Philosophy

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

I’m putting together a small hike trip weekend in Hoorneboegse heide in Hilversum, the idea is to come with a few people who want to step out of their routine, spend time in nature, and meet others in a relaxed way. This is not a tour or a structured retreat. The idea is simple step out of your comfort and everyday life to reconnect with nature and with each other. We will – explore the beautiful nature – share a few moments together – and keep things easy and natural There will be time together (walks and sunset). Group size will be small (around 2- 4 people), to keep it comfortable and personal. This Meetup is to connect people who are interested in real and human connection If this resonates, feel free to join and I’ll share more details 🙂

Are you an **expat** in **Utrecht** and do you want to **learn how to swim?** Look no further! Dive into **personalized swimming lessons** with **Your Personal Swim Coach**. Whether you’re a beginner looking to learn the basics or an advanced swimmer seeking to refine your technique, our expert coaches offer **tailored sessions** that fit your needs. **De Kwakel** is a great pool close to the city center, has free parking, and is easy to reach by bus. It's an **amazing learning environment!** **Don't wait any longer:** **[Sign up for a Try Out Lesson!](https://www.your-personal-swim-coach.nl/product/try-out-adult-swimming-lesson/)** Want to learn more first? Go to our **[website](https://www.your-personal-swim-coach.nl/)** or **[schedule a call!](https://calendly.com/ypsc/new-meeting)**

Welcome to our Volleyball community !! 🏐🎉 We are a community of volleyball enthusiasts who want to enjoy the game, improve their skills, and meet new friends. Our open play sessions offer a friendly, social environment where everyone can get some practice and have fun. Our sessions consist of mixed level play, however intermediate volleyball knowledge is mandatory. We try to have a balanced levels per team to ensure smooth play. If you aren’t familiar with basic volleyball rules and have no experience, sorry to say, but it's not your group. ❗❗ Meetup recently pops up their subscription option after you click on RSVP— you can dismiss it by clicking the "X" in the top left corner. ✅ RSVP & Attendance Attendance is limited to 14 people. If the RSVP list is full, join the waiting list—cancellations happen frequently. If the event appears full on the Meetup app, try using a web browser instead. ❌Cancellations & Refunds cancellation prior to 24h before the event, can be refunded. Can’t make it? Update your RSVP to "Not Going" ASAP so someone else can take your spot. 👟 What to Bring For your own safety and comfort, wear sport shoes and clothing (no street shoes—must change into sport shoes) and bring deodorant for ours. 💸 Payment & Contribution (€6.00 per person) Payment must be made in advance via Tikkie. Please only pay once you are added to the going list. In case you do not meet the payment deadline, you may be moved to the not going list. Looking forward to seeing you on the court! 🏐🔥 Let’s play, have fun, and make new friends!

AI is inmiddels overal in softwareontwikkeling te vinden. Van code genereren tot documentatie schrijven, van workflows automatiseren tot agents die zelfstandig acties uitvoeren. Maar hoe houd je grip op tools die niet altijd hetzelfde antwoord geven? En wie is er uiteindelijk verantwoordelijk als AI daadwerkelijk iets gaat doen? Tijdens deze meetup duiken we in de praktische kant van AI in software engineering en test automation. Zoals altijd georganiseerd door deTesters, TestCoders en TechChamps, in ons kantoor in de Werkspoorkathedraal in Utrecht. Deze keer hebben we twee talks die mooi op elkaar aansluiten. Ghislain Gabriëlse laat zien hoe je AI skills kunt testen wanneer klassieke assertions niet meer genoeg zijn. Bert Jan Schrijver neemt ons mee in de bredere vraag wat AI agents betekenen voor software engineering, verantwoordelijkheid en controle. Twee talks, twee invalshoeken, maar allebei heel relevant voor iedereen die serieus bezig is met kwaliteit, test automation en de manier waarop AI ons vak verandert. **The Agent Who Tested Me: Behavioral Testing for AI Skills** Hoe test je tools die elke keer net een ander antwoord kunnen geven? Ghislain laat zien hoe zij AI skills testen met echte Copilot sessies, zonder alles weg te mocken. Want bij LLMs kun je niet simpelweg een assertEquals op de output zetten. Tenzij je van mega flaky tests houdt. In deze talk neemt hij je mee in een framework waarmee AI skills op verschillende niveaus worden gevalideerd. Van deterministische checks en een LLM Judge tot baseline vergelijkingen en variance analysis. Zo wordt niet alleen gekeken of een skill iets teruggeeft, maar ook of het antwoord klopt, waarde toevoegt en betrouwbaar genoeg is. Een praktische sessie over testen, CI en non determinisme voor iedereen die bezig is met AI, test automation of Copilot skills. **Ghislain Gabriëlse** Ghislain Gabriëlse is een ervaren Test Automation Engineer met ruim 11 jaar ervaring in testen en automatisering. Hij richt zich vooral op het ontwikkelen en inrichten van tools en frameworks die de developer experience verbeteren, zodat teams beter en efficiënter kunnen ontwikkelen en testen. **Software engineering in the age of AI agents: who’s in control?** Een AI verwijdert een production database en blijft vervolgens volhouden dat dit niet is gebeurd. Welkom in moderne software engineering. Generatieve AI wordt steeds vaker een echte samenwerkingspartner. Het schrijft code, past systemen aan en voert acties uit. Maar dat betekent niet automatisch dat het ook doet wat wij denken dat het doet. In deze presentatie neemt Bert Jan ons mee in wat er echt verandert. Niet alleen in hoe we code schrijven, maar vooral in hoe we controleren, begeleiden en verantwoordelijkheid nemen. De rol van engineers verschuift steeds meer van zelf bouwen naar richting geven, beoordelen en kritisch blijven kijken naar wat AI oplevert. Aan de hand van persoonlijke verhalen, inzichten uit de industrie, successen en mislukkingen laat Bert Jan zien hoe je verantwoord om kunt gaan met AI tools die zich razendsnel ontwikkelen. Want ook als je AI het werk laat doen, blijf jij verantwoordelijk voor de uitkomst. **Bert Jan Schrijver** Bert Jan Schrijver is CTO bij OpenValue en houdt zich bezig met Java, AI, software architectuur, Continuous Delivery en DevOps. Hij is Java Champion, JavaOne Rock Star speaker, winnaar van een Duke’s Choice Award en bestuurslid bij NLJUG, de Nederlandse Java User Group. Daarnaast deelt hij graag zijn kennis op conferenties, schrijft hij voor het Nederlandse Java Magazine en helpt hij bij Devoxx4Kids om kinderen te leren programmeren. **Doelgroep** Deze meetup is interessant voor testers, QA engineers, developers en iedereen die bezig is met kwaliteit in moderne software teams. Deze avond is **volledig in het Nederlands (Dutch spoken).** **Programma** 17:30 Ontvangst en eten 18:30 The Agent Who Tested Me: Behavioral Testing for AI Skills 19:30 Korte pauze 19:45 Software engineering in the age of AI agents: who’s in control? 20:45 Q&A en discussie 21:00 Afsluiting met een borrel

> The location is Landhuis in de Stad, Utrecht Want to expand on a game design idea? Talk about a game feature that isn't just ready yet? Are you looking for playtesters or do you want to brainstorm on a new board game design with others and get their feedback? Find out what goes into making board games or just meet like-minded board game enthusiasts? Then the Amsterdam Board Game Design session is for you! Join us on [Discord](https://discord.gg/eDfmkyCyVX) for more information about what we do and upcoming events!

Welcome to our Volleyball community !! 🏐🎉 We are a community of volleyball enthusiasts who want to enjoy the game, improve their skills, and meet new friends. Our open play sessions offer a friendly, social environment where everyone can get some practice and have fun. Our sessions consist of mixed level play, however intermediate volleyball knowledge is mandatory. We try to have a balanced levels per team to ensure smooth play. If you aren’t familiar with basic volleyball rules and have no experience, sorry to say, but it's not your group. ❗❗ Meetup recently pops up their subscription option after you click on RSVP— you can dismiss it by clicking the "X" in the top left corner. ✅ RSVP & Attendance Attendance is limited to 14 people. If the RSVP list is full, join the waiting list—cancellations happen frequently. If the event appears full on the Meetup app, try using a web browser instead. ❌Cancellations & Refunds cancellation prior to 24h before the event, can be refunded. Can’t make it? Update your RSVP to "Not Going" ASAP so someone else can take your spot. 👟 What to Bring For your own safety and comfort, wear sport shoes and clothing (no street shoes—must change into sport shoes) and bring deodorant for ours. 💸 Payment & Contribution (€6.00 per person) Payment must be made in advance via Tikkie (payment link will be send to you). Looking forward to seeing you on the court! 🏐🔥 Let’s play, have fun, and make new friends!

📍 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 🌲✏️

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.

*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/)**

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

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 a relaxed and friendly matcha tasting meetup. I’ll bring matcha for everyone to try, and you’re welcome to bring your own snacks and drinks, including alcohol if you like. This is a casual event for meeting new people, enjoying Japanese tea culture, and spending a cozy afternoon together. Beginners are very welcome. Free to join.

Welcome to Drunken Philosophy, a casual, curious, social discussion club. Come grab a drink and a seat at The Oracle. **Optional topic for this meetup: Where is everybody?** In 1950 the physicist Enrico Fermi was talking about aliens over lunch and asked a question that still has not gone away: if the universe is so vast and so old, and even a fraction of those billions of stars have planets, where is everyone? By the numbers the galaxy should be crowded with civilizations. Instead we look up and hear silence. That gap between "they should be everywhere" and "we see no one" is the Fermi Paradox. One of the most unsettling answers is the idea of a **Great Filter**: somewhere on the road from dead chemistry to a galaxy-spanning civilization, there is at least one step that is almost impossible to get past. Maybe the filter is behind us. Maybe life starting at all, or simple cells becoming complex, or intelligence ever evolving, is the freak accident, and we already cleared the hard part. Or maybe the filter is ahead of us, and advanced civilizations reliably wipe themselves out before they spread. Here is the part that messes with people. If we ever found life somewhere else, even pond scum on Mars, most people would call it the greatest discovery in history. But it might be the worst possible news. It would mean life is common, the early steps are easy, and the hard step is still in front of us. So the eerie silence overhead might actually be the best sign we could ask for. **Questions to wrestle with:** * Is it better to be alone? Would you rather we find alien life and learn we are not special, or find nothing and quietly improve our odds of surviving? * Where do you bet the filter sits, behind us or ahead of us, and why? * If it is ahead of us, what is it? Nuclear war, climate collapse, AI, something we cannot even picture yet? And can we do anything about a filter we cannot see coming? * Does any of this change how you live, or how humanity should be spending its time and money right now? As always the prompt is optional. Come for the conversation, stay for the drinks, and bring your own questions.

Sleep in on Sundays. When you've had your fill of pajama-time, roll out and have some tasty brunch with your fellow Humanists!

Join the weight loss in Columbus group at the Scioto Audubon Park for an in person meeting. We'll meet to chat casually, talk about goals and enjoy one of Columbus's wonderful parks. We'll meet at one of the outdoor shelters, which is covered in case of rain, is close to some walking trails, and there's also a climbing gym that people can try out (my favorite past time) if people are interested. Let's meet and see where we can take things!

Main Library, Meeting Room 2B 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. All backgrounds are welcome.

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