Local History & Culture

Join us to meet new people, and discover the local side of Amsterdam. In a 2 hour walk, we cover the highlights from Amsterdam and share the history as well as our best local places. Join us to see the local side of Amsterdam.

Discover the Alternative side of Amsterdam with a local insider. What did the hippie culture do in Amsterdam? Is drugs legal? Free houseboat, free bikes? And a lot more stories of the liberal side of Amsterdam. For more info check: https://freealternativetouramsterdam.com/ Book via the website, it is the only way to book a spot.

Tijdens de maakavonden van Meet Je Stad soldeer je je eigen meetkastje dat temperatuur, luchtvochtigheid en fijnstof\* kan meten. Het solderen is geschikt voor iedereen: van beginner tot expert! Daarnaast bieden we begeleiding, dus hoef je niet bang te zijn dat je er niet uit komt. Ter deelname betaal je €15 voor de materialen. Vaak lukt het niet om al het soldeerwerk binnen één avond af te krijgen, maar dit is geen probleem; tijdens onze volgende maakavonden kun je langskomen om je werk af te maken. Inmiddels zijn er in de stad Utrecht nu zo’n 150 mensen die hun eigen meetkastje hebben gesoldeerd. Als je kastje af is wordt hij geregistreerd en kun je hem bij jou thuis ophangen/neerzetten. Hierbij krijg je instructies zodat je de juiste locatie kunt kiezen en je metingen zo betrouwbaar mogelijk zijn. Als het dan eenmaal hangt kun je via de kaart op de [website van Meet Je Stad](https://meetjestad.net/index3.php?loc=Tb) bijhouden welke metingen je kastje neemt: zo kun je bijvoorbeeld zien op welke momenten het bij jou het warmst is en vergelijkingen maken met waardes van andere meetkastjes. Dat kan door middel van [deze tool](https://mjs-datavisualisation-fez7kynngq-ez.a.run.app/) die je helpt om grafieken te maken. Dan kan je er achter komen hoe jouw omgeving ervoor staat in vergelijking met de rest van de stad. Meet Je Stad organiseert ook kennisavonden met gastsprekers die vertellen over hitte, fijnstof en andere burgerinitiatieven in de stad. Dit zijn ook gelijk geschikte momenten voor deelnemers om met elkaar in discussie te gaan over hun metingen en ondervindingen. Zo hopen we een netwerk van betrokken inwoners te creëren en meer te weten te komen over de milieuomstandigheden in de stad! *\*De fijnstofsensor is optioneel en kost 20 euro extra. Indien je deze bij je meetkastje wilt moet je deze via een draad met een stroombron binnen 15 meter kunnen verbinden.* **Organisatie:** Milieucentrum Utrecht (MCU) in samenwerking met de Makerscommunity HaHaHo. **Locatie:** Bibliotheek Neude, Huis van Actief Burgerschap (begane grond) **Kosten:** 15 euro voor materiaalkosten, 20 euro extra voor fijnstofsensor. *Bij te weinig aanmeldingen kan de workshop afgelast worden.*

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.

New Year, New Sport! ​Whether you've never played volleyball before or it’s been many years since you last hit the court, you are very welcome to join our Beginner Group! ​We train every Monday at 9 PM at Gymnasium Bibian Mentel in Zeeburgereiland. ​Come learn the basics, get moving, and meet new people in a fun, relaxed environment. ​Get more info here: ​WhatsApp Group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/EnPEK1bHLiTGdpqz6Vtbm4 ​Instagram: @brazucavolley

Beste Java-ontwikkelaar, We nodigen je graag uit voor een fysieke Java Meetup bij de Belastingdienst over **DDD, Event Storming en Hexagonal Architecture** door Arjen Wassink & Cees van der Velde van Quintor. **Programma:** 17:45 Inloop 18:00 Indonesisch buffet (halal, koosjer & vegetarisch) 19:00 Presentatie **Domain Driven Design / Event Storming** 19:45 Pauze (koffie/thee) 20:15 Presentatie **Hexagonal Architecture** 21:00 Drankjes met hapjes 21:30 Afsluiting De presentaties worden in het Nederlands gegeven. **Betere systemen ontwikkelen met hulp van DDD, Event Storming en Hexagonal Architecture** Je hebt het vast wel eens meegemaakt dat je een software systeem onder handen krijgt die niet makkelijk te onderhouden, upgraden of uit te breiden is. Iedere aanpassing lijkt exponentieel veel tijd te vergen. Er kunnen verschillende oorzaken hiervoor zijn, maar vaak zie je dat er te veel afhankelijkheden in de sourcecode zijn, verantwoordelijkheden niet goed belegd zijn of het systeem niet goed aansluit op de werkelijkheid. In deze sessie gaan we in op hoe DDD, Event Storming en Hexagonal Architecture ons kan helpen deze punten te verbeteren aan de hand van een concrete casus, diagrammen en sourcecode. Zo gaan we in op: * hoe Event Storming kan helpen de brug te slaan tussen de ‘business’ en developers, zodat een systeem aansluit op de werkelijkheid * DDD artefacten input leveren voor het bepalen van een systeemarchitectuur met duidelijke verantwoordelijkheden en afhankelijkheden * Hexagonal Architecture handvatten biedt voor een software architectuur met minder functionele- en technisch afhankelijkheden Mis deze inspirerende kennissessie niet en ontdek hoe je jouw softwareprojecten toekomstbestendiger maakt! **Arjen Wassink** Arjen is een architect bij Quintor met 25 jaar ervaring in het bouwen, onderhouden en doorontwikkelen van verschillende soorten systemen met Java technologie. Met zijn brede techniek en vakmanschap interesse is hij instaat enterprise architecturen te vertalen naar systeem- en software architecturen, en werkwijzen die werken. Hiernaast verzorgt hij een minor cloud-native software development aan de Hogeschool Utrecht waarin hij nieuwe vakgenoten leert professioneel software te ontwikkelen voor de cloud. **Cees van der Velde** Cees is een ervaren business- en informatieanalist bij Quintor met een passie voor techniek. Zijn kracht ligt in het helder krijgen en begrijpen van vraagstukken en deze te vertalen naar een concrete oplossingen die aansluiten bij de behoeften van developers, zodat effectief het juiste systeem gebouwd wordt. **Deelname:** Deelname is gratis. **Locatie:** Belastingdienst Stationsplein 50 (naast het bus- en NS-station) 7311 NZ Apeldoorn **Opmerkingen:** * Vergeet uw paspoort of identiteitskaart niet mee te nemen. * Registreer met dezelfde achternaam als op uw paspoort of identiteitskaart. * Geef eventuele dieetwensen door, anders dan halal, koosjer en vegetarisch. * Wij raden u aan om met het openbaar vervoer of de fiets te komen. * Er zijn 30 parkeerplaatsen onder ons kantoor, navigatieadres Sophialaan 22 - 7311 PD Apeldoorn. * Overige parkeermogelijkheden: 1. Parkeergarage Haven-Centrum, navigatieadres: Korte Molenstraat 2 Apeldoorn, 2. P+R, Laan van de Mensenrechten Apeldoorn.

Join us for an evening of good vibes! Whether you’re a local or an expat, Mingle Mania is the perfect place to socialize and make friends or even to practice languages. ‍♂️‍♂️ Join [https://chat.whatsapp.com/GopSuzuFKRBKeYVKQrX4pE](https://chat.whatsapp.com/GopSuzuFKRBKeYVKQrX4pE) The group has many regular members, we intend to do various type of events, the goal is to build a strong community for all sorts of activities. If you have an event idea that you would like to see happen, let us know. We generally have about 20 participants, the age is between 20 and 60 averaging somewhere around 30, language exchange is not strictly enforced, culture exchange happens naturally. **mingle** (verb, intransitive): to move among people and talk to them, especially at a social event. **What We Are:** * A diverse group of locals and expats * ...going out at least every Tuesday **Event Details:** * It is free to join and operated on a voluntary basis! * Please honor the bar by ordering at least one drink.

Hi✋ At[ Data Tribes ](https://www.datatribes.nl/)we organise Meetups because we truly care about sharing knowledge both inside and outside the organisation. We believe that it is beneficial to us and to the market as a whole to connect, create, learn and grow together! **The agenda** // Doors open 6.00pm // Drinks and Pizza’s 6.30pm // Start presentations 7.00pm **Henk van der Valk:** "Optimizing the Azure cloud?" ***Who really cares about Cost & Co2?*** // Start networking 9.00pm // End Meetup 9.30pm Greetings, Data Tribes Inc.

** ABOUT OUR WATERCOLOR PAINTING PARTY / AMERSFOORT** Amersfoort - Utrecht Province / Center of the City / Easy access from train station. Create your very own **portrait, animals, landscape, or figurative** masterpiece in only **2.5 HOURS using watercolor and our secret mixed media techniques!.** This session is not about perfection; it is about capturing emotions and personal expression. **No experience required** **\- trust us\!** our professional artist will guide you step-by-step through this unique self-portrait journey. You can look forward to a fun and exciting evening with other participants, **so it doesn't matter if you want to come with friends or alone - you are very welcome!** This is the perfect after-work or weekend activity where you'll unleash your creativity while creating something deeply personal. You will create a portrait combining painting, drawing, and creative techniques to bring your unique vision to life. When finished, you'll take home your newly created self-portrait artwork to cherish or share with loved ones. Each participant will have pencils, colored pencils, watercolor, acrylic/gouache paints, and a surface. You'll work from an image we will bring. **️ READY TO HAVE FUN?** Get your Ticket and book your seat **✨[HERE](https://buymeacoffee.com/artloversclub/e/430555) ✨** **Questions?** Speak with a member of the team in **[WHATSAPP HERE](https://chat.whatsapp.com/J3Y5yeWUhvbJM98bqty2WP) ** .................................... ** WHAT'S INCLUDED?** All supplies included **2.5-HOUR [TICKET SESSION](https://buymeacoffee.com/artloversclub/e/430555)** ️ **EXTRA BONUS:** **FREE TICKET**️ to participate in our Drawing and Painting Cafes in Amersfoort or Our Online Still-Life sessions if you live far away. New friendships and Conversations Freedom to work at your own pace **English tutored activity** (And of course, you can speak in your local language with your friends!) ⭐ No experience needed **️ BOOK YOUR SEAT IN ADVANCE ✨[HERE](https://buymeacoffee.com/artloversclub/e/430555) ✨!** **Questions?** Speak with a member of the team in **[WHATSAPP](https://chat.whatsapp.com/J3Y5yeWUhvbJM98bqty2WP) ** ** 2026 CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS:** First Sunday or every month from 11.00 AM - 1:30 PM. .................................... **️ ART LOVERS CLUB / ABOUT US** **ART LOVERS CLUB** is a community where art enthusiasts come together to explore their creativity and connect with new buddies through various events and sessions ( In-Person and Online) . Whether you're a seasoned artist or just starting, we have something for everyone!⭐ To share with you more about what we do, you can see here the overall atmosphere of our events in Amersfoort and also follow us if you want⭐: **[https://www.instagram.com/art_lovers_social_club](https://www.instagram.com/art_lovers_social_club)** **Questions?** Speak with a member of the team in **[WHATSAPP](https://chat.whatsapp.com/J3Y5yeWUhvbJM98bqty2WP) ** ** 2025 CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS:** First Sunday or every month from 11.00 AM - 1:30 PM. **See you soon. We are looking forward to painting and having Fun Together! ‍‍‍‍**

**Welcome to our February UX Beers in Antwerp!** This time, we will host our event on Tuesday the 24th of February with [Ariad](https://www.ariadgroup.com/en) at [Plein Magazijn](https://www.pleinmagazijn.be) in Antwerp. [Ariad](https://www.ariadgroup.com/) and [Creative Skills](https://www.creativeskills.be/) sponsor our events. Follow the event online? We stream live via [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBqyTDAyQBw) \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- \#\#\# UX TALKS **Talk 1: Align or Fail: When Brand Meets UX** [Mario Restrepo](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mario-restrepo/), Creative Director Every interaction shape perception and tells a brand story, whether intended or not. In this talk, we explore why UX is the space where brand promises are either proven or broken, and why, in the age of AI, alignment between brand and user experience has become a strategic imperative. Drawing on real-world examples, this talk reframes UX designers as brand storytellers, and UX deciders and stakeholders as guardians of trust. It also introduces an **AI-driven Brand Sentiment Analysis workflow**, showing how teams can translate user signals into actionable insights, and design experiences that don’t just function, but reinforce how a brand is felt, remembered, and believed. **Talk 2: The UX evolution: thriving in the age of intelligent systems** [David Grunewald](https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidgrunewald/), Founder of Pluginto.ai , AI-Strategist AI is fundamentally changing how UX professionals work, but it's amplifying our capabilities, not replacing them. This 45-minute session explores what's actually happening in 2026. You'll see real implementations from banking, healthcare, and other sectors: proactive systems that anticipate needs, conversational interfaces that adapt to individual patterns, and hyper-personalisation at scale. We'll examine **four trends reshaping UX practice and, more importantly, what they mean for your daily work**. What's being automated? What's gaining value? And what are the five essential skills that set you apart in an AI-augmented world? You'll leave with clarity on how to evolve your practice and confidence that your human expertise remains your competitive advantage. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- \#\#\# SCHEDULE 18:00 - Doors open. Drinks & snacks 19.00 - 19.15 - Introduction to UX Belgium Meetup, announcements 19.15 - 19:45 - Talk #1 19:45 -20:15 - BREAK 20:15 - 20:45 - Talk #2 20:45 - 21:30 - Socialize \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- \#\#\# SLACK CHANNEL We have our own UX Belgium slack channel. [Come join us and say hi!](https://join.slack.com/t/ux-belgium/shared_invite/zt-1bjpnuiog-T4Di4flXYPWgbT9KrZ53CA) \*\*\* \#\#\# YOUTUBE CHANNEL All our livestreams and talks are recorded and available on our [UX Belgium youtube channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCno7V18T-EglYXprgrUZQ7A). \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- \#\#\# ABOUT UX BELGIUM UX Belgium is a growing community of User Experience (UX) professionals in and around Belgium. Look for these types of events: UX Beers Periodically, we gather at a different agency or venue to drink beers, network and listen to speakers on various themes in the world of UX and digital design. UX Antwerp: Each last Tuesday of the month UX Brussels: Each second Tuesday of the month, 4x per year UX Hasselt: 4x per year UX Workshops Now and then we organize events to dive deeper into specific skills and techniques in UX. These are smaller, hands-on workshops designed to boost your UX toolbox. \*\*\* The UX Belgium Meetup Team

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."

Coffee and conversation at [Stauf's Coffee Roasters](https://www.staufs.com/) in German Village. Street parking is free on Sundays.

#### Turning Rentals Into Income: How Investors Pay Off Properties Faster #### **Featuring Guest Speaker: John Blackburn** ** Get your FREE TICKET [HERE](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/turning-rentals-into-income-how-investors-pay-off-properties-faster-tickets-1980492192461?aff=cicmeetupapp)** #### A lot of people get into real estate because they want freedom. Then they buy a rental…and realize most of the rent goes straight to the bank. They technically own property, but the mortgage controls the income. And waiting 30 years for properties to be paid off doesn’t feel realistic. This meetup is about understanding a different way to think about rental properties… one that focuses on paying them off sooner so the income is actually usable. **Featured Guest Speaker: John Blackburn** We’re excited to welcome John Blackburn as our guest speaker for this event. John has been actively investing in real estate since 2006 and has: * Been involved in **5,000+ real estate transactions** * Helped investors **acquire over $150 million in rental property** * **Raised more than $100 million** in private capital John didn’t start with family money or shortcuts. He built his portfolio by focusing on clear systems, real numbers, and long-term strategy. For this meetup, John will walk through how investors shift their focus from simply owning rentals to building properties that eventually pay them…without a mortgage attached. **What You’ll Learn** John will break down, in simple terms: * Why most rental properties don’t produce much usable income early on * Why buying more rentals isn’t always the answer * How investors structure their properties to pay off mortgages in a fraction of the time * How properties can work together to eliminate debt faster * What changes once rentals become free and clear This approach is often referred to as an accelerated paydown strategy — using rental income intentionally to reduce debt sooner, rather than waiting decades for mortgages to run their course. John will also share a simple calculator you can use to see how this works with real numbers and realistic scenarios. **The Core Idea** When a rental has a mortgage, the rent has one job: **pay the bank.** When a rental is paid off, the rent has a different job: **pay you.** Most people only see one timeline…30 years. This session shows how investors shorten that timeline and gradually increase their income as properties become free and clear. **Who This Event Is For** This event is for people who want more than just “owning rentals” on paper. * Rental owners who are tired of most of the rent going to the bank and want a clearer path to real, usable income * New investors who want to understand how rental properties actually build wealth over time before jumping in * People with capital who want to invest in real estate with intention and a long-term plan * Anyone serious about freedom and curious how rental properties transition from debt-heavy assets into income-producing ones **Event Details** **Location:** Ohio Brewing Company - 421 E 2nd Ave, Columbus, OH 43201 **Date & Time:** January 25th, 6–8 PM (Doors open at 5:30) **Cost:** Free (Seats are limited - RSVP required) ** Get your FREE TICKET [HERE](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/turning-rentals-into-income-how-investors-pay-off-properties-faster-tickets-1980492192461?aff=cicmeetupapp)** If you’ve ever wondered how rental properties actually turn into freedom —this is the room to be in.

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

Welcome, readers! Our February read is **_1984 by George Orwell._** In 1984, George Orwell imagines a world where the government watches everyone, rewrites reality, and punishes even private thoughts. Winston Smith dares to question this system, believing that truth and love might still exist. His rebellion draws him into a chilling struggle against a power that knows him better than he knows himself. The novel leaves readers asking whether freedom is possible when reality itself can be controlled. Looking forward to discussing with everyone! We will meet at Zaftig Brewing Co in their event room in the back. We are welcome to bring in our own food, but **drinks must be purchased at the bar.** Happy reading!

We'll play board games at the [Land-Grant Brewing Company](https://landgrantbrewing.com/). The brewery has multiple [food trucks](https://landgrantbrewing.com/food/) on Sundays, including [Ray Ray's Hog Pit](https://rayrayshogpit.com/franklinton), [Buck City Sammies](https://www.buckcitysammies.com/menu), and [Hai Poké](https://www.haipokefoodtruck.com/). The brewery also has (passable) drip coffee, free water, and Jeni's ice cream. You can also walk over to the [Land Grant Extension](https://callinyourbluffcoffee.com/) for "real" coffee. (You may have to stand in line, though. The Extension is popular.) You can come late or leave early. Please just sign up so I know to expect you. **Notes on Parking** * You'll (probably) have to park on the street, but street parking is free on Sundays. * There are [parking garages](https://landgrantbrewing.com/parking/) a little farther away if you want. These are obviously not free, though. * There is a [lot next door](https://www.google.com/maps/place/39%C2%B057'26.0%22N+83%C2%B000'40.9%22W/@39.957211,-83.0119921,19z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m12!1m7!3m6!1s0x88388f3efd89238b:0xc139207386232411!2sLand-Grant+Brewing+Company!8m2!3d39.9577613!4d-83.011426!16s%2Fg%2F1pzt7t9df!3m3!8m2!3d39.957211!4d-83.011347?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDEyMS4wIKXMDSoKLDEwMDc5MjA3MUgBUAM%3D) to the brewery that you're allowed to park in, but it is not free. I've never parked there, so I don't know anything about rates. (I'm told though that if you eat at Milo's Deli next door to this lot that Milo's will stamp your parking so it's free.) * You're going to see odd signs on [Lucas St](https://www.google.com/maps/place/39%C2%B057'26.1%22N+83%C2%B000'40.3%22W/@39.957256,-83.0124134,19z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m10!1m5!3m4!2zMznCsDU3JzI4LjgiTiA4M8KwMDAnNDEuNSJX!8m2!3d39.957993!4d-83.011536!3m3!8m2!3d39.957256!4d-83.011197?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDEyMS4wIKXMDSoKLDEwMDc5MjA3MUgBUAM%3D) (saying it's a "private street") that will lead you to believe you're not allowed to park there, but you actually are. * Columbus parking cops literally do not work on Sundays. This means that, even if you're driving a non-EV, you can park in the EV spots near the brewery. **Games** I do bring many games, but please bring some of your own as well.