What Happens When You Attend DDD Europe? Participants Share Their Stories

Organising a conference is always a leap of faith. You plan, you prepare, you hope that what you're creating will truly make a difference. But it's not until participants share their experiences that you know whether you've succeeded.

At DDD Europe 2025, we took our biggest leap yet. After eight editions in Amsterdam, we moved to Antwerp and expanded from two to three days. It was ambitious but judging by the feedback we received, it was absolutely worth it.

If you've ever wondered whether DDD Europe is right for you, let these participant stories help you decide.

"The Learning Was Next Level"

Here's what stands out most in the feedback we received: people don't just attend DDD Europe to collect insights they might use someday. They leave ready to act immediately.

One participant told us: "I have already started incorporating learnings from the speakers and attendees in my work. From implementing C4 diagrams to working with my teams on service decomposition."

Not "I learned about C4 diagrams." Not "I'll try this eventually." They've already started. That's the difference between a good conference and a transformative one.

Another attendee put it simply: "The learning was next level. Its why I love to attend. The space for conversations was also amazing. Nice and open, with lots of tables (and coffee)."

This captures what we've always believed: the best learning doesn't happen in lecture halls alone. It happens in those conversations over coffee, in the hallway discussions that run long, in the moment when someone's question sparks an insight you didn't see coming.

From Confusion to Clarity

Many participants told us they came seeking direction and left with a clear path forward:

"Lots of short-term actions I see myself taking, and a clear path forward on my learning journey."

"Better decision making. I've got more tools in my toolbox."

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the landscape of modern software architecture - microservices, event sourcing, data mesh, domain modelling - you're not alone. DDD Europe doesn't simplify these topics artificially. Instead, it gives you the frameworks and mental models to navigate complexity with confidence.

One participant shared how this played out for them: "It has armed me with tools and thought-frameworks that can help me build better software, in particular when it comes to re-designing and transitioning monolithic legacy systems."

Legacy systems. We all have them. And now they had a toolkit to tackle them.

Finding Your People

Perhaps the most moving feedback wasn't about technical learning at all. It was about community:

"Always a good thing to step out of your current context and being able to reflect upon it. + finding likeminded people that struggle with the same stuff mends your soul."

Software development can be isolating. You might be the only person at your company who truly cares about domain modelling, or the only one fighting for better architecture, or the only one who sees the potential in event-driven systems. At DDD Europe, you're not alone.

"I'm 100% sure that I want to be the part of this community for a loooong while :)"

This is what community feels like. Not networking for the sake of LinkedIn connections, but genuine connection with people who understand your challenges because they're facing them too.

Becoming the Change Agent

One of the most exciting patterns we saw in the feedback was participants returning to their organisations ready to lead change:

"I now have much more inspiration to help me with my modelling journey in my organisation. I hope to become (or am) a DDD ambassador in my company."

"I feel more confident discussing and using DDD in my daily work."

Confidence matters. When you can speak about DDD with authority, when you have examples and frameworks to reference, when you've seen how others have solved similar problems - you become the person your team turns to for guidance.

One participant specifically mentioned bringing junior colleagues: "I've brought junior colleagues along with me, I'm hoping the conference inspired them to believe more that event driven is production viable overall."

This is leadership in action - not just learning for yourself, but expanding possibilities for your entire team.

The Ripple Effect

What happens at DDD Europe doesn't stay at DDD Europe. It spreads:

"Will present what I learned to my team and apply in future projects."

"Trigger discussions and improvements on our team."

"Lots to think about, contacts."

Every participant who returns to their organisation equipped with new ideas, new confidence, and new connections becomes a catalyst for change. They share what they learned, they challenge existing assumptions, they introduce new techniques. The impact multiplies far beyond the three days we spend together.

Room to Grow

Moving to Antwerp and expanding to three days gave us something precious: space. Space for deeper exploration. Space for more conversations. Space for ideas to develop and mature.

"So much to think about. I need to digest and dedicate some time to looking at notes and slides."

Your Turn

Reading about other people's transformative experiences is inspiring, but experiencing it yourself is something else entirely.

If you're wondering whether DDD Europe is for you, ask yourself:

• Do you want to move from confusion to clarity in your software architecture journey?
• Are you looking for practical tools and frameworks you can use immediately?
• Would you benefit from connecting with people who share your challenges and passions?
• Do you want to become more confident in applying DDD in your daily work?
• Are you ready to become a change agent in your organisation?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, DDD Europe is designed for you.

Experience It Yourself

Words on a page can only capture so much. To truly understand what makes DDD Europe special, we invite you to explore our YouTube channel where you'll find talks from past editions, workshop snippets, and insights from our community.

Check out our DDD Europe talks on YouTube

See the quality of content for yourself. Get a feel for the community. Watch how speakers engage with complex topics in ways that make them accessible and actionable.

And when you're ready to experience it firsthand, we'll be here - ready to welcome you into a community that one participant promised to be part of "for a loooong while."