the/experts Meetup - Breda: Hands-on Kotlin for Java Developers

On Thursday, 12 February 2026, the/experts and Urs Peter are organising the meetup: Hands-on Kotlin for Java Developers.

> Why learn Kotlin when modern Java keeps getting better?

In this meetup, you’ll get a hands-on introduction to Kotlin and discover why it is often described as “a better Java”—and, more importantly, which language design choices make that claim true.
Rather than focusing on syntax or language features alone, we’ll explore the core concepts that make Kotlin a safer, more expressive, and more productive language for JVM developers – and AI-coding assistants as well:

• Null-safety & secure coding by design
• Immutability-first thinking
• Expression-oriented syntax
• Concise yet readable class, collection, and function definitions
• Functions as first-class citizens
• Powerful extension mechanisms

This session is a mix of a presentation and hands-on labs: after having received an illustrative introduction of a core feature and the underlying concept, you’ll try them out yourself in a hands-on lab. As such, you will experience how Kotlin changes the way you design and write code, and see how it compares to familiar Java patterns.

So bring your laptop along!

By the end of the meetup, you’ll have a clear, practical understanding of Kotlin’s foundational ideas and enough firsthand experience to decide for yourself whether Kotlin deserves a place in your daily JVM toolbox.

Programme:
5 p.m. – Doors open
5.30 p.m. – Dinner
6 p.m. – Welcome
6.10 p.m. – Theory 1
6.25 p.m. – Hands-on session 1
7.25 p.m. – Theory 2
7.40 p.m. – Hands-on session 2
8.30 p.m. – Drinks

Register via
https://the-experts.nl/events/the-experts-meetup-hands-on-kotlin-for-java-developers/