Inside Tropical Tuesday: the evening that keeps us curious

At Hypersolid, technology and creativity fuel everything we build, but they also demand our full attention. By the time the workday ends, the ideas we care about most often end up waiting until “someday.” Tropical Tuesdays were created to break that pattern.

Each week, colleagues step out of the daily pace to explore, learn, and create in a setting that restores focus, sparks new thinking, and strengthens connections within the organization.

A glimpse into Tropical Tuesdays

In Alkmaar, the evening starts with a relaxed dinner, a simple moment to reset before shifting into a more exploratory mindset. From there, people choose whatever they want to dive into: progressing client work, shaping a personal concept, or trying out a new technology.

The format is intentionally open. People come and go as they like, so every Tuesday has its own feel and a fresh combination of colleagues exploring whatever sparks their interest. Some collaborate, others prototype on their own, and ideas move quickly from thought to first version. With so many different skills in one room, almost anything can be explored. These evenings often lead to new insights, practical learnings, and approaches that feed back into our day-to-day work.

They also make us better together. Stepping outside standard roles and routines creates space for real connection, and the informal setting makes collaboration smoother throughout the rest of the week.

After nearly ten years, Tropical Tuesdays remain a core part of our culture, not for the sake of tradition but because they continue to prove their value.

From concept to projects

Tropical Tuesdays tend to spark all kinds of side projects. Take .NET developer Thomas Bleijendaal, who’s been part of these sessions for years and has been crafting a custom light show for a local live band. He shows up with piles of gear, dusts off code that’s almost a decade old, and keeps layering in new ideas as the band dreams them up. The project never really ends, and that’s exactly what he enjoys about it.

Colleagues also apply this experimental mindset to building proofs-of-concept for clients. One standout example is the AI-powered application created for Qmusic by Jan Braulio Kooij, who is a Creative Technologist. It analyzes linear radio streams and advertising blocks, selects music based on listener preferences, and fades back into the broadcast without affecting ad revenue.

These projects show the range of skills within our teams, but more importantly, the value of having a dedicated space to experiment. Tropical Tuesdays encourage shared learning, fresh perspectives, and the confidence to explore ideas that do not fit neatly into a regular workday.

Innovation that flows into client work

The impact of Tropical Tuesdays isn’t limited to the experiments themselves. The freedom to explore new technologies without operational pressure often leads to ideas that simply wouldn’t surface during a normal workday.

Many of these early explorations developed on Tuesday evenings eventually grow into prototypes that find their way into client work. The AI Active Room is a clear example of an internal experiment quickly becoming a client-facing asset.

By training ourselves to think openly, prototype quickly, and challenge familiar patterns, we improve our ability to solve complex challenges. Every Tuesday becomes an investment in our creative capacity, and that investment is reflected in the work we deliver.

A space for growth and collaboration

Tropical Tuesdays are more than an after-work moment. They are a place to test ideas, build new capabilities, and connect with colleagues in ways that elevate our work. Whether individually or as a team, every Tuesday offers the chance to create, grow, and push boundaries.

And every hundred editions, that spirit gets amplified. Tropical 200, 300, and 400 became full company celebrations with climbing towers in the parking lot, giant obstacle courses, and themed challenges — including transforming the office into a complete escape room — that transformed the campus into a playground. The upcoming milestone, Tropical 500, is already in the works and will revolve around the theme Expedition Tropical.