? That's what we're doing. Tag, Cops and Robbers, Ninja... Stir up the memories of what made you happy and bring that pure joy out. Sign up through this [1 question form.](https://forms.gle/XWHNG63iyzuumEon8) To make our inner child completely satisfied, we'll reward ourselves with a hangout and pancakes at Teahouse Rhijnauwen after! 💵 Price : Free 👝What to bring: water, sunscreen, comfortable shoes, an open mindset

Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at 7:00pm on Wednesday, February 11 at Streetlight Guild. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. **SCHEDULE:** 6:45ish - Quick introductions 7:00 - Timer starts: write for 1 hour 8:00 - The End **OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING** happens before and after the writing hour. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. **BEING LATE IS OKAY:** just show up and get settled! If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing & I look forward to seeing you at Streetlight Guild! **WHAT SHOULD I BRING?** Whatever you need to be able to write! You're welcome to bring earplugs/headphones if noise will bother you! **OTHER IMPORTANT DETAILS:** * **RSVP:** Please RSVP by 6:00pm the evening of the meeting. This helps me know how many to expect, and if we'll need additional space! * **COVID:** While masks are not required, please be mindful of the other writers around you and their comfort levels. * **WIFI/OUTLETS:** Outlets are limited, so please ensure your devices are charged when you come! But Streetlight Guild does have free WiFi! Yay! * **PARKING:** There is free public parking at Streetlight Guild.

We'll meet at The Capital One Café, 167 Easton Town Center, Space A-103. This is in the main mall where the Microsoft store used to be, on your left if you're standing at the bottom of the AMC Theater escalator. Join us on Saturday for an hour of uninterrupted wordmaking! • What we'll do Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at 10AM on Saturday mornings. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. SCHEDULE: 10:00 - SESSION 1: quick intros. 10:10 - timer starts: write for 1 hour. 11:10 - chat / take off / keep writing. OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING happens at 11A-11:30ish. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. BEING LATE IS OKAY: just show up and get settled, then check-in with me after the session. (I’ll be the person with the Shut Up & Write! sign.) If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing and I look forward to seeing you! • What to bring Whatever you need to be able to write! Bring earbuds/earplugs if you want to block noise or the occasional conversation by other patrons. Electrical outlets are limited, so charge your devices before whenever possible. See you at The Café on Saturday!

Want to see your work shine and put your pride on display? Then come to July's Creativity Circle! We will be making simple Suncatchers with tissue paper! Seats and supplies limited! Come while you can for as long as you like! Westerville Public Library in Meeting Room D.

Let’s meet and wander the galleries! General admission on Sundays is free.