Local History & Culture

Hi all! 🙂 On Wednesdays we welcome you to practice languages! If you want to practice a specific (uncommon) language, please send us a message so we can find some conversation partners for you on our mailing list! We hope to see you in Café Marktzicht! In the last year we had tables for the following languages: * Dutch * English * French * Italian * Spanish * Turkish\* * German\* * Portuguese\* * Danish\* * Norwegian\* * Russian\* * Arabic\* * Chinese\*\* * Japanese\*\* * Indonesian\*\* * * Most likely, but not every week present. \*\* - Rather rare ;-) If your language is not in this list, please let us know! We have a large database of Language Cafe visitors speaking 56 different languages! We might be able to connect you with a person that does speak the language you want to practice. In case you are not in our database yet, please use this form: http://goo.gl/forms/oSCn9Dn8m8

**Future Tech 2026 is coming to Utrecht on March 11th!** Future Tech is the technology conference for developers, architects and experts to discuss and dive deep into .NET technologies such as the .NET framework, C#, Azure and more. Our visitors will encounter tested and new possibilities of improving and speeding up development, implementation and management on a big scale for applications. The main goal of Future Tech is to share all available knowledge, ideas and know-how concerning the newest (Microsoft) technologies and innovations with a focus on Emerging Technologies, DevOps, Cloud, Non-technical Skills & Security. More information will follow [https://futuretech.nl](http://%5Bhttps//futuretech.nl/%5D(https://futuretech.nl/) "\[https://futuretech.nl\](https://futuretech.nl)")

#This meetup is around a third-party organizer (Focus Filmtheater): you can either purchase your ticket online or right before the session# Lately, tickets have been selling out fast, we recommend getting them in advance. **Title**: Sound of Falling **Language**: German **Subtitles**: English **Length**: 155 min **Director**: Mascha Schilinski **More info**: https://www.focusarnhem.nl/agenda/english-subs-sound-of-falling/ **Ticket link**: https://www.focusarnhem.nl/tickets/141178/ **Synopsis**: *Sound of Falling* is a haunting drama by German filmmaker Mascha Schilinski (*Dark Blue Girl*) about four generations of girls connected and trapped by a shared past. Through small keyholes, crooked corridors, and murky water, we experience their emotional worlds full of inner turmoil, subjective memories, and hidden traumas. A remote farm in the German Altmark. Four girls from different times—Alma (1910s), Erika (1940s), Angelika (1980s), and Lenka (2020s)—spend their childhoods within the same scarred walls. As they wander through their own present, echoes of the past resound in the corridors: unspoken fears, repressed traumas, hidden secrets. Despite the years that separate them, their lives seem mysteriously intertwined. When a tragic event repeats itself on the farm, the boundaries between past and present begin to blur. **How it works**: I will be at Focus around 18:30, where we can meet before the movie starts. You can message me to find us. Screening starts at 19:00. After the movie, we can have a drink together. Hope to see you soon!

"No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it is not the same river and he is not the same man." - Heraclitus The upcoming session of the Philosophy Club Arnhem will revolve around the subject of "Change" This is the third session of our lively discussion group. You need to bring only your personal experiences.

Hi there! 👋 Tonight it's boardgames time! We'll go to Café de Zaak where there are plenty of games we can choose from and borrow. If there is a game that you love, feel free to bring it from home too! We'll be glad to discover it and enjoy it with you. The meetup will start at 20:00 and is expected to end at 22:00h but of course the time can be extended. There's a chance that this cafe is very full when we arrive, so keep an eye on this event's description for a last-minute change of location. ✨️ Don't forget to follow us on Instagram: @utrecht.lgbt ✨️ Looking forward to seeing you all soon! 🤍🩷🩵❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤

PLEASE NOTE: sessions will be in Dutch! LET OP: sessies zullen in het Nederlands zijn! Het programma ziet er als volgt uit: 18.00 **Inloop & eten** 19.00 **Erwin Staal - IFC; next level cloud management (Level 300)** In deze sessie duiken we in het opkomende concept *Infrastructure from Code*. We verkennen tools als Radius, Pulumi, Nitric en andere vernieuwende initiatieven, en beoordelen hun volwassenheid en toepasbaarheid in de praktijk. Zijn deze oplossingen klaar om traditionele IaC te vervangen? Of zitten we nog in de experimentele fase? 20.00 **Suzanne Daniëls - Platform Engineering in 2026 (Level 200)** Platform Engineering speelt een belangrijke rol als fundering voor AI transformatie. Het vertalen van beslissingen en best practices in instructies voor agents, zorgt ervoor dat de business veilig AI kan toepassen. Dit verandert de verantwoordelijkheden van de platform teams, de manier waarop gewerkt wordt en de toolsets. Als code niets meer kost, hoe blijft de software dan van waarde? 21.00 Borrel 21.30 Einde

**Sunday, March 15th – 13:00** **Meeting point:** Bus stop *Donderberg*, Leersum For the third edition of **Real Estate**, our series dedicated to exploring some of the most fascinating villas, estates and historic residences in the Netherlands, we head to the green heart of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug to discover **Kasteel Broekhuizen**. Hidden among forests and rolling landscapes near Leersum, Broekhuizen is a country estate with **medieval roots and a turbulent history**. Over the centuries, it has known periods of prosperity, destruction and reconstruction — and today it stands as a quiet witness to how history, landscape and architecture continuously reshape each other. During our walk, we’ll explore the **estate and its surrounding park**, uncovering stories about: * the rise and fall of the estate * its phases of destruction and rebuilding * hidden corners and forgotten traces in the landscape * and the role of the **Van Nellesteyn family** in shaping its history This is not just a visit to a beautiful country house, but a journey through **layers of time**, where nature and history are deeply intertwined. ### Practical information * **Walk length:** approx. 3.4 km * The route goes through parkland and forest paths, so comfortable shoes are recommended. ### After the walk We’ll finish at **Bistro LOF**, the café/restaurant located within the castle estate itself, where we can enjoy a drink together — and for those who wish, also stay for something to eat — in a setting that perfectly complements the atmosphere of the place. A hidden estate. A story of loss and renewal. A walk through history in the landscape.

💃 Southern winds arrive at La Cumbipeña 💫 On Saturday, March 14, we welcome Juani & Friends from Andalucía, bringing flute, voice and special guests ✨🪈🪇 [@juana_justicia_flute](https://www.instagram.com/juana_justicia_flute/) An evening inspired by shared roots and music that moves both heart and body. 😉 💃 Sevillanas Dance Workshop by [@yasminunfer](https://www.instagram.com/yasminunfer/) Simple, joyful and open to everyone. No experience needed. 🎶 Live music 🎤 Open Mic 📍 Café Averechts, Utrecht 🕗 20:00 to 23:00 💰 Donations welcome Come dance, connect and share community love 💙 Everyone is welcome. Lxs esperamos! 🙂

**Sharing Stories Utrecht - Sunday afternoon edition!** **In honour of Intl Women's Day 2026,** we’re creating a cosy, safe(r) space where FLINTA-people can take the stage! On top of that, for the 𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟, we’re hosting a small **art** **exhibition** alongside the storytelling. We'll showcase a few FLINTA artists' work❤️ 🌷 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 & 𝐅𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐀 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬, but we want to encourage 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 to come, listen, support and enjoy the stories with us. 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞! 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐅𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐀? FLINTA stands for Female, Lesbian, Intersex, Non-binary, Trans & Agender people. We want to celebrate and uplift everyone whose experiences are shaped by gender diversity and womanhood, in all its forms. Sharing Stories is an international storytelling event with the aim of providing a platform for anyone who wishes to share a personal story with the audience – no prior experience required. We strive for an inclusive and safe atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable sharing their stories. Sharing Stories not only serves as a platform for storytellers, but also as an event where people from different cultures and backgrounds can meet and connect. Whether you are a seasoned storyteller or simply want to listen and enjoy the stories of others, "Sharing Stories" is a place where you can unwind, listen, and make new connections! So, come to Nijverheid and be part of this unique experience! 🗓 Sunday March 15th (2026) 🕑 Start of expo: 14:00 🕒 Start of storytelling: 15:00 📍 de Nijverheid 🎟 Free entrance - donations welcome 💛 Cosy Sunday energy guaranteed

𝗔𝗜 𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗰𝘂𝘁 𝗻𝗮𝗮𝗿 𝗸𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗶𝘁 – 𝗷𝗶𝗷 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗹. AI-tools, agentic oplossingen en LLM’s lijken het vakgebied Software Testen opnieuw te definiëren. Sommigen beweren dat AI straks al het denkwerk overneemt. Dat we alleen nog prompts hoeven te schrijven en de rest vanzelf gebeurt... ❌ Spoiler: nee dus. Nieuwe technologie vervangt ons testers niet; het daagt ons uit om scherper te denken, slimmer te werken en onze rol opnieuw vorm te geven. AI is geen magie. Het is een krachtig hulpmiddel, mits jij de regie houdt. We duiken in de beperkingen van AI, zoals het gebrek aan context, creativiteit en betrouwbaarheid én hoe jij als tester die gaten opvult. We gaan hands-on aan de slag met onder andere de Playwright Agents en kijken kritisch naar de waarde van deze toepassingen. Want AI kan veel, maar geen verantwoordelijkheid nemen. Geen risico’s inschatten. Geen ethische afweging maken. Daarover gaat deze Plug-In workshop, gebaseerd op ons manifest: Testen & AI. Wat kun je verwachten? ➡️ Een kritische blik op AI in het testvak en specifiek testautomatisering ➡️ Praktische tools en technieken die nu al werken ➡️ Een hands-on oefening met LLM’s ➡️ En vooral: veel ruimte voor discussie, reflectie en inspiratie 👉 De toekomst van testen vraagt niet minder denkwerk, maar juist méér. En precies dáárom ben jij onmisbaar. Inclusief eten, netwerk en sparringspartners. De sessie is gratis (parkeren ook). ***LET OP: Dit is een hands-on sessie, dus neem je laptop mee en zorg ervoor dat je applicaties erop mag installeren!*** Plug-In!

**Meer snelheid, betere output én verantwoord gebruik van AI in je dagelijkse werk.** Je hebt de **AI Essentials** onder de knie. Je experimenteert met prompts, ziet de potentie en gebruikt AI inmiddels regelmatig. Maar je voelt ook: dit kan scherper, sneller en bewuster. In deze **AI Next Level-workshop** zetten we de volgende stap. Geen herhaling van de basis, maar verdieping. Meer grip op prompting én meer inzicht in wat verantwoord AI-gebruik in de praktijk écht betekent. **Wat houdt deze workshop in?** Deze interactieve dag bestaat uit twee nauw verbonden onderdelen: **1\. Prompting like a Pro** Je gebruikt al een basisstructuur voor prompts — nu is het tijd om door te schakelen. In dit deel leer je: * Geavanceerdere promptstructuren die sneller tot betere output leiden * Hoe je minder hoeft te “stoeien” en gerichter kunt werken * Hoe je AI effectief inzet als denkpartner bij complexere vraagstukken * Hoe je context, rol en doel zó meegeeft dat je output direct bruikbaar wordt Het resultaat: **meer snelheid, meer kwaliteit en meer vertrouwen in wat je terugkrijgt.** **2\. Using AI Responsibly** Minstens zo belangrijk — en vaak onderschat. AI is krachtig, maar niet neutraal en niet zonder risico’s. Hoe ga je daar professioneel mee om? Je leert onder andere: * Welke informatie je wel en juist niet in prompts moet verwerken * Hoe om te gaan met privacy, vertrouwelijkheid en bedrijfsinformatie * Hoe AI-modellen zijn getraind en wat dat betekent voor de antwoorden * Hoe je bias, aannames en “mooie maar onjuiste” output herkent Dit deel helpt je om **bewuster, veiliger en professioneler** met AI te werken — voor jezelf én je organisatie. **Hoe werken we?** Net als bij de Essentials-workshop geloven we niet in zenden, maar in **samen ontdekken**. * Praktisch en interactief: werken met je eigen cases * Creatief en laagdrempelig: leren door te doen * Leren van elkaar: verschillende rollen, contexten en perspectieven * Geen technische training, geen tool-overzicht * Wel: denken, beoordelen, toepassen en verbeteren De ervaring leert **dat de groep een groot deel van de waarde bepaalt** — en dat hoor je terug in de feedback. **Wat neem je mee na afloop?** Na deze workshop: * Werk je sneller en gerichter met AI * Weet je welke prompts écht werken voor jouw werk * Kun je AI-output beter beoordelen en bevragen * Ga je bewuster om met data, privacy en betrouwbaarheid * Weet je concreet wat je maandag anders doet En: **Drie weken later organiseren we een vrijblijvende terugkom-call,** waarin deelnemers ervaringen delen en leren van elkaars praktijk. **Voor wie is deze workshop bedoeld?** Deze workshop is bedoeld voor: * Professionals en managers zonder technische achtergrond * Deelnemers van de AI Essentials-workshop (of vergelijkbare basiskennis) * Mensen die AI al gebruiken, maar daar meer rendement en zekerheid uit willen halen * Iedereen die AI professioneel, bewust en verantwoord wil inzetten **Pilot & praktische informatie** Deze workshop is opgezet als **Next Level-pilot**. Dat betekent: kleinschalig, persoonlijk en met ruimte voor feedback om de training verder te verfijnen. 📅 Datum: vrijdag 13 maart ⏰ Tijd: 09:30 – 14:30 (Inloop 9:00) ⏱ Duur: 5 uur (incl. lunch) 📍 Locatie: Computerweg 37, Amersfoort 💶 Prijs: €99,- ex btw 👥 Groepsgrootte: 8-12 deelnemers 📍 Vorm: interactief, fysiek ☕🍴 Voorzieningen: koffie, thee en lunch inbegrepen 👥 Begeleiding: Edgar Stormbroek & Ziryan Salayi **Aanmelden op:** https://www.eventbrite.nl/e/tickets-ai-next-level-prompting-as-a-pro-and-using-ai-responsibly-1982428964398?aff=oddtdtcreator

🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏼‍♀️

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. 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."

The topic for March is "Our Bodies, Ourselves" Speak Easy: true stories, told live. The idea is simple: an audience, an open microphone, and great stories. Hilarious, gripping, poignant- it's up to you. Audiences are invited to come to listen or come to tell as folks from all corners of Columbus offer their stories live on stage! Held at Wild Goose Creative's warm, intimate space, this night of tales occurs on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7:00 pm. Please arrive early if you want to tell, as we generally only have room for a limited number of tellers, and the sign-up sheet has a tendency to fill up fast. Formed around the idea that people need stories--they're what hold and draw us together--SpeakEasy celebrates the strangeness and commonness of being human. And in a world of smartphones, Facebook, Twitter, and more . . . it gives people a real, breathing, in-person way to connect. The night is geared for true stories of all kinds, taking the best tales told around kitchen tables, in darkened pubs, on the street corner, and at late-night parties and giving them an audience. Speak Easy is also a great outlet for performers, writers, and artists looking to share their favorite stories and perfect their skills. We strongly encourage tellers to please tell the story rather than read it so we keep within the spirit of good storytelling and stay engaged with the audience. All are welcome. Hang around after the show for a drink and build community!

We thought of one of the interesting things that can be enjoyed at this time of the year. We will be meeting at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church for a "Fish Fry" in Marian Hall on Friday, March 27th at 5:00 PM. It might be fun for you to experience what has become a tradition on the Fridays before Easter. They will have fried fish or baked fish, French fries and Cole slaw, as well as beverages, all for $16.00 for adults. They will have other beverages and desserts available for sale, as well. We have never tried this, and sometimes there are quite a few people at these events so we hope that we will be able to find each other easily. I'll try to have signs outside Marian Hall that Identify our group. We hope to have you join us!

Early-bird coffee and conversation at [Crimson Cup Coffee Shop - Clintonville](https://www.crimsoncup.com/about/location/clintonville)!

Free at Bexley Library Adventures in Ecological Horticulture with Rebecca McMackin Wednesday, March 18 1:00pm - 2:30pm Gone are the days when a garden could be ornamental alone. We now recognize the impact that our land care practices have on the ecosystems around us, and can see the importance of encouraging biodiversity. Thankfully, we do not need to sacrifice beauty when we invite butterflies and songbirds into our gardens. Rebecca McMackin has cultivated gorgeous landscapes in the toughest environments possible: urban parks, school playgrounds, and the sidewalks of New York City. She will take lessons from her work at Brooklyn Bridge Park, the Brooklyn Museum, and decades of research to share how those of us who are fortunate enough to care for land, can do it beautifully and ecologically. Rebecca McMackin is an ecologically obsessed horticulturist and garden designer. She writes, lectures, and teaches on ecological landscape management and pollination ecology, as well as designs the rare public garden. She is currently Lead Horticulturist for the American Horticultural Society, an Associate with the Harvard Divinity School’s Thinking with Plants and Fungi Initiative, and Consulting Arboretum Curator for Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, NY. Rebecca spent a decade as Director of Horticulture of Brooklyn Bridge Park, where she managed 85 acres of diverse parkland organically. Their research into cultivating urban biodiversity and ethical management strategies has influenced thousands of people and entire urban parks systems to adopt similar approaches. She has been published by and featured in the New York Times, Gardens Illustrated, on NPR and PBS. Her garden for the Brooklyn Museum recently won the PPA’s Award of Excellence and her TED Talk has been viewed over a million times. She holds M.Sc. from Columbia University and University of Victoria in landscape design and biology and recently completed the Loeb Fellowship at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. This program is presented in partnership with Rooted in Bexley and generously funded by the Bexley Community Foundation and Bexley Community Author Series Fund.