Travel Tips

🛍️***Shop until you drop!*** 🛍️ Oberhausen Shopping Day Tour 📍 14 May (Thursday Public Holiday!) Join our fun small-group shopping getaway to Oberhausen, Germany! A relaxed day for outlet shopping, browsing your favourite brands, good food, and networking along the journey. ✨ Maximum 6 guests 🚐 Comfortable minivan with driver-guide 🤝 Friendly networking atmosphere 🛍️ Designer outlets & shopping time Perfect for shopping lovers who enjoy travelling in a small, personal group instead of a crowded shuttle. WhatsApp +31616121051 to join us now! ✨

🛍️***Shop until you drop!*** 🛍️ Oberhausen Shopping Day Tour 📍 14 May (Thursday Public Holiday!) Join our fun small-group shopping getaway to Oberhausen, Germany! A relaxed day for outlet shopping, browsing your favourite brands, good food, and networking along the journey. ✨ Maximum 6 guests 🚐 Comfortable minivan with driver-guide 🤝 Friendly networking atmosphere 🛍️ Designer outlets & shopping time Perfect for shopping lovers who enjoy travelling in a small, personal group instead of a crowded shuttle. WhatsApp +31616121051 to join us now! ✨

[Book your spot here](https://ccu.stager.co/shop/default/events/111653430?utm_campaign=gameful-revolution&utm_source=meetup) How can interactive storytelling make complex societal issues engaging and accessible? In this hands-on session, Patrick Blenkarn & Milton Lim (creators of the live participatory videogame [Asses Masses](https://www.assesmasses.work/)) will guide you through their process of designing participatory narratives—then invite you to brainstorm and prototype your own. Part masterclass, part game jam, this evening will explore how to blend humor, interactivity, and depth to create experiences that challenge and connect. Bring your ideas, collaborate with others, and leave with the tools to turn abstract themes into playful, meaningful stories. # **[🎫 Regular €7,50/Student €5](https://ccu.stager.co/shop/default/events/111653430?utm_campaign=gameful-revolution&utm_source=meetup)** Start the donkey revolution during the interactive performance of [Asses Masses](https://www.assesmasses.work/ "https://www.assesmasses.work/") (16-17 May - in English and Dutch) [here](https://springutrecht.nl/en/programme/asses-masses/)

Hello everyone, I'm going for a long ride on Thursday. **What:** 100km to Zandvoort and back **When:** 14:15 **Where:** Nesciobrug We start late to avoid the rain, but the forecast is uncertain. Be ready for some rain just in case. This is an intermediate ride, we'll be cruising at 30-32kmh. https://www.strava.com/routes/3489360640933226706 https://www.komoot.com/tour/2952615871

Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at Factor-ij Amsterdam on Thursday mornings. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. SCHEDULE: 11: 15 AM - Quick introductions 11: 30 AM - Timer starts: write for 1 hour 12: 30 PM - The End: chat, take off, or keep writing OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING happens at 12:30 pm after the writing is wrapped. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. BEING LATE IS OKAY: just show up and get settled, then check-in with me after the session. (I’ll be the person with the Shut Up & Write! sign.) If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing and I look forward to seeing you at Factor-ij! What Should I Bring? Whatever you need to be able to write! Bring earbuds/earplugs if you want to block the cafe’s overhead music or the occasional conversation by other patrons. Please come with your devices pre-charged, since we probably won't be always sitting somewhere with charging possibilities. Other Important Details: Travel by public transportation: 1. Take Tram 26 from the central station Amsterdam, and step out by the last stop. 2. Take bus 66 from the Amsterdam Bijlmer station, step out by Pieter Oosterhuisstraat, and further walk in the direction of the bus till the corner. FREE Wifi. Compulsory consumption is not required, but please do order a drink to honor our generous host.

Are you an **expat** in **Diemen** 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. The **AGO** pool in Diemen is a small private pool originally utilized for **aqua therapy**. Therefore the water is nicely **warm** which gives ideal teaching conditions. **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)**

This is one for the early birds, but gets you back into the city by 7.45-8am, so you can still make it in time for work. **Route:** https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/441601960 gpx: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QOe7D1FmTbhXCi1M4Hm5WrA1CTfiC09e/view?usp=sharing **Afterwards:** Coffee TBD **Rules:** \- Download the route to your cycling computer so you can always find your way home \- Make sure to arrive on time \- Before you ride\, decide as a group how you want to ride: you can split up in a fast and a slow group or stay together\, but make sure to discuss what pace you are going to ride and whether you are going to wait if someone is slower than the group\, or not\. \- The end of the route is a coffee stop that opens at 7:30am so you can socialize

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.

Gran Fondo Rosa is a must ride in the Netherlands, and since years we are riding under the ATAC flag! 3 distances available: 80, 120 and 170km. It’s a sportive so not a race, you choose your pace and we enjoy the race ride. Roads are closed and there are food and drink stops along the way. When signing up, select FRIEND TEAM and then type ATAC as the team. We will have our own table at the pasta party. Sign up here: https://www.nltourrides.nl/gran-fondo-rosa/#inschrijving Cheers !

## 🎨**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!🌟☕🍷🍪🍰**

Join our small-group countryside getaway from the Netherlands to Germany’s most magical castles! Explore the fairy-tale streets of Cochem and the breathtaking Burg Eltz hidden in the forest hills. 📍 **Date:** 16 & 17 May (Saturday & Sunday) **Pick up:** Amsterdam & Utrecht **Price:** €298 (€149 per day per person incl. hotel twin-shared with breakfast) Excl. entrance fees to castles, visiting outside is free, meals and personal expenses. ✨ Small group experience – maximum 6 participants 🚐 Comfortable minivan with driver-guide 📸 Scenic stops & local insights 🍷 Moselle Valley views and charming villages, wine tasting in the prestigious wine region in Germany. A relaxed and personal journey perfect for castle lovers, photographers, and explorers. Limited spaces available! WhatsApp +31616121051 now to join us — we look forward to a fairy-tale weekend with you! 🌿🏰

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

📍 Hilversum Station, 11:00 → 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 10:00, walk together to the garden (arriving around 10:30), and spend about 2 hours sketching. There are some benches, but not many — please bring a foldable chair or smth alike if you’d like to sit while sketching (big blankets won’t work here). Around 13:30, we’ll head back toward the station. If people feel like it, we can grab coffee and maybe lunch at Mout before wrapping up around 14:30. Bring: Sketching materials Water Foldable chair Comfortable clothes + an extra layer No pressure on skill level — quick sketches, detailed studies, or just experimenting are all welcome. Come for the trees, stay for the sketches 🌲✏️

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.

Let's grab some coffee/food and share a morning chat! The East Market has an ample parking lot and outdoor and indoor seating. Grab a cup of coffee from Winston's Coffee & Waffles or on your way to East Market and meet us on the second floor - table behind or east of the elevator. Per what this group is about: "Everyone is welcome! International transplants to Columbus who want to improve language skills, Columbus residents who enjoy talking to people from other countries, and those who would like to discuss international travel and culture, and who enjoy getting together for good conversations."

Join Bold Spirit Travel for an all-women’s journey through the [heart of Provence. ](https://www.boldspirittravel.com/journeys-1/south-of-france-provence-2026) From charming villages and bustling markets, to lavender fields and coastal cliffs, this adventure blends history, art, food, and stunning landscapes. Your base is a boutique hotel in Aix-en-Provence, the perfect hub for exploring southern France. *\*We can only take 10 women on this trip.* **Highlights** * **Aix-en-Provence** – stroll cobbled streets, browse colorful markets, and enjoy lively cafés. * **Marseilles** – tour its historic basilica and meet traditional soap makers. * **Arles & Wine Tasting** – explore Roman ruins and sip wines at Mas Valériole estate. * **Lavender Fields** – capture the beauty of Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque. * **Cassis & the Calanques** – enjoy seaside scenery and an optional boat ride. * **St. Rémy** – wander the vibrant market and visit Van Gogh’s former monastery. * **Les Baux-de-Provence** – experience the dazzling immersive light show. * **Cabrières-d’Avignon** – discover lavender’s artistry at the Lavender Museum. **What's Included:** * 6 nights in a boutique hotel (shared occupancy; private upgrades available). * Expert Bold Spirit tour leader plus bilingual local guides. * Meals as listed in the itinerary. * Private ground transportation. * Pre-trip support: Zoom call, WhatsApp group, and packing guidance. **Why Travel With Us?** This Provence adventure is designed for women who love travel, culture, and connection. You’ll share meals, explore iconic sites, and enjoy the slower pleasures of the French countryside—with expert guidance and community every step of the way. **Pricing:** * **Trip Cost:** USD 5,885 * **Deposit:** USD 700 non-refundable (secures hotels and guides) Get in touch with us to set up a call and learn [more](https://www.boldspirittravel.com/journeys-1/south-of-france-provence-2026). Contact:[ https://www.boldspirittravel.com/contact](https://www.boldspirittravel.com/contact)

This is a free, in person meeting. Burdened by a stressful relationship? Unhealthy relationships can trigger feelings of anger, despair or self-doubt. They can create dwindling spirals of fights and seeking to make-up, or trying to “pin the blame” on someone or something. If you don’t find the RIGHT reasons, or select the correct sources of the problem, the problem can just get worse and worse. Whether in love or personal ties, with friends or at work, our life really IS affected by the quality of our relationships. Good ones can promote pleasure and survival while less optimum ones can lead to annoyance, anger, self-doubt, stress, or even affect our health and ability to survive well. Whether you are suffering from a divorce, or a painful break-up, don’t know who to trust (or who to CHOOSE) as a partner, friend, boss or employee - the anxiety of relationship troubles can really make a mess of things. Maybe you’ve suffered a betrayal, or are dealing with hostility or criticalness or invalidation. Dwindling relationships can involve destructive behavior, where we hurt those we love, or start succumbing to self-destructive thoughts, attitudes or behaviors that spiral out of control and affect much more than our immediate relationship. Past losses in love or life can affect how we act or react to new people and situations and hold us back from even starting to create new, possibly great relationships! How can one get back onto a saner course of action? Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life: human relationships! Break free from self imposed limitations Here we will discuss: • How to “erase” the trauma of past hurts and betrayals so that one isn’t always repeating past mistakes. • Why and how do the negative emotions of others affect you? • Why is my partner withdrawing and what can I do about it? • Why do we sometimes feel compelled to hurt the ones we love? • Fights & arguments - what's really behind them? • What underlies “corrosive criticism” or the need to invalidate self or others? • How one can stably change one’s outlook on life so they can affect positive change? • Where do compulsive destructive behaviors come from and what can be done about them? • How to form closer bonds & keep growing the relationships with the people you care about? • How to enhance one’s own ability to survive and create positive healthy relationships whether in love, family & friendships or in work, business or one’s career? Relationships can be hard and life itself IS challenging. Why not arm yourself with the knowledge and breakthroughs that have been made about the mind, mental reactions & interpersonal relationships, so that one has better awareness and control over themselves and life in general. Learn where painful experiences are “stored” and how they can unknowingly affect us. You will also find out how one can “erase” those past painful experiences so that one is free to move forward without being tripped up by the past. Learn too, about what can lead some people to become “toxic” personalities and how to identify those traits in others so you won’t be tripped up trusting the wrong person. Our free Meet-ups occur in a safe environment where one can learn, without fear of judgment or criticism, and without the recommendation of harmful mental techniques or therapies, just how YOU can get yourself onto a happier & more successful path: in love & in life. We look forward to having you join us! This class is sponsored by the Dianetics & Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

Join us this Thursday (5/14) at 6:30 pm at Rocky Fork Metro Park in Westerville as we walk about 2.5 miles of a fully paved trail. The Beech Woodland trail is a flat yet scenic trail with a variety of landscapes. Let’s take it in together!

Who else is ready to sit outside? Join us for a casual chat over coffee & tea at Grandview Grind! Come out and meet some new people, enjoy your favorite drink, and make some new friends!