Entrepreneurship

Dyslexie Cafe Utrecht is er voor alle conceptuele denkers. Voor mensen met dyslexie, hun naasten
 en voor iedereen met een brein dat net even anders werkt. Een plek voor ontmoeting en herkenning. Hier hoef je niet uit te leggen
waarom je hoofd sneller denkt dan je hand kan schrijven.
Of waarom je ideeën grenzeloos zijn
maar niet altijd uitkomen zoals je zou willen. Hier mag je binnenlopen bij mensen die weten hoe het voelt. en schaamteloos jezelf zijn. Tijdens het cafe creëren we ruimte, praten we over de krachten en de uitdagingen. Niet hangen en luisteren maar interactief ontdekken. Soms met een thema.
 Soms ontstaat het gesprek vanzelf.
 De inhoud wordt mede bepaald door jou. Kom en deel je verhaal, stel vragen en ontdek nieuwe inzichten met mensen zoals jij.

We are back with your monthly dose of PHPAmersfoort on the 12th of May. We are invited by the people of the Bitlair Hackerspace in Amersfoort, where Maarten Bode will show us how Pricore can be used as an open-source private package registry for Composer. 19:00 - Doors open 19:30 - **Manage private packages with Pricore** \- Maarten Bode 20:30 - Social **Manage private packages with Pricore** Private PHP-packages beheren klinkt simpel. Satis die vastloopt, tokens die rondslingeren, geen zicht op wie toegang heeft. In deze talk laat Maarten zien hoe Pricore als open-source Laravel-app private package management weer overzichtelijk maakt.

**Um was geht es dieses mal?** Dieses Mal dreht sich alles um aktuelle Herausforderungen, Best Practices und Trends rund um IT-Sicherheit. Freut euch auf praxisnahe Einblicke, spannende Diskussionen und den Austausch mit Security-Expert:innen. **So leicht können Hacker Ihr Unternehmen über öffentliche Daten angreifen - Mehmet Avci (codecentric)** Jedes Unternehmen hinterlässt einen digitalen Fußabdruck – oft unbemerkt, aber öffentlich zugänglich. Genau diese frei verfügbaren Informationen machen sich Angreifer im Rahmen von Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) zunutze, um gezielte Angriffe vorzubereiten, ohne dabei technische Schutzmechanismen direkt angreifen zu müssen. In diesem Talk wird gezeigt, wie einfach es für Angreifer ist, Unternehmen allein auf Basis öffentlich verfügbarer Daten zu analysieren und zu kompromittieren. Nach einer Einführung in die Grundlagen von OSINT und die typischen Phasen eines OSINT‑Prozesses werden verschiedene Techniken vorgestellt und eingeordnet. Dazu gehören unter anderem Subdomain‑Enumeration, Google Dorking, die Auswertung von Unternehmensinformationen, Social‑Media‑Analysen, das Sammeln von E‑Mail‑Adressen sowie die Nutzung von Datenlecks und Breach‑Daten. Anhand praxisnaher Beispiele aus realen Szenarien wird verdeutlicht, wofür diese Techniken eingesetzt werden und wie Angreifer die gewonnenen Informationen miteinander kombinieren, um detaillierte Profile von Organisationen, Infrastrukturen und Mitarbeitenden zu erstellen. Der Vortrag schärft das Bewusstsein dafür, wie aus scheinbar harmlosen Einzeldaten ein ernstzunehmendes Sicherheitsrisiko entstehen kann – und warum OSINT ein zentraler Bestandteil moderner Angriffe ist. **This is fine - until it's not - Christian Uhsat (codecentric)** Was passiert, wenn was passiert? Erfahrungsberichte aus Digitaler Forensik und Incident Response im Kampf gegen Cybercrime, Ransomware und den allgemeinen Wahnsinn. **Hybrides Setup!** Wir freuen uns, euch bei uns in den Räumen der codecentric AG in Dortmund willkommen zu heißen. Vor Ort versorgen wir euch mit Snacks und Getränken und freuen uns gleichzeitig über interessante Diskussionen und einen guten Austausch. Für alle, die es nicht zu uns ins Office schaffen, werden wir das Meetup Hybrid durchführen. Der Stream beginnt ca. 10 Minuten später, damit wir vor Ort ausreichend Möglichkeit für persönliches Kennenlernen haben. Den Live-Stream findet ihr auf dem [YouTube-Channel ](https://www.youtube.com/@codecentricAG)der codecentric AG. **Wichtig - Absage bitte rechtzeitig:** Wir bestellen das Essen bereits 3 Tage vor dem Meetup. Falls ihr doch verhindert sein solltet, bitten wir euch um eine rechtzeitige Absage. Das ist wichtig, damit wir nicht unnötig Essen verschwenden müssen. Vielen Dank für euer Verständnis! **Anreise:** Per Zug: Vom Dortmunder HBF sind es ca. 10 Minuten zu Fuß. Mit dem Auto: Rund um das Office gibt es einige Parkflächen, dazu befinden sich in dem Parkhaus der Thier-Galerie weitere Parkplätze.

We are excited to announce our next Utrecht JUG meetup, on **May 12th** hosted by **JDriven**. It will be an evening packed with practical insights and real-world lessons from modern software development. Join us for a great mix of knowledge sharing, engaging talks, and of course food, drinks, and good conversations. We kick off the evening with food and drinks before diving into our first session, where **Susanne Pieterse** explores how Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) can be applied in large-scale, real-world environments. Moving beyond demos, she’ll share hands-on experiences from modernizing legacy systems, covering challenges like document processing, access control, and keeping AI grounded in reliable data. After the break, **Jos Roseboom** takes the stage with a deep dive into performance pitfalls in JPA and related technologies. With practical examples and a touch of humor, this session uncovers how ORM abstractions can sometimes lead to unexpected slowdowns and how to detect and fix them before they impact your users. We’ll wrap up the evening with drinks, giving you plenty of time to connect with fellow developers, exchange ideas, and reflect on the sessions. Plus, don’t miss the chance to win a JetBrains license in our giveaway. Join us for an evening full of learning, inspiration, and great conversations. Please join us and RSVP! Because of the limited number of seats, please keep your RSVP up-to-date, so we can welcome someone else if you can't make it. *** ## Timeschedule 17:00 Doors open 17:45 Food & Drinks 18:30 RAG in the Wild: Real-World Lessons from Modernizing Legacy Systems by Susanne Pieterse 19:30 Break 19:45 When ORM Becomes OMG: Performance Pitfalls in JPA and Friends by Jos Roseboom 20:45 Drinks # Giveaway 1 JetBrains licence *** # Talks ## RAG in the Wild: Real-World Lessons from Modernizing Legacy Systems Enterprise and government document systems hold terabytes of valuable unstructured information, yet most still rely on keyword and metadata search with little semantic context. Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) promises a breakthrough, but tutorials rarely prepare you for regulated, large-scale environments. In this talk, I’ll share lessons from building a RAG stack with Spring Boot, Elasticsearch, LangChain4j, Docker, and ActiveMQ, using both Azure OpenAI and Ollama. Expect concrete insights on document chunking, enforcing access control, and keeping LLMs grounded in facts — practical takeaways for anyone bringing RAG from demo to production. *** # When ORM Becomes OMG: Performance Pitfalls in JPA and Friends JPA makes database interaction feel almost magical—until your app grinds to a halt. In this talk, we’ll take a tour through the common (and not-so-common) performance pitfalls that turn object-relational mapping into an object-relational mess. From data loading surprises to connection mismanagement, we’ll explore real-world issues using a sample app: the FunFactStore, where fun facts are sold, but bugs are free. We’ll dig into how seemingly harmless libraries can sometimes do more harm than good, and how tooling can help you spot trouble before your users do. Whether you’re using Spring Data JPA, navigating tricky transaction boundaries, or just wondering why things suddenly got slow, this session offers practical insights—and maybe a few fun facts. *** # Speakers ## Susanne Pieterse As an autodidact full-stack engineer and iSAQB-certified software architect, Susanne thrives on innovation, learning, and knowledge-sharing, with tea and a heavy-bag boxing workout fueling the journey. She helps Java developers, who are eager to explore generative AI, transform their ideas into high-value, real-world creations. *** ## Jos Roseboom Jos gets a smile on his face when he makes other people happy by letting a computer do what they don’t like to do. He has been trying to do so professionally for the past 16 years. In his spare time, Jos likes to play tennis. He is a trainer/coach for kids playing the typical Dutch sport korfball.

Op dinsdag 12 mei organiseren we weer een SIDN TechTalk! Dit jaar is voor ons een speciaal jaar, SIDN bestaat namelijk 30 jaar en het .nl-domein bestaat zelfs 40 jaar. Een echt jubileumjaar dus! Al 30 jaar zorgen wij met trots voor het .nl-domein, een van de grootste en veiligste landendomeinen ter wereld! Dit jubileum laten we natuurlijk niet stilletjes voorbijgaan. Daarom staat deze TechTalk in het teken van 30 jaar SIDN en 40 jaar .nl. Ook dit keer hebben we 2 interessante sprekers én een lekkere maaltijd. Laat je inspireren en kom op 12 mei naar de SIDN TechTalk. Meld je snel aan! **Programma** **18.00 – 19.00 uur: inloop met (buffet)diner** Zorg dat je nog niet gegeten hebt, want wij zorgen voor een lekkere gratis maaltijd! **19.00 – 19.45 uur Talk 1:** **Een reis door 30 jaar aan SIDN-infrastructuur – Marc Groeneweg** Marc neemt jullie mee door 30 jaar aan SIDN-infrastructuur: van de tijd waarin .nl draaide op een paar servers en een flinke dosis pioniersmentaliteit, tot de moderne, robuuste en soms bijna eigenwijze systemen van nu. Het wordt een reis langs hoogtepunten, “creatieve oplossingen” en technische keuzes die ons hebben gebracht waar we staan - en waar we soms achteraf om kunnen lachen. Laten we beginnen aan deze tijdreis door 3 decennia techniek… zonder rollbackplan. *Over Marc Groeneweg* Marc is senior DNS-engineer en product owner met ruim 20 jaar ervaring bij SIDN, met uitgebreide expertise in het ontwerpen, beveiligen en beheren van autoritatieve DNS-diensten en wereldwijde DNS-anycastinfrastructuren. Bedreven in DNSSEC, zonebeheer, DNS-publicatieprocessen en grootschalige netwerkinfrastructuren. Beschikt over een sterke achtergrond in ICT-projectmanagement, securityarchitectuur en procesverbetering. **19.45 – 20.30 uur Talk 2:** **Digitale autonomie: gisteren, heden en in de toekomst – Daniel Karrenberg** Daniel neemt je aan de hand van een reeks persoonlijke verhalen mee langs de ‘geboorte’ van .nl en RIPE in de Amsterdamse Watergraafsmeer, via individuele keuzes voor meer autonomie tot strategieën voor de toekomst. Wat hebben wij geleerd en wat kunnen wij doen nu en in de toekomst op het gebied van digitale autonomie? Discussie gewenst! *Over Daniel Karrenberg* Daniel Karrenberg is een van de pioniers van het internet in Europa. In de jaren 1980 hielp hij bij de opbouw van EUnet, de eerste pan-Europese internet service provider. In die tijd deelde hij een kantoor met Piet Beertema, de eerste beheerder van .nl. In 1989 was Daniel een van de oprichters van RIPE (Réseaux IP Européens), het belangrijkste samenwerkingsforum in Europa voor internetcoördinatie. In de jaren 1990 leidde Daniel de oprichting van het eerste regionale internet registry ter wereld, RIPE Network Coördination Centre (RIPE NCC), dat Europa, het Midden-Oosten en eerder ook delen van Afrika en Centraal-Azië bedient. Daniel was CEO van RIPE NCC van 1992 tot 2000 en chief scientist van 2000 tot 2013. In deze rol heeft hij een groot aantal activiteiten geleid, waaronder de RIPE Routing Information Service (RIS), het wereldwijde meetplatform RIPE Atlas, de DNS Monitoring Service (DNSMON), RIPEstat en, samen met NLnet Labs, de Name Server Daemon (nsd). In 2001 ontving Daniel de gerenommeerde Jon Postel Internet Service Award "voor twee decennia van buitengewone toewijding aan de ontwikkeling van netwerken in Europa en wereldwijd"; in 2012 werd hij opgenomen in de Internet Hall of Fame. **20.30 - 21.00 uur: Napraten onder het genot van een borrel.** **Taal** De sessies zijn in het Nederlands. **Meenemen** Identiteitsbewijs **Aanmelden/afmelden** Het bezoeken van TechTalk is gratis. Wij maken natuurlijk wel kosten. Heb je je aangemeld, maar kan je er toch niet bij zijn? Meld je dan snel af, dan kunnen wij jouw plek aan een ander geven.

**3D Workshop** * **Ontwerpen met Fusion360** * **Scannen in 3D** * **Het gebruik van 3D printers** **Je bent nu welkom in de nieuwe locatie NewTechPark** Je kunt ook online aan deze fysieke bijeenkomst deelnemen. De bijeenkomst is dan op de locatie te volgen. Als je [hier](w.j.put@hccnet.nl) vooraf een mailtje stuurt kun je dinsdagavond tussen 19.00 en 20.00 uur inloggen met Jitsi voor vragen, of ter kennismaking met hcc!3D. Online neem je deel aan de bijeenkomst met [https://wij.hcc.nl/3D](https://wij.hcc.nl/3D) [(Alleen toegang als je zichtbaar bent met voor- en achternaam. )](https://wij.hcc.nl/3d)

Is public speaking something you’ve always wanted to learn? Then you’ve come to the right place! Experience a safe and playful environment at U-Speak Toastmasters where you can develop your public speaking, communication, and leadership skills! ## **Welcome to U-Speak! Toastmasters** Join our vibrant community at U-Speak!, where internationals and Dutch locals from Utrecht and its surroundings come together. U-speak! Toastmasters is a welcoming, safe, supportive and playful environment where you can work on your public speaking, communication and leadership skills! We created a waiting list for new members, however guest visits are much appreciated. See below for more info 👇 ## **Discover our meeting experience** Curious about what happens during our meetings? Here’s a glimpse into a typical evening at U-Speak! Our gatherings feature a lineup of three prepared speeches, engaging evaluations and impromptu speaking sessions. At U-Speak!, every member gets their chance to shine. Whether you’re delivering a speech, providing feedback, or stepping up for impromptu speaking, our supportive environment ensures that everyone’s voice is heard and valued. * ⏰ Time: 19:15 - 21:30 (7.15pm to 9.30pm) Walkin at 19:15; Start of the meeting at 19:30 * 🌐 Venue: Room 8, Top Floor, Pub Florin, Utrecht * 🙋🙋‍♂️🙋‍♀️Attendance: Typically, 15-20 people attend each meeting Many of our club members are not on Meetup, so the number of people attending as indicated here is not reflective of the actual number of people attending on a night. * 🙋🙋‍♂️🙋‍♀️ Guests are welcome; rsvp is encouraged *To maintain the high quality of our meetings and ensure all members have sufficient speaking opportunities, we've established a waitlist for new members. This allows us to provide the best possible learning experience for everyone. We're happy to add your name to our list, and we encourage you to join us as a guest in the meantime.*

## Details **What is Toastmasters?** Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that’s been empowering people to become confident communicators and leaders since 1924. Worldwide, there are more than 266,000 members in over 14,200 clubs in 150 countries. In the Netherlands, there are over **40 clubs** across the country, including those in major cities such as Amsterdam, Utrecht, and Rotterdam. This network of clubs and their learn-by-doing program is sure to help you improve. You can visit Toastmasters clubs as a guest or become a member. **What does a meeting look like?** Some of the members give short, prepared speeches, which other club members later evaluate. A typical meeting also includes short impromptu speeches. In this improvisation part of the meeting, everybody gets a chance to speak, including guests, if they wish. We usually end the evening with a drink at the bar. **How do I become a guest at a meeting?** It’s easy! Simply RSVP for one of our upcoming meetings here on Meetup to let us know you’re coming. If you have any questions, contact us at [utrechttoastmasters@gmail.com.](http://utrechttoastmasters@gmail.com./) If you visit and like us, we can talk about membership! **Additional information** Our cozy venue has a maximum capacity of 30 people - perfect for an engaging. Please be on time to grab a seat and mingle before the speeches begin!

## 🎨**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!🌟☕🍷🍪🍰**

Hi everyone! For those who want to enjoy nature, trips/excursions, and generally a more outdoors setting, let’s get together for a hiking excursion! The plan is to meet at Utrecht Central (and/or a train station that is closest to our hiking area), and then we begin our hiking route. For first-timers (or as a helpful reminder 😉), I recommend that you wear a comfy outfit & shoes and bring water & a snack or two. At some point during the excursion, we can do a break in-between to rest and eat/drink for a while. Depending on the time & weather, and whether people are up for it, there’s always the possibility of follow-up drinks later that day. More info about the route/location: https://www.ns.nl/dagje-uit/wandelen/elsterberg.html Short info from the route's site; the route is 17.5 km in total but can be stopped at 11 km by going to Elst and getting the bus 50 to go back to Veenedal, Zeist, or directly to Utrecht. For pet owners, dogs are allowed in most parts of the route, but there's a 1.5 km part (grazing area) where dogs are not allowed. However, there is an alternative path to take 👍 In addition, I'll attempt to take different turns this time aiming for different fields than the ones we saw before. More on that closer to the event's confirmation day More tips on finding the group and helpful contact info with the host will follow in the comments the day before the meetup. To those interested, hope to see you there! 😄 In case of bad (NL) weather, the event might be moved to another day.

Improv for Life Weekend workshop Improv for your personal development. Playful. Powerful. Transformative. What if real life could feel more like improv—full of joy, connection, creativity, and flow? Improv for Life is a one-of-a-kind course that blends the magic of improvisation with personal development. It’s not about being funny or performing on stage (though that might happen too!)—it’s about learning to navigate life with more presence, courage, and flexibility. In this course, you’ll uncover the hidden wisdom in improv games and exercises, and apply it to real-life challenges in a way that’s light, energizing, and deeply impactful. You’ll practice life-changing skills like: Being fully present Listening deeply Relating authentically Acting with courage Finding meaning in the moment And explore rich, human themes. Whether you’re a professional, a creative, or a curious human navigating change, Improv for Life offers a safe, playful space to shift stuck patterns, unlock your creativity, and reconnect with what makes you feel truly alive. Course Structure: Four full days, split into **two independent weekend workshops** — join one or both! **If you are new to improv it is recommended that you do Workshop 1 before you do Workshop 2.** #### **Workshop 1: Play, Presence & Relationships (16-17 May)** **Saturday**: We’ll explore the playful side of being human — how we learn and grow through curiosity, experimentation, and even failure. At the heart of this is presence: being fully in the moment, responding to what is actually happening rather than what we think should happen. **Sunday**: We’ll focus on the relational side of being human — how our identity is shaped and revealed in connection with others. #### **Workshop 2: Polarities, Stories & Meaning (13-14 June)** **Saturday**: We’ll explore the inner tensions we all carry — the different pulls, needs, and paradoxes within us. Instead of fixing them, we’ll practice holding them with presence and curiosity, and see what wisdom emerges. **Sunday**: We’ll explore how we create meaning through stories — how patterns form in our lives, and how shaping or breaking those patterns can lead to more honest and life-giving stories. **Sign up** by clicking the blue button on [Improv for life - Improv Utrecht](https://www.improvutrecht.nl/improv-for-life/) or go to improv-utrecht.weticket.io ### **Pricing**: * €279 per workshop * ***Early bird***\*:\* €209 per workshop (until 1 month in advance) * **Both workshops**: €379 * all prices are including 21% VAT, ask Marieke for a specific invoice What previous participants say: “I feel more resourceful, more playful—and more me.” “Before, I thought my life was a mess. Now I know—that’s just a story I tell myself.” “It helped me see that I can choose my story, embrace both the good and the bad, and stay open to possibility.” “I used to think I had no control over anything—but now I know that with awareness, I can influence a lot of outcomes.” More about the facilitator: Burgert Kirsten is an Organizational Psychologist with a passion for unlocking adaptive, innovative, and integrated ways of working in teams and organizations. His Master’s research—focused on using improvisational theatre practices to spark workgroup innovation—was published in the South African Journal of Industrial Psychology. He holds multiple certifications in individual and team coaching, accredited by the International Coach Federation, and has facilitated leadership, team innovation, and creative collaboration workshops for top South African business schools, leading companies, and international conferences. Burgert Kirsten trained in improv at the renowned iO Theater in Chicago and performed for many years with Lagnes, South Africa’s longest-running Afrikaans improv group, which toured nationally and even had its own TV series.

I'm excited to host the 22st 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

We’re heading out for a beautiful cross border hike through forest, heathland, open landscapes, and a very special midpoint stop: **De Achelse Kluis**, a historic abbey on the border between the Netherlands and Belgium. The hike starts in the Netherlands and takes us through the peaceful **Leenderbos**, one of the most atmospheric forest areas in North Brabant. Expect woodland paths, sandy tracks, heath, open views, and that lovely Veluwe style feeling of moving between forest and open landscape. As we continue south, we make our way toward the Belgian border and our main break location: **De Achelse Kluis**. This unique abbey complex lies between **Hamont Achel** and **Leende**. With roots going back to the 17th century, and later known as a Trappist abbey, it offers a beautiful neogothic setting with a brasserie, abbey shop, and a calm historic atmosphere. After several kilometers of forest and heathland walking, arriving at the abbey will feel like a real reward. We’ll take our longer break here, with the option to enjoy the brasserie, have a coffee, try Limburgse vlaai, taste an abbey beer, or simply relax around the grounds. After the break, we cross back into the Dutch side and return through the Leenderbos, completing a full loop through forest, heathland, and quiet countryside. A hike with forest energy, abbey atmosphere, monks’ history, and a touch of Belgium. 📲 **WhatsApp group** I’ll open a temporary WhatsApp group for everyone signed up before the hike, so we can coordinate carpooling, final break arrangements, and any last minute updates. **📍When and where to meet?** We’ll meet at 11h15 at Busstop "Leende, Valkenswaardseweg/A2"" https://maps.app.goo.gl/Uij4AmfEos2foDbQ8 ⏰ **We start walking a few minutes after meeting up** We don’t wait for latecomers, as we have a long route ahead and want to enjoy the full day properly. **🚗 Coming by car?** Please check your parking options beforehand so you arrive on time. **⏸️ Planned Breaks** After around **10 km:** 60 minute break at **De Achelse Kluis** I still need to confirm the practical arrangements with the brasserie, including whether we can just have drinks or whether we need to order food as well. I’ll share the update in the WhatsApp group once confirmed. **💸 Payment** Please pay as soon as you sign up: To keep things fair for everyone, if we don’t receive your payment within 48 hours, we will need to remove you from the participant list. If there’s a waiting list, this will happen sooner (in less than 48 hours). If that happens, no worries — you’re always welcome to sign up again if there’s space. 🌟 Early Bird Deal! Join now for just €4 — available for 3 days (72h). After that, the price will be €5. Please pay here: https://tikkie.me/pay/ute915nnuvqfl74002hh **👟 Good to know** * Refund policy: Cancellations are fully refundable up to 1 week before the event (This is Friday 8 May at 23h59). After this period, the fee becomes non-refundable. * Hike difficulty: Our hikes are moderately challenging. Please only join if you’re confident you can keep up with the group’s pace (5 km/ h)— it’s more fun for everyone when we can walk together without long waits. * If the pace is too challenging: We may kindly suggest you continue at your own pace. We’ll give you clear directions to the nearest bus or train so you can return comfortably. * At your own risk: You participate at your own risk, so please make sure you have appropriate insurance coverage for outdoor activities. * Payment note: With Tikkie we only see initials (e.g., J. Doe instead of John Doe). Please include your Meetup name in the payment note so we can match it easily. * Friends joining: If you bring a friend, make sure they also register and pay. * What to bring: Snacks and water. * Stay connected: Join our WhatsApp group to be the first to hear about future hikes — ask for the QR code during the hike. * T-shirts: Fairwear-certified organic cotton, eco-friendly inks — €25. Sustainable, odor-resistant, and perfect for hiking. Let us know your size and we’ll bring one for you.

Get ready to connect, collaborate, and grow your community at the ***Smashing Your Sales Goals (SYSG) Spring Meet-N-Greet!*** *Smash Nation*— a vibrant and welcoming community for creative consultants, social innovators, professional service providers, entrepreneur support professionals, and the small business ecosystem builders —invites you to join in welcoming the Spring 2026 Cohort of dedicated business owners ready to take their venture to the next level. Join ***SYSG*** cohort members, trainers, sponsors, and partners for an engaging and interactive networking experience. This isn't just another meet-and-greet; it's a dynamic opportunity to gather, strengthen relationships, and actively brainstorm business development opportunities in a relaxed and supportive environment. Come ready to: * ***Connect*** with key players and potential collaborators in the small business community. * ***Share*** your successes, challenges, and insights with peers. * ***Brainstorm*** innovative strategies for sales and business growth. * ***Discover*** new partnerships and future partners. Let's amplify our collective impact and smash those sales goals together! **Who Should Attend:** Spring, Summer, and Fall 2025 Cohort Members, Spring 2026 Cohort members, Trainers, Facilitators, Program Sponsors, Future Sponsors, Velocity Applicants, and Program Partners. **When**: Tuesday, May 26, 2926 **Where**: Warner Wood Park and Pavilion [4747 Central College Road, Columbus, OH 43081](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Warner+Woods+Park+%26+Pavilion/@40.0999435,-82.8601323,839m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x88385f0025d4381b:0xc15eb51285691f4f!8m2!3d40.1002108!4d-82.8612015!16s%2Fg%2F11wb2pg50g?authuser=0&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTAwNS4yIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) **Time**: 4pm-6pm [To Officially Register Go To --> https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/W0CGLL8jvz4EkLNK5jav?notrack=true](https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/W0CGLL8jvz4EkLNK5jav?notrack=true) Meet ***Smashing Your Sales Goals*** expert trainers, sales coaches, community supporters and partners. Learn more about upcoming SYSG events, trainings coaching opportunities to help take your business from surviving to thriving today! This event is FREE and OPEN to the PUBLIC!

**PLEASE BUY TICKETS THROUGH EVENTBRITE. RSVP THROUGH MEETUP IS NOT A TICKET PURCHASE CONFIRMATION.** Strive welcomes you to 'General Business Networking', Columbus' hottest networking event! We are set in the perfect central location in Downtown for all to join. Are you interested in business? Want to elevate your career? Meet Consultants, Analysts of all types, Bankers, Software Engineers, Entrepreneurs, and more who are active in the space or are eager to get started. **\*\*This will be a multi-vertical event\*\*** **There will be professionals with backgrounds in the arts, finance, tech, real estate, healthcare, and more. Come with an open mind, and leave with connections that wouldn't be possible otherwise!** Pack some business cards and come with an open mind! Meet your future business partners, employers, coworkers, investors, and friends. You don't want to miss this opportunity to expand your network and create a brighter future. We will have a space for our event to check-in. The event will go from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (feel free to come at any point in this timeframe). Name tags will be provided. Business casual dress code. Job fair attire. **Remember, it's not who you know, it's who you meet tomorrow!** We look forward to meeting you at the event! Sincerely, Strive Networking Team *Refund requests are permitted up to 24 hours after purchase, so long as we are not within 48 hours before the event start time. Refunds will be made in full and repaid to your method of payment. Note that we are unable to reimburse PayPal fees.* *Disclaimer: By attending Strive Networking events you agree to photos/videos taken during the event being used to promote future events.*

Join us for lunch and meet our very successful group. We are each others sales team...always looking for referrals for our members. If you are looking for new clients, let us help you out! Bring your business cards and brochures to share with us. We have a speaker each week so that we can learn about their business. Because we have only one member per business, we have many of the spots filled. However, we are specifically looking for an estate attorney, a handyman/electrician, and an event planner. We have referrals for you! All visitors are welcome. Any questions contact [pmarchio@farmersagent.com](mailto:pmarchio@farmersagent.com)

Join Voice Over Pros Of Ohio for an exciting morning of networking, and exploring opportunities in the world of voice acting. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, this event is perfect for expanding your network, learning how to start a VO business, and for honing your skills. Connect with fellow voice actors and VO experts, that will help you succeed in your voice over business. This event will feature discussions on professional development, entrepreneurship in the voice over industry, with tips for navigating the world of voice acting. Don't miss this unique opportunity to learn from others, collaborate with like-minded individuals, and take your voice over career to the next level. Join us Saturday, May 30, from 10am - 12pm and learn how to start or grow your voice over business. Let your voice be heard! The $10 fee covers refreshments and door prizes.

At Evolve Synergy Sessions, you'll be part of a supportive mastermind where we share challenges, brainstorm solutions, and inspire one another to take bold steps in our businesses. Grow your network, gain fresh perspectives, and build meaningful relationships with like-minded women who are committed to success. Whether you’re looking to move the needle in your business or simply need a space to connect and recharge, this is the perfect place to fuel your entrepreneurial journey. [Add Event to Calendar](https://evolvecolumbus.eventcalendarapp.com/) \*\* Please note, we will be arriving around 8:15a for open networking! Get there early and get connected! Contact Alexis Morley at [alexis.morley@edwardjones.com](mailto:alexis.morley@edwardjones.com) or Terri Lawson at [terri.lawson@e-merge.com](mailto:terri.lawson@e-merge.com) for more information.

NFT's are here to stay folks! This is a group for like minded people interested in understanding, leveraging, using, creating for, profiting from, trading too i suppose, NFT's.. everything around them, complexity, fear and exploits, best practices and more. **PLUS** This group will talk AI ART tools, techniques, artists, video, audio, prototypes and more in the AI assisted production space- ART specifically, but we can get into any aspect of some of the cooler things happening in AI in general.