One Sunday afternoon, a table full of new people in Utrecht.

I came solo and was genuinely nervous. There were groups and others who came alone too. Within ten minutes I was laughing hard.

Showing up alone felt a bit scary at first. Everyone came alone or with one friend. Within ten minutes I was chatting away.

First time going alone to something like this. Thought it would be awkward. By the end four of us were still talking at the bar.

My friends couldn't make it, so I went solo. It felt like dinner with lovely girls. Coming alone is totally normal here.

I was sceptical about social tastings, but it just felt like dinner with strangers who somehow felt a bit like friends.

Walking in alone was the hardest part. After that it was tasting, talking, and people who also came without a plus-one.

We booked as four. Within fifteen minutes we were laughing like we'd been going out together for years.

Relaxed from the first glass. No forced introductions, just people who also wanted a good afternoon out.

I'd been doubting all week whether I'd actually go. At the table everyone was just as new as I was, so that doubt disappeared within five minutes.

Expected a slightly forced mixer. Got a table full of people just as curious about each other as I was.

Brought my sister so I wouldn't be totally alone. Turned out I didn't need to, but it was nice that it was simply allowed.

I now know more people in Rotterdam from one Sunday afternoon than from a whole year of going out before that.

Was afraid I'd be the only one solo. Halfway through the table I realised almost no one had come with someone.

As a guy I felt a bit out of place at first. Turned out to be unfounded, everyone was just there to meet new people.

Went with two colleagues for fun. We now have a group chat with four people we met that afternoon.

Just moved to The Hague and knew no one. After this one Sunday I already had plans for the following weekend.

I came solo and was genuinely nervous. There were groups and others who came alone too. Within ten minutes I was laughing hard.

Showing up alone felt a bit scary at first. Everyone came alone or with one friend. Within ten minutes I was chatting away.

First time going alone to something like this. Thought it would be awkward. By the end four of us were still talking at the bar.

My friends couldn't make it, so I went solo. It felt like dinner with lovely girls. Coming alone is totally normal here.

I was sceptical about social tastings, but it just felt like dinner with strangers who somehow felt a bit like friends.

Walking in alone was the hardest part. After that it was tasting, talking, and people who also came without a plus-one.

We booked as four. Within fifteen minutes we were laughing like we'd been going out together for years.

Relaxed from the first glass. No forced introductions, just people who also wanted a good afternoon out.

I'd been doubting all week whether I'd actually go. At the table everyone was just as new as I was, so that doubt disappeared within five minutes.

Expected a slightly forced mixer. Got a table full of people just as curious about each other as I was.

Brought my sister so I wouldn't be totally alone. Turned out I didn't need to, but it was nice that it was simply allowed.

I now know more people in Rotterdam from one Sunday afternoon than from a whole year of going out before that.

Was afraid I'd be the only one solo. Halfway through the table I realised almost no one had come with someone.

As a guy I felt a bit out of place at first. Turned out to be unfounded, everyone was just there to meet new people.

Went with two colleagues for fun. We now have a group chat with four people we met that afternoon.

Just moved to The Hague and knew no one. After this one Sunday I already had plans for the following weekend.

I came solo and was genuinely nervous. There were groups and others who came alone too. Within ten minutes I was laughing hard.

Showing up alone felt a bit scary at first. Everyone came alone or with one friend. Within ten minutes I was chatting away.

First time going alone to something like this. Thought it would be awkward. By the end four of us were still talking at the bar.

My friends couldn't make it, so I went solo. It felt like dinner with lovely girls. Coming alone is totally normal here.

I was sceptical about social tastings, but it just felt like dinner with strangers who somehow felt a bit like friends.

Walking in alone was the hardest part. After that it was tasting, talking, and people who also came without a plus-one.

We booked as four. Within fifteen minutes we were laughing like we'd been going out together for years.

Relaxed from the first glass. No forced introductions, just people who also wanted a good afternoon out.

I'd been doubting all week whether I'd actually go. At the table everyone was just as new as I was, so that doubt disappeared within five minutes.

Expected a slightly forced mixer. Got a table full of people just as curious about each other as I was.

Brought my sister so I wouldn't be totally alone. Turned out I didn't need to, but it was nice that it was simply allowed.

I now know more people in Rotterdam from one Sunday afternoon than from a whole year of going out before that.

Was afraid I'd be the only one solo. Halfway through the table I realised almost no one had come with someone.

As a guy I felt a bit out of place at first. Turned out to be unfounded, everyone was just there to meet new people.

Went with two colleagues for fun. We now have a group chat with four people we met that afternoon.

Just moved to The Hague and knew no one. After this one Sunday I already had plans for the following weekend.

I came solo and was genuinely nervous. There were groups and others who came alone too. Within ten minutes I was laughing hard.

Showing up alone felt a bit scary at first. Everyone came alone or with one friend. Within ten minutes I was chatting away.

First time going alone to something like this. Thought it would be awkward. By the end four of us were still talking at the bar.

My friends couldn't make it, so I went solo. It felt like dinner with lovely girls. Coming alone is totally normal here.

I was sceptical about social tastings, but it just felt like dinner with strangers who somehow felt a bit like friends.

Walking in alone was the hardest part. After that it was tasting, talking, and people who also came without a plus-one.

We booked as four. Within fifteen minutes we were laughing like we'd been going out together for years.

Relaxed from the first glass. No forced introductions, just people who also wanted a good afternoon out.

I'd been doubting all week whether I'd actually go. At the table everyone was just as new as I was, so that doubt disappeared within five minutes.

Expected a slightly forced mixer. Got a table full of people just as curious about each other as I was.

Brought my sister so I wouldn't be totally alone. Turned out I didn't need to, but it was nice that it was simply allowed.

I now know more people in Rotterdam from one Sunday afternoon than from a whole year of going out before that.

Was afraid I'd be the only one solo. Halfway through the table I realised almost no one had come with someone.

As a guy I felt a bit out of place at first. Turned out to be unfounded, everyone was just there to meet new people.

Went with two colleagues for fun. We now have a group chat with four people we met that afternoon.

Just moved to The Hague and knew no one. After this one Sunday I already had plans for the following weekend.