Swift

Island


Sept 2 - 4
2025
Texel
Netherlands
Texel
The Netherlands
Texel
The Netherlands
Texel
The Netherlands
Sep 2-4
2025
Sep 2-4
2025
Sep 2-4
2025
60 Tickets
Starting at €1949
60 Tickets
Starting at €1949
60 Tickets
Starting at €1949
8 Mentors
50-50 Men/Women
8 Mentors
50-50 Men/Women
8 Mentors
50-50 Men/Women

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About
Swift Island is an all-inclusive experimental conference happening after Apple's WWDC 2025.
The Pitch
You know that feeling you get after WWDC ends, when all you want to do is catch up on all the videos Apple just released? That urgent need to experiment and play with all the new betas, frameworks and APIs. The overwhelming desire to spend hours on all of the above, quickly followed by the sinking realization that you can't - because you have actual work to do.
Yep, we've all been there and that feeling sucks.
Our mission is to break the cycle!
Swift Island is an experimental conference in the broadest sense. After WWDC, we invite you to join us for a hands-on experience with all of Apple’s newly announced API's and Frameworks, in sessions guided by top-notch mentors.
The Format
The format is very simple: 3 workshop days, choose from 4 sessions per day provided by 8 mentors. Everyone pair programs and has fun.
The Kicker
A conference ticket is all inclusive: You will get three days of workshops, three days of lodging in a shared cabin (private rooms) and all the food you need for breakfast, lunch and dinner during your stay. And a bike. And did we mention it’s on an island?
It's called Texel (pronounced tes-sel) and it’s one of the five Frisian Islands, located in the Wadden Sea, which is a Unesco World Heritage. In short - it's an island in the Netherlands and it's awesome.
What to expect?
Beyond the experience of being introduced to WWDC material by top-notch mentors on a frikkin' island, you’ll also enjoy:

> Seals. Actual real life seals (the fluffy kind, not the military kind).

> Choose from eight topics covered in workshops.
Location
Swift Island Location
Prins Hendrik Texel
Stuifweg 13
1794 HA Oosterend
Email: info@swiftisland.nl
Location
Swift Island Location
Prins Hendrik Texel
Stuifweg 13
1794 HA Oosterend
Email: info@swiftisland.nl
Location
Swift Island Location
Prins Hendrik Texel
Stuifweg 13
1794 HA Oosterend
Email: info@swiftisland.nl
Mentors for 2025
Janina Kutyn

Janina Kutyn has worked across the tech spectrum: from scrappy startups and agencies, to global brands like adidas and ING, and she even spent six years at Apple building products like Apple Music and the TV App. Now as an indie developer, she’s interested in creating apps that are not only beautiful and high-performing, but also make a positive social impact. When she’s not writing software, she’s writing children’s books.

Tim Condon

Tim is a Swift developer from Manchester, UK and one half of the Vapor Core Team. He sits on the Swift Server Workgroup and delivers talks and workshops on Vapor and server-side Swift around the world. He runs Broken Hands, a server-side Swift consultancy and works with clients around the world to help them deploy Swift on their backends. He also co-organises the ServerSide.swift conference – the world’s first and only conference focused on server-side Swift.

Sofia Diniz

Sofia is a 2x Swift Student Challenge winner who began her iOS journey at the Apple Developer Academy. Passionate about accessibility and building apps, she has now crafted projects on iPadOS, watchOS, iOS, and visionOS. When she’s not coding, she enjoys traveling, reading, and learning Italian.

John Solsma

John is a Senior Engineering Manager and iOS Solution Architect with 12 years of mobile app development experience. He has led iOS projects for major clients like Apple and AT&T, including a pioneering eSIM installation app. Currently, he leads the platform iOS team at Care.com. He holds a Computer Science degree from the University of Iowa and completed UT’s AI/ML graduate program in 2022. In his free time, he enjoys mountain biking, travel, and amateur auto racing.

Burcu K. Kutluay

Burcu is a Senior iOS engineer, engineering mentor, and passionate public speaker with 10+ years of experience turning ideas into powerful mobile apps across finance, e-commerce, travel, and startups. She’s all about building great products, helping engineers grow, and making complex things simple on Apple platforms. When she’s not coding or speaking at tech events, you’ll probably find her jamming on her guitar or lost in her favorite tunes.

Bruno Scheele

Bruno Scheele has been developing apps since 2010 and has worked for many different clients, from small to big. His interest in making software that can be used by anyone and everyone, leads him to consider inclusivity in all aspects of development. Accessibility especially has captured his imagination and he now strives to keep learning more about this whole new world and help companies and organizations make truly usable apps for everyone.

Celina Landgraf

Celina is a mobile iOS dev, building smooth, modern apps using SwiftUI, Combine & async/await. Recently, she’s been diving into the backend world with NestJS. Raised by teachers, she’s always loved mentoring – guiding teammates from zero to launch. Swift Island marks first official workshop gig… and she’s hyped! When she’s not coding, you’ll find her upside-down doing acrobatic yoga (especially icarian) or geeking out over trust and balance in movement and tech.

Frank Lefebvre

Frank has been developing software for Apple platforms since 1985. As a freelance developer, he usually works on low-level and AV-related software for macOS, iOS and visionOS, as well as server-side Swift applications. He is also an Apple-certified trainer, and he provides mentoring on server-side Swift and iOS development with SwiftUI.

The App
Our app provides easy access to travel details, the conference schedule, and more.
Download it by scanning the QR-code or by pressing the button above.
FAQ

Can I become a mentor?

Sure! Please send us an email though, so we can get in touch with you.

Are these images actually from the island?

Yes! All photographs used on this site were shot on Texel. Some of them are shot by our attendees.

Are there different kind of rooms?

Yes. The venue has bungalows and regular hotel rooms. Bungalows have 3 bedrooms, are more spacious, and have a shared kitchen and living room, while the Hotel Rooms have a private bathrooms. With your ticket you always get a private bedroom and you buy a ticket you can specify a preferred room type. While we try to accommodate everyone towards their preference, we can't guarantee you the room-type of your choice.

Can I specify who I want to share a bungalow with?

Sure! Once you both have booked a ticket, please send us an email and we will make sure you will be placed in a bungalow together.

Can I buy a ticket without accommodation?

No, because there are no other options for accommodation in the vicinity of the venue. Part of the atmosphere of the conference is having everyone in the same location for the duration of the conference.

Is the content the same as WWDC?

No. While the topics will be inspired by what is announced at WWDC, there are no talks at Swift Island, only workshops. During those workshops you get hands-on experience with these topics. So even if you are lucky enough to go to WWDC, Swift Island will be a great way to dive in deeper. Having been to WWDC is not at all a requirement, though. We expect the attendees to have some basic knowledge of what is announced, but we will quickly get you up to speed if you did not find the time to look into it yet.

Is Swift Island during WWDC?

No. It's happening after it. WWDC usually takes place in June, while Swift Island is the 2nd until the 4th of September. You will have some time to rest, catch up, and look forward to a great time on The Netherland's most beautiful island.

What does all-inclusive mean?

Conference tickets to Swift Island are all-inclusive. This means that apart from the conference, you will get accommodation and breakfast for four days, and lunch and dinner during the conference days (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday), and of course a magnificent view.
We are also making sure there's enough bikes for everyone during the conference. And seals, those are also included 😉.

I'm confused by the conference dates. When is it exactly and which nights is accommodation included?

The conference days are the 2nd, 3rd and 4th of September, the 4 nights of accommodation are the nights around that. We expect everyone to arrive on the 1st of September, have three awesome conference days and leave on the 5th of August. Except if you bought the Swift Island++ to extend your accommodation of course.

I have one or more kids older than 3 years. Can I bring them?

Kids up until 3 years can visit the conference for free. The reason for this is that there are some travel beds for kids on the venue site. If you have one or more kids that you would like to bring, please contact us via email so we can discuss the options.

What is your refund policy?

For this year we will:

- Refund the full amount (minus transaction costs) up until 3 months before the conference (Before or on 1st of June 2025)

- Refund €500 up until 1 month before the conference (1st of June 2025 - 1st of August 2025)

- From the 1st of August we will not refund.

And you can always transfer your ticket to someone else.

Why is there no VAT/BTW rate mentioned on my invoice?

There’s no VAT/BTW rate. We have a special tax rate because we use a 'travel agency arrangement'. More info can be found on the Dutch tax service.

Can you provide me with a Visa invitation?

You can just send us an email with the template letter you'd like us to sign and wi'll send it back to you. You can send this to our email.

Hassle-free travel - Plane ticket booking and bus times.

If you are travelling from abroad it's best to book your plane or train ticket towards Schiphol Airport (AMS). If you are early you can wait in a lounge we reserved especially for Swift Island attendees and there will be a crew member waiting for you (more details will arrive in your mail after you book a ticket).

From Schiphol we have a coach/bus waiting to take you to Texel where the conference is.

The special Swift Island Hassle-free bus leaves from Schiphol:

Monday 1st of September: 14:30h - Arrival at Texel 17:30h

Departure times from Texel to Schiphol (the are two busses leaving the island, one on Friday and one on Sunday):
Friday 5th of September 8.30h - Arrival at Schiphol around 12.00h
Sunday 7th of September 13:30h - Arrival at Schiphol around 17.00h


Please take into account when buying a plane ticket that you need to be on time at Schiphol Airport, calculate at lease two hours for checkout from the Airport. So book your ticket accordingly.


FAQ

Can I become a mentor?

Sure! Please send us an email though, so we can get in touch with you.

Are these images actually from the island?

Yes! All photographs used on this site were shot on Texel. Some of them are shot by our attendees.

Are there different kind of rooms?

Yes. The venue has bungalows and regular hotel rooms. Bungalows have 3 bedrooms, are more spacious, and have a shared kitchen and living room, while the Hotel Rooms have a private bathrooms. With your ticket you always get a private bedroom and you buy a ticket you can specify a preferred room type. While we try to accommodate everyone towards their preference, we can't guarantee you the room-type of your choice.

Can I specify who I want to share a bungalow with?

Sure! Once you both have booked a ticket, please send us an email and we will make sure you will be placed in a bungalow together.

Can I buy a ticket without accommodation?

No, because there are no other options for accommodation in the vicinity of the venue. Part of the atmosphere of the conference is having everyone in the same location for the duration of the conference.

Is the content the same as WWDC?

No. While the topics will be inspired by what is announced at WWDC, there are no talks at Swift Island, only workshops. During those workshops you get hands-on experience with these topics. So even if you are lucky enough to go to WWDC, Swift Island will be a great way to dive in deeper. Having been to WWDC is not at all a requirement, though. We expect the attendees to have some basic knowledge of what is announced, but we will quickly get you up to speed if you did not find the time to look into it yet.

Is Swift Island during WWDC?

No. It's happening after it. WWDC usually takes place in June, while Swift Island is the 2nd until the 4th of September. You will have some time to rest, catch up, and look forward to a great time on The Netherland's most beautiful island.

What does all-inclusive mean?

Conference tickets to Swift Island are all-inclusive. This means that apart from the conference, you will get accommodation and breakfast for four days, and lunch and dinner during the conference days (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday), and of course a magnificent view.
We are also making sure there's enough bikes for everyone during the conference. And seals, those are also included 😉.

I'm confused by the conference dates. When is it exactly and which nights is accommodation included?

The conference days are the 2nd, 3rd and 4th of September, the 4 nights of accommodation are the nights around that. We expect everyone to arrive on the 1st of September, have three awesome conference days and leave on the 5th of August. Except if you bought the Swift Island++ to extend your accommodation of course.

I have one or more kids older than 3 years. Can I bring them?

Kids up until 3 years can visit the conference for free. The reason for this is that there are some travel beds for kids on the venue site. If you have one or more kids that you would like to bring, please contact us via email so we can discuss the options.

What is your refund policy?

For this year we will:

- Refund the full amount (minus transaction costs) up until 3 months before the conference (Before or on 1st of June 2025)

- Refund €500 up until 1 month before the conference (1st of June 2025 - 1st of August 2025)

- From the 1st of August we will not refund.

And you can always transfer your ticket to someone else.

Why is there no VAT/BTW rate mentioned on my invoice?

There’s no VAT/BTW rate. We have a special tax rate because we use a 'travel agency arrangement'. More info can be found on the Dutch tax service.

Can you provide me with a Visa invitation?

You can just send us an email with the template letter you'd like us to sign and wi'll send it back to you. You can send this to our email.

Hassle-free travel - Plane ticket booking and bus times.

If you are travelling from abroad it's best to book your plane or train ticket towards Schiphol Airport (AMS). If you are early you can wait in a lounge we reserved especially for Swift Island attendees and there will be a crew member waiting for you (more details will arrive in your mail after you book a ticket).

From Schiphol we have a coach/bus waiting to take you to Texel where the conference is.

The special Swift Island Hassle-free bus leaves from Schiphol:

Monday 1st of September: 14:30h - Arrival at Texel 17:30h

Departure times from Texel to Schiphol (the are two busses leaving the island, one on Friday and one on Sunday):
Friday 5th of September 8.30h - Arrival at Schiphol around 12.00h
Sunday 7th of September 13:30h - Arrival at Schiphol around 17.00h


Please take into account when buying a plane ticket that you need to be on time at Schiphol Airport, calculate at lease two hours for checkout from the Airport. So book your ticket accordingly.


FAQ

Can I become a mentor?

Sure! Please send us an email though, so we can get in touch with you.

Are these images actually from the island?

Yes! All photographs used on this site were shot on Texel. Some of them are shot by our attendees.

Are there different kind of rooms?

Yes. The venue has bungalows and regular hotel rooms. Bungalows have 3 bedrooms, are more spacious, and have a shared kitchen and living room, while the Hotel Rooms have a private bathrooms. With your ticket you always get a private bedroom and you buy a ticket you can specify a preferred room type. While we try to accommodate everyone towards their preference, we can't guarantee you the room-type of your choice.

Can I specify who I want to share a bungalow with?

Sure! Once you both have booked a ticket, please send us an email and we will make sure you will be placed in a bungalow together.

Can I buy a ticket without accommodation?

No, because there are no other options for accommodation in the vicinity of the venue. Part of the atmosphere of the conference is having everyone in the same location for the duration of the conference.

Is the content the same as WWDC?

No. While the topics will be inspired by what is announced at WWDC, there are no talks at Swift Island, only workshops. During those workshops you get hands-on experience with these topics. So even if you are lucky enough to go to WWDC, Swift Island will be a great way to dive in deeper. Having been to WWDC is not at all a requirement, though. We expect the attendees to have some basic knowledge of what is announced, but we will quickly get you up to speed if you did not find the time to look into it yet.

Is Swift Island during WWDC?

No. It's happening after it. WWDC usually takes place in June, while Swift Island is the 2nd until the 4th of September. You will have some time to rest, catch up, and look forward to a great time on The Netherland's most beautiful island.

What does all-inclusive mean?

Conference tickets to Swift Island are all-inclusive. This means that apart from the conference, you will get accommodation and breakfast for four days, and lunch and dinner during the conference days (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday), and of course a magnificent view.
We are also making sure there's enough bikes for everyone during the conference. And seals, those are also included 😉.

I'm confused by the conference dates. When is it exactly and which nights is accommodation included?

The conference days are the 2nd, 3rd and 4th of September, the 4 nights of accommodation are the nights around that. We expect everyone to arrive on the 1st of September, have three awesome conference days and leave on the 5th of August. Except if you bought the Swift Island++ to extend your accommodation of course.

I have one or more kids older than 3 years. Can I bring them?

Kids up until 3 years can visit the conference for free. The reason for this is that there are some travel beds for kids on the venue site. If you have one or more kids that you would like to bring, please contact us via email so we can discuss the options.

What is your refund policy?

For this year we will:

- Refund the full amount (minus transaction costs) up until 3 months before the conference (Before or on 1st of June 2025)

- Refund €500 up until 1 month before the conference (1st of June 2025 - 1st of August 2025)

- From the 1st of August we will not refund.

And you can always transfer your ticket to someone else.

Why is there no VAT/BTW rate mentioned on my invoice?

There’s no VAT/BTW rate. We have a special tax rate because we use a 'travel agency arrangement'. More info can be found on the Dutch tax service.

Can you provide me with a Visa invitation?

You can just send us an email with the template letter you'd like us to sign and wi'll send it back to you. You can send this to our email.

Hassle-free travel - Plane ticket booking and bus times.

If you are travelling from abroad it's best to book your plane or train ticket towards Schiphol Airport (AMS). If you are early you can wait in a lounge we reserved especially for Swift Island attendees and there will be a crew member waiting for you (more details will arrive in your mail after you book a ticket).

From Schiphol we have a coach/bus waiting to take you to Texel where the conference is.

The special Swift Island Hassle-free bus leaves from Schiphol:

Monday 1st of September: 14:30h - Arrival at Texel 17:30h

Departure times from Texel to Schiphol (the are two busses leaving the island, one on Friday and one on Sunday):
Friday 5th of September 8.30h - Arrival at Schiphol around 12.00h
Sunday 7th of September 13:30h - Arrival at Schiphol around 17.00h


Please take into account when buying a plane ticket that you need to be on time at Schiphol Airport, calculate at lease two hours for checkout from the Airport. So book your ticket accordingly.


Diversity Sponsorship
We are committed to promoting diversity and inclusivity in the tech industry. From the first edition we have had a 50-50 men/women split for mentors.
We recognize that underrepresented groups often face barriers to attending conferences and workshops, which is why we are proud to offer a diversity program to those who might not be able to attend Swift Island otherwise.
Our diversity program provides discounted tickets to individuals from underrepresented groups, including but not limited to: women, people of color, individuals with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ people, and those from low-income backgrounds. If you are interested in applying for a diversity ticket for Swift Island, please send us an email describing why you are applicable for a diversity ticket. We value your privacy and will keep all information confidential.
Please note: Our diversity program only offers conference attendance + Hassel-free travel from Schiphol Airport to Texel. If you live abroad getting to the Netherlands via train, plane or other forms of transportation is on your own account and is not covered by our diversity program.
The deadline for submitting your diversity sponsorship is 30th of May 2025.
Code of Conduct
All attendees, speakers, sponsors and volunteers at our conference are required to agree with the following code of conduct. Organisers will enforce this code throughout the event. We expect cooperation from all participants to help ensure a safe environment for everybody.
Need Help? Contact Us!
Niels van Hoorn
Twitter: @nvh
Email: niels@swiftisland.nl
Sidney de Koning
Twitter: @sidneydekoning
Email: sidney@swiftisland.nl
The Quick Version
All attendees, speakers, sponsors and volunteers at our conference are required to agree with the following code of conduct. Organisers will enforce this code throughout the event. We expect cooperation from all participants to help ensure a safe environment for everybody.
Our conference is dedicated to providing a harassment-free conference experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion (or lack thereof), or technology choices. We do not tolerate harassment of conference participants in any form. Sexual language and imagery is not appropriate for any conference venue, including talks, workshops, parties, Twitter and other online media. Conference participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the conference without a refund at the discretion of the conference organisers.
The Less Quick Version
Harassment includes offensive verbal comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion, technology choices, sexual images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention.
Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.
Sponsors are also subject to the anti-harassment policy. In particular, sponsors should not use sexualised images, activities, or other material. Booth staff (including volunteers) should not use sexualised clothing/uniforms/costumes, or otherwise create a sexualised environment.
If a participant engages in harassing behavior, the conference organisers may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender or expulsion from the conference with no refund.
If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of conference staff immediately. Conference staff can be identified as they'll be wearing branded clothing and/or badges.
Conference staff will be happy to help participants contact hotel/venue security or local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the conference. We value your attendance.
We expect participants to follow these rules at conference and workshop venues and conference-related social events.