After going to Europe few months ago to Developers Paradise 2016, I came back once again to the Old Continent for MageUnconference Netherlands!
Have you ever heard about the "UnConference" format? It is very similiar to all you already know about conferences except for having no pre-determined speakers and no pre-determined talks!
In order to avoid the conventional format where there is a full grid of talks and plenty amount of topics which often times unmatches the audience's desire, the participants come up with topics they want to hear and discuss about during the sessions, and choose them through a quick voting process.
This format has been successfully implemented twice in Germany for the Magento world in the past couple of years. It is the first time taking place in the Netherlands thanks to Dutchento. Around 100 attendees (mostly from the Netherlands) joined to this great event at Fort aan de Klop in Utrecht, during October 14-16th of 2016.
Yeah, let's experience another great adventure: The Netherlands! I spent one week in the Europe. I went to Amsterdam, Amersfoort, Utrecht and also Brussels in Belgium. My flight took around 18 hours to go and other 22 hours to go back. However, I tell you it was worthy! There is nothing better than to be among the best guys of Magento World!
I landed in Amsterdam three days before the event and I found out a pretty cool monthly meetup taking place in Amersfoort and it was about 40 minutes by train. By the way, when I was heading out to there I suddenly met with somebody that I highly respect: Rafael Dohms. He is the founder of the two largest PHP groups in the universe (PHPSP in São Paulo, Brazil and PHP Amsterdam in the Netherlands since he moved here years ago). It as cool as unexpected. We talked about very technical Software Development topics while walking from the train station to the event's location.
Coincidentally a friend of mine from Brazil, Luís Cobucci would be talking that night about "Fix your code!". I was very happy for making new PHP friends whom warmly welcomed me as Renato Mendes Figueiredo.
Fix your architecture by Mr. @lcobucci! #php033 pic.twitter.com/KwMHVnItae
— PHPAmersfoort (@PHPAmersfoort) October 11, 2016
Typically the first night is reserved for BBQ, networking, meeting old friends and making new ones!
After a great night of fun let's start working hard! As written above, there was no pre-determined talk. And as you guys may see in the image below, each one of us had the opportunity to propose a topic for discussion, explain it to everybody in the room and after voting.
In about 20 minutes everybody had voted and the sessions started! There were 4 rooms having sessions simultaneously. You are free to choose anyone you wish.
End of the day, it's time to relax and have fun time! They contracted an Obstacle Course and I recorded Guido playing it!
just a normal day in @guido's life. #realmagento #muc16nl pic.twitter.com/9rRakPNZRe
— Matheus Gontijo (@mhgontijo) October 15, 2016
Got a gift from Brazil from my Magefriend @mhgontijo 😀 pic.twitter.com/CfgDaUqsk7
— Peter Jaap Blaakmeer (@PeterJaap) October 15, 2016
It is finished... thanks guy for the great opportunity to be together!
Good Morning #MUC16NL! Time for our final Unconference day at @FortAanDeKlop in Utrecht! pic.twitter.com/t1UkmCvU5y
— Dutchento (@dutchento) October 16, 2016
Thanks Dutchento for the hard work! (not sure if entire team is on the pic). Hope see you folks in 2017. By using the hashtag #muc16nl you can follow the even't news. All the beautiful photos are available here, check this out!
Work hard, have fun, wear red! @sabineoa @sandermangel #muc16nl pic.twitter.com/nuLUcPIJr8
— Monique Bruijn (@monique_bruijn) October 15, 2016
I also had the opportunity to visit the Booking.com Headquarters. A friend of mine, Marcus Garcia is working there for few years now and gently he offered me a complete tour through the building.
