Philosophy

**From Strangers to Friends – Community Dinner 🍽️** Join us for a special edition of *From Strangers to Friends*: a cozy community dinner where expats and locals come together to share food, stories, and meaningful conversations. Entrance is free, simply bring a dish from your country to share with the group. After you sign up, we’ll briefly coordinate who brings what so we don’t end up with only desserts 😉. Please bring a small note with the ingredients of your dish so everyone knows what they are eating. If you have any dietary restrictions, let me know. Come alone if you like, many people do! Or bring a friend! You’ll leave with new connections and great conversations. During the dinner, question cards will be on the tables to spark deeper and more interesting discussions. 📍 **Location:** Café Libertas, Klarendalseweg 477-1, Arnhem 🚶 **Distance:** 7-minute walk from Velperpoort station 🕕 **Gathering:** 18:00 🍽️ **Dinner starts:** 18:30 **Entrance:** Bring a dish to share. Curious what our events look like? Check the photo albums in this group (visible on desktop).

#This meetup is around a third-party organizer (Focus Filmtheater): you can either purchase your ticket online or right before the session# **Title**: Joe Speedboot **Language**: Dutch **Subtitles**: English **Length**: 96 min **Director**: Sam de Jong **More info**: https://www.focusarnhem.nl/agenda/english-subs-joe-speedboot/ **Ticket link**: https://www.focusarnhem.nl/agenda/english-subs-joe-speedboot/ **Synopsis**: Sam de Jong (*Met Mes*) ventures into a punky and energetic film adaptation of Tommy Wieringa’s bestseller. After a bizarre accident leaves Fransje Hermans confined to a wheelchair, he seems doomed to spend his days in the sleepy village of Lomark. But then Joe Speedboot arrives. Fransje can no longer move or speak as a result of his accident, and with only one functioning arm, his life seems hopeless. This changes when he forms an unlikely friendship with the charismatic and reckless newcomer Joe. Will Joe help Fransje realize his passionate dreams and satisfy his desire for the enchanting PJ, or is he just another project for the adventure-seeking Joe? **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!

Wil je beter begrijpen hoe moderne cybersecurityoplossingen werken en hoe Zero Trust, detectietechnologie en AI concreet worden toegepast door **Fortinet**? Tijdens deze kennissessie op **18 maart** nemen experts Mario Maas en Eric van Alebeek je mee in de belangrijkste ontwikkelingen binnen het Fortinet‑portfolio, praktisch, inhoudelijk en direct toepasbaar. Zij laten zien hoe Fortinet technologie inzet in de praktijk: van detectiesystemen tot door AI versterkte beveiliging die verweven zit door de hele Security Fabric. **Agenda:** * Introductie + update Fortinet \- Detectie systemen: FortiDeceptor en Mail Workspace * Zero Trust (ZTNA/SASE) * Fortinet AI toepassingen *Het programma zal deze avond als volgt zijn:* * Vanaf 17.15 u: inloop * Rond 17.30/18.00 u: eten * 18.30 u: start kennissessie * 20.00 u: afsluiting We zien jullie graag dan!

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

Hello again lovely people, on Wednesday we will be meeting at the colorful and friendly Cafe Kalff 🏳️‍🌈 Come join us for some drinks, meet new people, chat and socialise to your hearts content! We will be there from at least 21:00-23:00 and will possibly stay later if the group does. We may also head across the canal to Bodytalk later in the evening to dance 💃🏻 This meetup is for people to make new friends in our beautiful community, so don’t be afraid to join if you don’t know anyone. We are a friendly bunch! Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @utrechtlgbt Looking forward to seeing you all you soon! *****IMPORTANT CORONA INFORMATION***** * Do not come to this event if you have Coronavirus symptoms, even if you you are fully vaccinated! * Please be mindful and respectful of other peoples boundaries. * The most important thing is that we keep each other safe! ************************************ ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤

Join us on **March 18 at 5:00 PM** at **Van Der Valk Utrecht A-bar** for an evening of great food, relaxed conversations, and plenty of deep dives into all things **Identity & Access Management**, **Customer IAM**, and **Digital Identities**. This is the perfect way to finalize the State of Identity Utrecht experience together with your fellow IAM enthusiasts. If you work with identity, security, authentication, authorization, or related tech, you’ll feel right at home. Come along, grab a drink, meet fellow practitioners, and be part of the ongoing conversation shaping the future of digital identity. Looking forward to seeing you there! More info on the State of Identity conference: [State of Identity Utrecht 2026 — IAM Event in Utrecht](https://stateofidentityevent.com/utrecht-2026)

Join in for a some drinks (and food, if you want) after work at **The 5th \| Utrecht**. Bring your own project and payment for drinks. As evenings tend to be a bit busier, we'll reserve a table. This means: **Only sign up if you are sure you will come!** And if there's no space left on the event, please don't join spontaneously. \-\-\-\-\- As always, we talk about our projects, exchange tipps, but also just get to know each other and enjoy a drink after a long day in good company. Whether it's knitting, crocheting, stitching, origami, or something more unique, we're looking forward to seeing you!

Join for a relaxing hike through the blooming forest. We will start at Baarn railway station. We will stop for coffee and sketching at the castle cafe along the way, check the farmer shop and contine our way to Hilversum. The hike is around 8km. Dress for the weather (for sun/rain and wind), wear comfortable shoes that are ok to get muddy and bring sketching materials. Meeting at 11:30 at Baarn station. The event is 3 EUR and should be paid before Friday 21:00, via link: https://tikkie.me/pay/i29nqfek15epegigjtue The fee is non-refundable and will be used towards Meetup app organizer fee.

The final novel of Hermann Hesse, *The Glass Bead Game* is a fascinating tale of the complexity of modern life as well as a classic of modern literature. Set in the twenty-third century, *The Glass Bead Game* is the story of Joseph Knecht, who has been raised in Castalia, the remote place his society has provided for the intellectual elite to grow and flourish. Since childhood, Knecht has been consumed with mastering the Glass Bead Game, which requires a synthesis of aesthetics and philosophy, which he achieves in adulthood, becoming a Magister Ludi (Master of the Game).

## 🎨**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!🌟☕🍷🍪🍰**

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/

Join a casual online hour to share you, your brand and business, and learn more about other business owners, locally and globally. Join and share your brand, products/services, and about you. Expand your visibility. Every session will close with gratitude and a mini creative activity, so have a pen and paper, tablet, or something available with which to write/create/draw. **RSVP here via EventBrite: [Event link](https://www.eventbrite.nl/e/you-and-your-brand-a-casual-networking-hour-tickets-1984283125243?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl)** *-* *The only requirements are a minimum age of 18 years old,* *and at least three attendees to make it a worthwhile hour for everyone.*

## *"46% of people in the Netherlands feel lonely — not the loneliness of isolation, but of being unseen. It is highest among the most socially active."* **Guiding question:** *Can you be surrounded by people — and still feel completely alone?* *** Most of us have been there. A full calendar. A social life. People who care about you. And still — a quiet, persistent feeling that nobody truly *sees* you. Not the full version. The one behind the capable, composed exterior you carry through the week. This is not the loneliness of isolation. It is the loneliness of the *unseen* — and it is the defining hidden experience of our time. This session explores why intelligent, self-aware, socially connected people so often feel this gap — and what becomes possible when a room of strangers decides to actually meet each other. This is not therapy. Not a lecture. A calm, honest, philosophy-based inquiry into connection, presence, and what it actually takes to stop being a stranger — even to yourself. *(New to the series? You're welcome. Each session stands alone while forming part of a deeper arc.)* *** ✦ **If you attended Sessions 1 & 2:** We explored the reasons we don't open up — the escape rooms we hide in, the vulnerability that needs safety before it can heal. We turned the lens inward toward self-worth — and discovered that connection becomes lighter when we stop needing to earn our place in a room. Session 3 takes this further. From self-worth to self-disclosure. From being present with yourself — to being present *with others.* The bridge between inner work and real human connection. *** ✦ **What to Expect** * Brief somatic grounding — a breath practice to arrive fully before we begin * Small-group dialogical inquiry — questions that go somewhere, not lectures * Structured breakout conversations — intimate, safe, surprisingly deep * Shared reflection circle — the whole room, one thread * Optional post-event hangout Speaking is optional. Listening is full participation. *** ✦ **A question to sit with before you arrive:** *When did you last feel completely seen by someone — and what made that possible?* *** What shifts when a room full of strangers stops performing for each other? Something real becomes possible. Not connection as a concept — but contact. The kind that reminds you that the lonely corner you retreat to doesn't have to be so dark, or so permanent. This session won't give you answers. It will give you the one thing better than answers: a room where the question can finally breathe. *** ✦ Free entry ✦ Zoku Amsterdam, Weesperstraat 105 ✦ Saturday March 21 — time TBC ✦ Part of *The Art of Being Seen* series *** *Cheers,* *Dev* 🌐 [maisonmagnetique.com](https://maisonmagnetique.com/)

**This event has two meetup spots: Arnhem station (9:30) and 's-Hertogenbosch (10:40)!** Welcome to the page of the Maastricht & Valkenburg daytrip. On the first day of spring, we like to welcome you to a trip to the very southern edge of the Netherlands: home to the picturesque city of Maastricht, and the river valley town of Valkenburg. The plan goes as follows: * 9:30 Meetup Arnhem CS, next to Burger King * 9:53 Train to 's-Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch) * 10:40 Transfer in Den Bosch, second meetup point * 11:08 Train to Maastricht * 12:33 Arrive in Maastricht Those who do not want to go to Valkenburg can stay in Maastricht * 12:41 13-minute train to Valkenburg * ±15:40 Train back to Maastricht * 18:29 Train to Den Bosch * 19:53 2/32 min. transfer in Den Bosch * 20:37/21:07 Arrive in Arnhem While these times are mostly fixed, train disruptions may force us to change the plan. Were they to happen, all changes will be announced in the discussion chat of this event page. **Meetup in Arnhem & Den Bosch** The two meetup places are in Arnhem Centraal Station, next to the Burger King at 9:30, and at 's-Hertogenbosch station on platform 7a at 10:40. If you want to join at another location, like on the train or in Maastricht, please let us know in advance. These are also the places where the group splits and disbands at the end of the day, but of course you may leave the group at any time you like. Please sign up by RSVP on Meetup or via [Google Forms](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2g-H1CVAJrpTD-T0ELzcqoDOmggzyB4bm3lIOqqRRnf0s9Q/viewform?usp=header). We will all travel by using our own OV-Chipkaart or bank card. Tip: if you don't have an NS subscription or the *studentenreisproduct* you can buy train tickets (usually at a discount if you buy it days in advance) on [ns.nl](ns.nl/en) or the NS app. **Payment** In order to keep our Meetup-page active, everyone joining the event will be asked to pay a 2 euro contribution. The payment will be handled via Tikkie, and is refundable if you cancel before Wed March 18th 10:00 - and in any case if we cancel or postpone the event of course. We hope to see you there!

So this month's prompt is more general. I think we can all agree that we are living in "unique" times that require coping skills. I think that one role and/or purpose of philosophy is to help us deal with our daily lives and our "unique" times. So, let's share our feelings and thoughts about which philosopher/philosophy we turn to in order to deal with our crazy events. Who/what helps you stay focused in your daily life and helps you sleep at night. I find that Stoicism with a little philosophical pessimism mixed in goes a long way in helping me deal with what I see as very destructive, fearful and mean spirited public policies at both the state and federal levels. Hope to see you on March 28th!

This is not an event, but an announcement that we are accepting new members. If you'd like to pursue joining our group, please write us at columbusmensgroup@gmail.com with a few paragraphs about yourself, what you'd like to experience in the group, and the contribution that you'd like to make. Thank you!

Main Library Join us for a welcoming evening of reflection, gentle music, and meaningful conversation. We’ll begin with a short grounding moment, followed by a brief reading from spiritual or philosophical traditions, and an open reflection circle where participants can share (or simply listen). Libera Animae is an interfaith community focused on inner growth, creativity, and authentic connection. This first gathering is a simple introduction to the spirit of the group and a chance to meet others seeking deeper meaning and community. All backgrounds are welcome.