Yup, you read the title right! It’s the annual winter DCR Cave Open House! With the event right around the corner, we have lots to do, but first, we need to know how many beers to buy! So don’t wait around, go ahead and get registered now! This is our 8th annual winter open house (plus the summer one we did back in July, 2019).
Here’s the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, 1st summer edition, sixth, annnnd seventh DCR Open Houses!
This may well be the last DCR Open House in this particular Cave location, as they are aiming to redevelop the land into some sort of high-rise apartments or something in summer 2024.
In the past, the Open House event has hosted up to 200 people, so it’s important we get an idea of who all is coming. Despite traditional December weather of strong and windy sideways rains, Open House registration fills up super quick (so we will be capping it again), though we will keep a waitlist, just in case a registrant decides they don’t want free beer and giveaways (what?).
As with all years, the event is broken up into two basic pieces: The morning run, and the evening open house party. First up in the morning, we’ll head out for a group run. We’ve been mostly lucky each year with the weather…ignoring the one time it was well below the freezing point. So hopefully the trend holds true. The run is ‘no-drop’, so nobody is left behind, and we’ll do about 10KM at a fun pace, stopping to take a few photos along the way.
After that it’s a great time to explore Amsterdam for the day, especially if you’re coming from out of town (about 30-40% of folks last year came from around beyond the Netherlands, and even Australia!). A lot of people make a fun weekend out of it. Come in Friday after work, enjoy the Amsterdam nightlife, do a morning run, and then spend the weekend seeing the sights. Your significant other is more than welcome at the Open House as well!
The open house portion is where you’ll explore the DCR Cave, and all the goodness inside of it. You’re welcome to come check out all the cool gear and test out a smart bike or two! Or, you can just stare into the ever-bright overkill amount of studio lights.
Like we have done in the past, we will do a sort of sports tech talk, including a bulky Q&A section for all your questions. So start thinking about all the things tech-geek you want to know!
Of course – there’s an endless supply of beer and wine. I think we had more than 800 servings at the last winter event. Seriously folks, you know how to party! Oh, and the instigator serving all those beers is The Girl – she will be holding down her now-assumed role for the evening: Bartending.
Plus of course, everyone can just chat and catch up. With a few special guests roaming around, and myself, we will be ready for all the geek-talk you can imagine!
And lastly, we’ll have a giveaway. It wouldn’t be complete without an epic giveaway!
This year as well, if you don’t win anything, you can always pick up some last-minute holiday gifts. There will be limited DCR swag for sale. You can buy at the bar or pre-order on the registration link.
With that – I’m looking forward to seeing everyone there, hit-up the registration link down below to get started!
Specifics:
For the Open House:
Date: Saturday, December 2nd, 2023 – 19:o0 (7PM)
Location: Exact location sent via e-mail to registered folks a few days ahead, but near the VU Medisch Centrum (VU University Medical Center/Hospital) in Amsterdam Zuid
Closest Tram Stop: VU Medisch Centrum – Tram Line #24 (2-minute walk)
Bike Parking: Plenty, more than you’d know what to do with
Car Parking: There is limited parking in the general vicinity
Food: We’ll have various appetizer & dessert items…and lots of beer and wine!
Price: Free!
For the DCR Group Run:
Date: Saturday, December 2nd, 2023 – 9:30AM
Address: We’ll start somewhere in central Amsterdam, likely near Vondel Park
Price: Also free!
This group run will take us on an approximately 10KM route around Amsterdam. While the famous IAmsterdam sign in front of the Rijksmuseum is no longer there (in 2018 we managed a group photo the day before they removed it!), we’ll certainly try and find an equally iconic spot for the annual group photo.
Like years past we’ll have a place for you to store any bags/clothes/Haribo you want to leave during the run. And again, we’ll leave nobody behind on the run – so fear not!
Get Registered!
For the open house simply use the form below to sign-up (just so we can figure out how much cheese, beer, and wine to buy…and cupcakes(?) to make!). We’re using a different registration system this year, which I hope will make things way easier (mainly for me, but also for you). If you want to register multiple people (such as your lovely significant other), you can do that via adding a second ticket, or just filling out the form twice – once in their name. Plus, it’ll make it easier for us to send you updates along the way.
Remember we also have DCR products for sale on the website, which you can pick up at the door of the event on December 2nd. Which is effectively a free shipping bonus!
I’ll use the e-mail provided to send the final details (and a reminder) as we get closer to the date. See ya there!
Note: Folks from various sports tech companies are of course more than welcome! Just be sure to bring enough devices for everyone. Kidding! For real, you’re more than welcome to come!
FOUND THIS POST USEFUL? SUPPORT THE SITE!
Hopefully, you found this post useful. The website is really a labor of love, so please consider becoming a DC RAINMAKER Supporter. This gets you an ad-free experience, and access to our (mostly) bi-monthly behind-the-scenes video series of “Shed Talkin’”.
Support DCRainMaker - Shop on Amazon
Otherwise, perhaps consider using the below link if shopping on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, but your purchases help support this website a lot. It could simply be buying toilet paper, or this pizza oven we use and love.
Registered for the run and open house!
Woot!!!
Signed up.. already excited.
Always gerat to see you there Paul!
Yes! Can’t wait. I saw you once in Amstel River with the arrow like bike but didn’t want to stop you as it was raining, but this seems a better way to say hi and meet you!
Super cool!
haha…indeed, a bit nicer than a rainy day! I mean, unless it’s raining. But hey, at least we’re undercover!
Long-time reader, but I never attended one of these. I signed up for the morning run and I’m looking forward to it. See you all in December!
Awesome! Glad you’re registered. Spots are going quick!
Great, looking forward to it!
9.30am is strict “start time” for the morning run or is it more “meeting time” with start 5-10-15 min later? I am considering squeezing in the Saturday 5k Amsterdam Bos Parkrun, which starts at 9.00, three kilometers away from Vondel Park. The plan is to finish it in 20 min, hop on one of the bike-sharing bikes, and head to Vondel Park to join the DC Morning Run. If you could provide the route some hours prior to the run, then I would definitely be able to catch the running DC train along the route.
Sounds like you need to do better than 20min 😉
Or Ray and the group need to crash the park run 😂
Sorry, somehow I missed these notifications.
That might be tricky. That said, we start at the All4Running running shop, and then head from there across the street into Vondelpark. The exact path varies a bit, but usually ends up in front of the Rijksmuseum for a group photo.
Knowing the distance between the Parkrun and All4Running well (very…very well), it’d be super tough to get to the 9:30ish start (usually we wait about 5ish or so mins depending on how miserable it is outside). The route between Parkrun and the running shop is a straight shot on a dedicated bike path, so it is incredibly efficient, with only a single stop-light.
You could always try and make it, and if you don’t see us outside the running shop, just start pedaling through Vondelpark on the right side (straight through the gates and keep going straight), and towards the Rijksmuseum. You’d likely catch us there, and could tie-up the bike somewhere and make a loop back to it. A few people have done that in years past.
Thank you very much for such detailed input, really appreciated!
Ive been a long-time reader and follower and have finally decided that this was the year I will visit the Cave. I’ll have to start running a little beforehand, otherwise, we will be on pace to finish the run right before the Cave party!
Flights and hotel booked! Is there anything that I can bring anything from Indianapolis?
Great! I think we’re good for US treats. We’ve made Des fill his bike case up. 🙂
I havent seen an email with location and details yet, did that go out already?
Cheers,
Marco
Just got it! Thanks!
The run is going to be an audible for me depending how an ongoing hamstring injury is feeling, but Ill definitely visit the party in the evening. Staying in the Apollo, so depending on weather, Ill walk, bike, or tram over!
Cheers!
Hi Marco!
Just went out about 2 hours or so ago. So if anyone hasn’t received their details, check your spam/etc folder. Else, drop a note in the ‘Contact’ form to bubble right to the top of my inbox. There’s a single person (a David), where his e-mail is bouncing and I’ve tried to figure out the exact e-mail typo but haven’t succedded yet. Thus David, if you’re out there – drop me a note in the Contact form up above to get you all sorted!
Cheers!
Another long-time reader here and been wanting to attend one of these for a while now, so finally the year! Looking forward to the run and the open house!
Sweet! Thanks for being a supporter as well!
10/10 would definitely recommend going!
I mentioned the event to the Mrs, she’s says “I’d go to Amsterdam,” so here we come from Pennsylvania! Looking forward to a great long weekend! If any locals can provide some info on the best things for a few folks from the US should be sure to do, we’d greatly appreciate any ideas. We’re of course using the inter webs for some ideas. Anne Frank house (getting tickets now) and I hear there is a light festival, we’ll check that out. Sadly we don’t like beer/wine so the pub stuff is less important to us. Anyway looking very forward to this last min trip!
Awesome! That’s quite the trip!
The light festival is really nice, either via night boat or walking.
Hi,
I signed up a few weeks ago and have booked a hotel with free cancelation up to 29 Nov. When will I be informed if I am on the “lucky” list.
Best regards
Hello! If you signed up on the form, you’re good to go! We’ve got a short update/reminder e-mail going out tomorrow.
But I checked, and you’re good to go! Looking forward to seeing you there!
Thanks a lot