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.

• 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, Leeuwarden and online.

  Please sign up for the individual days that you plan on attending!

  • English Conversation Fun with Stefanie | Groningen - Monday 9 August 2021 at 11:00 hrs
  • English Conversation Fun with Stefanie | Groningen - Monday 16 August 2021 at 11:00 hrs
  • Dutch Conversation Fun with Yvonne levels B1-B2 | Online - Monday 16 August 2021 at 12:45 hrs
  • English Conversation Fun with Stefanie | Groningen - Monday 23 August 2021 at 11:00 hrs
  • Dutch Conversation Fun with Yvonne levels B1-B2 | Online - Monday 23 August 2021 at 12:45 hrs
  • English Conversation Fun with Stefanie | Groningen - Monday 30 August 2021 at 11:00 hrs
  • Dutch Conversation Fun with Yvonne levels B1-B2 | Online - Monday 30 August 2021 at 12:45 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 Afternoons with Ana - Monday 30 August 2021 at 17:30 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!

  Connect Running Club members in Groningen meet privately and run every Saturday morning in the Noorderplantsoen park in compliance with the current Covid-19 regulations. If you wish to become the Connect Running Club member, please send an email to events@connect-int.org with your name and WhatsApp number. The Connect Running Club coordinator in Groningen will add you the WhatsApp group.

• 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.

  • Coffee Morning | Leeuwarden - Friday 30 July 2021 at 10:30 hrs
  • Coffee Morning | Leeuwarden - Friday 13 August 2021 at 10:30 hrs
  • Coffee Morning | Leeuwarden - Friday 27 August 2021 at 10:30 hrs

• Book Club

  The Book Club comes together once a month ot two at one of the members’ houses (in or nearby) 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 in Groningen organizes a Christmas potluck dinner to celebrate another year spent together.

• Meditation

  In these moments of rapid and unexpected changes in our usual routines, navigating the different emotions after listening to the news, feeling the social net in stress, exploring in uncertainty what are the wise decisions to make, trying to discern between the weaves of information and also taking care of our health; It is worth it to take moments of pause, calm down, focus, connect with a part of us that gives us broader possibilities to see and feel the reality. 

  • Guided Meditation | Online - Wednesday 4 August 2021 at 19:30 hrs
  • Guided Meditation | Online - Wednesday 25 August 2021 at 19:30 hrs

• Walking Club

  Groningen

  We invite you to be part of our Walking Club in Groningen, every Wednesday at 19:30 hrs. for 1-1,5 hours.  Accompanied by our volunteer we will walk through different parks and green areas of Groningen (each time in a different place).

  Leeuwarden 

  We will be walking on Wednesdays at Oldehove, or other nearby parks. We will meet at 19:45 and end around 21:00, plan on 45 minutes of walking each night. 

  • Walking Club | Leeuwarden - Tuesday 3 August 2021 at 19:30 hrs
  • Walking Club | Groningen - Sunday 8 August 2021 at 14:00 hrs
  • Walking Club | Leeuwarden - Tuesday 10 August 2021 at 19:30 hrs
  • Walking Club | Groningen - Sunday 15 August 2021 at 14:00 hrs
  • Walking Club | Leeuwarden - Tuesday 17 August 2021 at 19:30 hrs
  • Walking Club | Groningen - Sunday 22 August 2021 at 14:00 hrs
  • Walking Club | Leeuwarden - Tuesday 24 August 2021 at 19:30 hrs
  • Walking Club | Groningen - Sunday 29 August 2021 at 14:00 hrs
  • Walking Club | Leeuwarden - Tuesday 31 August 2021 at 19:30 hrs

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 Connect 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.

• Non Connect Events

  • Online Housing Webinar with Expat Mortgages | Online - Thursday 5 August 2021 at 17:15 hrs
  • Online Housing Webinar with Expat Mortgages | Online - Wednesday 11 August 2021 at 17:15 hrs
  • Online Housing Webinar with Expat Mortgages | Online - Thursday 19 August 2021 at 17:15 hrs
  • Online Housing Webinar with Expat Mortgages | Online - Wednesday 25 August 2021 at 17:15 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.