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 & Crafts Club

  Offering various art, crafts and creative workshops, We have organise regular events aswell as special events. 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.

• 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.

• 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!

• 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 and Sunday 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.

• Expat Parents Groups

  From parent coffee mornings, kids morning arts and crafts sessions. The Connecting Parents clubs can help you find other expat parents in your area, and play friends for your children.

• 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!

• 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.

   

  • Meditation ONLINE - Monday 6 April 2020 at 17:00 hrs
  • Yoga Mornings ONLINE - Tuesday 7 April 2020 at 09:30 hrs
  • Meditation ONLINE - Monday 20 April 2020 at 17:00 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.

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.