Connect Events & Interest Clubs

Connect members sharing common interests

All Interest Clubs began as ideas of our members who wanted to meet like-minded people to share their common interests and passions. All the Clubs meet on a regular basis (approximately once a month) at various venues. In order to join one or more Clubs one has to be a member of Connect International.

Arts Club
The Arts Club meets on about once a month in Groningen city to draw, paint and/or sculpt something together in a friendly international atmosphere. The idea is to spend some hours together to express with your hands what you have in your mind around a cup of tea or coffee, and of course, meet new friends. Sometimes the Club goes on an excursion together when the weather is nice.
Book Club
The Book Club comes together once a month at one of the members’ houses (in or nearby Groningen) to discuss a book that has been chosen in advance. There is always a lively discussion, lots of laughter and “gezelligheid”. Every December, the Book Club organizes a Christmas potluck dinner to celebrate another year spent together.
Crafts Club
The Crafts Club meets about once a month in Groningen city center to create something beautiful and unique with their hands. Our Crafts Club coordinators can guide you on using sewing machine, knitting, embroidery, and beading etc. Sometimes the Club comes together to visit a Fair, such as handmade/jewelry fair or a fabric fair to get inspired, to get stocked up on the materials and get informed about the latest crafting trends.
Culinary Connect Club
The Culinary Connect Club meets once a month in Roden, in the home of Chef Rubina, the Club Coordinator. Rubinecomes up with a theme and menu for every meeting and either cooks herself or invites a guest “chef” to her kitchen.
Dutch Culture Workshops
Connect International also has a selection of unique events that are meant to help expats integrate into the Dutch society as quickly as possible. We have series of workshops such as Easy Dutch Cafe on the Dutch culture, communication and customs. What are Dutch manners? What do Dutch eat? Where do they shop? You can get your answer through our Dutch Culture Workshops.
Language Skills
English Conversation Fun: For our Connect members who are not so familiar to English, we offer English conversation for level A1 to B1. This is meant for expats and their partners whose native language is not English nor Dutch. This is your chance to practice your English to gain confidence in speaking English with other internationals.

Dutch Conversation Fun: For those Connect members who have already taken some Dutch lessons, we also have several groups, in Groningen and Leeuwarden:
- Groningen: Beginners Level A1/A2: Fridays (13:00 - 14:00 hrs). This group helps you get over the language barrier in an attempt to start speaking Dutch in the Netherlands.
- Groningen: Intermediate Level A2/B1-B2: Mondays (12:45 - 13:45 hrs). Bring up the topics that matter to you, ask your questions, get the common sayings explained, find out how to sound Dutch and experience how much easier speaking Dutch in public will become.
- Leewuarden: Beginners Level A1 and Intermediate Level A2/B1-B2: Thursdays (19:30 - 20:30). Would like some more practice to feel comfortable speaking it in all kinds of situations? Then join us in Leeuwarden for our new Let’s Talk Dutch conversation group.
We are also starting a Russian Conversation Group! Do you have a basic knowledge of Russian (A1/A2-B1) and feel like you need the practice to be more comfortable speaking in different situations? The come join our group!

Please sign up for the individual days that you plan on attending!
- Dutch Conversation Fun (A2/B1-B2) - Monday 2 September 2019 at 12:45 hrs
- Dutch Conversation Fun (A1/A2) - Friday 6 September 2019 at 13:00 hrs
- English Conversation Fun - Monday 9 September 2019 at 10:30 hrs
- Let's Talk Dutch! Leeuwarden - Thursday 12 September 2019 at 19:30 hrs
- Let's Talk Dutch! Leeuwarden - Thursday 26 September 2019 at 19:30 hrs
Meet & Greet Gatherings
Connect International organizes various Meet & Greet gatherings in Groningen and Leeuwarden. These include International Coffee Mornings, Parents Coffee Mornings, International Pub Nights, Walk & Talk, Baby Walk & Talk, Sunday Brunch andSunday Afternoon Socials.

These events have identical goals: to see old friends and to welcome newcomers, to meet other Connect members and to get to know the Connect team, to share ideas and experiences and just to have a good time over a drink, a meal. or a stroll.

Everyone is welcome to attend an event to check it out; your cost is whatever you choose to spend on your consumptions or the cost of the event. If you enjoy it, please sign up to become a member so you can continue to enjoy the events.

Check the events calendar on the website for the exact locations, date, and time.
To find us there just look for the “Connect International” sign at one of the tables.
- International Coffee Morning - Friday 23 August 2019 at 10:30 hrs
- Sunday in the Park - Sunday 25 August 2019 at 13:45 hrs
- Sunday Coffee Social (Leeuwarden) - Sunday 1 September 2019 at 11:00 hrs
- International Coffee Morning - Friday 6 September 2019 at 10:30 hrs
- Book Club Boppe - Friday 6 September 2019 at 19:30 hrs
- Parents Coffee Morning - Friday 13 September 2019 at 10:00 hrs
- Coffee Morning in Leeuwarden - Friday 13 September 2019 at 10:30 hrs
- Parent Coffee Morning/Leeuwarden - Sunday 15 September 2019 at 10:30 hrs
- International Coffee Morning - Friday 20 September 2019 at 10:30 hrs
- Parents Coffee Morning - Friday 27 September 2019 at 10:00 hrs
Running Club
The Running Club meets once a week in Groningen Noorderplantsoen Park to jog and run together. It is for all the running/jogging enthusiasts, regardless of their level in running. The Running Club will enable you to improve your fitness and self-confidence within a supportive and empowering team environment, so join in and meet others like you!
- Running Club - Saturday 24 August 2019 at 10:00 hrs
- Running Club - Saturday 31 August 2019 at 10:00 hrs
Sports & Fitness
The Sports Club meets when there are interesting games in the region to watch.

Sometimes, watching sports by yourself is just not enough! You want to cheer and have someone else to share the moment with. With Connect Sports Club, we invite you to go watch sports games, such as basketball and volleyball, together with other members.

For the Fitness Club, one of our members, Lucia, offers Ashtanga Yoga every other Tuesday morning to build core strength and to tone the body. The location of the session will be announced to the participants one day in advance via email.
- Yoga Mornings - Tuesday 27 August 2019 at 10:00 hrs
Writer’s Circle
The Writer’s Circle was created as a follow-up of the 10-weeks long course “Write your life stories” by Jo Parfitt that was offered to Connect International members in 2011. Since then the club meets approximately once every 1.5 months to share their writing projects, to give each other feedback and tips. As a result of the support, inspiration and creative atmosphere in the group, some of its members made their dream come true and have published their writings.
Other Events
Once in a while we organize other events, for example, workshops for personal and professional development; excursions and city trips; sports and games related events; picnics and potlucks; Ladies’ Night; family days and many more. To organize such special events, we need to hear about your needs and wants, so please let us know via events@connect-int.org what kind of events you are missing to make your social life complete away from home.
- Paping belastingadvies Free Tax Consultation - Monday 26 August 2019 at 13:00 hrs
- Senior Staffing|Recruit a Student - Wednesday 28 August 2019 at 09:30 hrs
- Senior Staffing|Recruit a Student - Wednesday 11 September 2019 at 09:30 hrs
- Senior Staffing|Recruit a Student - Wednesday 25 September 2019 at 09:30 hrs

If you have an idea for a new Connect Group, we'd like to hear from you!

If interested in meeting up with one of the groups or for a new group, please send an email to events@connect-int.org. The coordinator of the group will be in touch with you.

"There I was, sat in my Dutch house, after having fetched my children from their Dutch school, waiting for my Dutch husband to come home, feeling very integrated. And yet... Wouldn’t it be lovely to meet some other expats, speak English again, not feel so foreign, even just now and then? A quick internet search led me straight to Connect International. After a few false starts, I made it to a Connect Coffee Morning in Groningen. I received a warm welcome and was delighted to hear there was a Book Club, right here on my doorstep! We discuss the books in English, the discussions can become lively and are always interesting, and it is a good place to share our expat experiences too."

Alexandra van den Doel (UK)

"My husband and I came to Groningen two years ago for his studies. At first, I had absolutely no acquaintance here. I felt lost, not knowing where to go, who to meet, nor what to do. I first found out about the Connect through the Coffee Morning. Everyone seemed very nice and welcoming. They all understood what I was going through. Since being expats themselves, most of them also went through this process when they arrived here. Then I started to join other workshops, such as culinary workshop, beauty workshop, etc. I learned many different cultures and I also dare to say that I met most wonderful bunch of friends here at Connect. The IWCN and Connect have helped me through my difficult times being a lost expat, and helped me settle down and have a feeling of ‘home’ here in Groningen."

Elly Song (South Korea)

"I moved to the Netherlands in 2010 to join my Dutch boyfriend (now husband). After nearly two years of trying to integrate into Dutch society I hit a low point, feeling lonely and isolated. That was when I learnt about Connect International and signed up to be a member. I started by attending the Coffee Mornings, then volunteered to help set up the Crafts Club and gave a few workshops about building WordPress websites (as I work as a freelance web developer). Connect (and its members) gave me friendship and support at a time when I needed it, and I hope to do the same for others in a similar position."

Stephanie Fermor (UK)

"I moved to Leeuwarden in 2013. It was difficult to find an international group in this area. A friend recommended Connect International, and I have been attending the Coffee Morning every two weeks, in Groningen. I have been fortunate to make new friends, and learn about different events and worshops, organised by Connect. They are a very friendly and welcoming group."

Nicki Lashley (UK)

Connect Events & Interest Clubs

Connect members sharing common interests

Arts Club

Book Club

Crafts Club

Culinary Connect Club

Dutch Culture Workshops

Language Skills

Meet & Greet Gatherings

Running Club

Sports & Fitness

Writer’s Circle

Other Events

Contact Connect