Toool (or actually its predecessor NVHS) started in 1997 in Amsterdam. They met at the Hippie Hangout, a sort of hacker space, when hacker spaces did not yet exist. Later, they moved to a variety of pubs and even a sports accomodation. I have been going to these meetings from the start in 1997. Living in Eindhoven, visiting these sessions meant travelling over 1.5 hours one way every time.
Late 2005, I decided to start a Toool chapter in Eindhoven so I did not have to travel so much. To kick start it and get local people to participate, I wrote and submitted an article for a local newspaper, who sent a photographer for a picture to add to the article. The first meeting was helt January 25, 2006 and a lot of people, who had read about it, were present that day. That means that todays’ meeting celebrates 20 years of Toool Eindhoven!
The main local newspaper got wind of the meetings and attended the third meeting, where the then president of Toool was also present. That resulted in another article.
Where Toool Amsterdam had several locations over the years (they are now meeting at the Amsterdam hacker space Tech Inc), Toool Eindhoven has stayed at the Trafalgar Pub throughout the past 20 years (even though by now, Eindhoven has its own hacker space Hackalot).
At today’s meeting, we were presently surprised when they treated us to some Dutch warm snacks.
Let’s see if we can do another 20 years at the Trafalgar Pub!
Blog CCBY4.0 Walter Belgers @ Toool Blackbag