Here's what I've been noticing: people are starting things. Supper clubs from their apartments, 6am run clubs (kill me), craft nights in community spaces. And for all the reasons below, this might be the perfect moment for you to join them.
We're craving connection
The past few years have taught us something important: digital connection has its place (sending your sisters Stranger Things memes), but it's not enough. We want to look people in the eye, we want to laugh at inside jokes and we want to create memories that matter for our personal growth, not just our feed.
People aren't just open to meeting new people, they're actively seeking it out. Admitting they wish they had more friends, the awkwardness of "I'm here to make mates" has largely disappeared. It's become a shared understanding and people are resonating with the honesty - thank god someone else said it first.
The platforms are here!
Okay maybe this one is biased, but the current platforms are killing it. Starting a social club used to mean figuring out everything from scratch. But now there are platforms built specifically for this (you're currently on one). There are spaces designed for gatherings and there are tools that handle the boring bits so you can focus on the fun bits - like actually bringing people together.
The barrier to entry has never been lower, which means the person who should start that ceramics club, language community or midnight bike ride might just be you.
Experiences > material possessions
It can't just be my circle who wants to boulder or play paddle every week? I'm feeling a shift in how we spend our time and money and now we're less interested in accumulating things and more interested in collecting moments. A Tuesday night jewellery-making workshop (shout out Amsterdam DIY Club) or a Sunday morning book club isn't just another event on the calendar, it's filling up our life with new experiences.
This shift means people are willing to show up. They'll carve out time in their schedules and actually leave their houses on a weeknight, because they're hungry for something that feels real.
Caring > being an expert
You don't need a business plan or a perfect venue or 10k followers, you just need to care about bringing people together around something you love.
So you're not a professional cook, but you love hosting dinners! You're no Picasso, but you love to paint on canvas and think it could be fun to do with others (with the help of some wine). Maybe you just really, really want to talk about books with others who share your love for fantasy smut (no judgment). It's enough that you care and the enthusiasm is contagious. People can feel it when someone genuinely wants to create a space for connection and they respond to it.
Take Maria from Amsterdam DIY Club. Burnt out from her corporate job, she started teaching friends how to make jewellery in her living room. Now she's running sold-out workshops where people spend hours offline, completely absorbed in creating something with their hands. She didn't wait to be an expert, she just started (you can read her full story here).
Hello, we need community builders
Sorry to be all 'live, laugh, love'. But the club you start and the gatherings you host help people to put their phones down and be present with each other - this matters. We know people are lonely, we know that they struggle to find connection. Starting a social club isn't just a fun side project, it's a small act to help us move in the right direction.
Now, do the thing
Don't know how to get started? Here's your challenge: pick one thing, one activity you love or a skill you want to share. Create an event page this week and set the first date. Don't get caught up waiting to figure out the perfect name, venue or plan. Just start messy and figure it out as you go. The people who need what you're creating are already out there.
Ready to stop thinking and start doing? We've got everything you need here on Weeknights to set up your club and get Amsterdammers through the door. Let's make 2026 the year you actually did the thing.
Sandy Co-founder, Weeknights