All posts by Matthijs Vink

Launching Project: The Hague below sea level!

September 24, Museon-Omniversum hosted the official launch of the program "The Hague under the Sea Level." Together with Alderman Robert Barker, visitors, partners and ambassadors gave the go-ahead for a series of workshops that will prepare The Hague for the future of rising sea levels and changing climate.

Since August 19, Museon-Omniversum's Minecraft ambassadors have collaborated online to build the Hague of the future. In the online Minecraft future version of The Hague, developed in collaboration with Gaming partner H20, they were able to work on various tasks such as building a floating neighborhood and further dressing up the digital city.

For H20, this project fits perfectly with "Gaming Impacting the World": using gaming as a tool to explore social issues and devise solutions. By combining the power of gaming and creativity with current themes such as rising sea levels, visitors are involved in tomorrow's challenges in an approachable and inspiring way.

This festive launch officially opens the interactive programming around "The Hague below sea level." The activities can be experienced in Museon-Omniversum in the coming months and invite young and old to think along about creative solutions to the consequences of climate change.

H20 Esports & FC Volendam Partnership

FC Volendam will participate in the eDivision for the third time this season. H20 Esports joins as an official Esports partner. 

H20 is the largest Esports gaming ecosystem in Europe. More than 50 companies and startups are already housed on the campus in Purmerend. H20 aims not only to provide entertainment, but also to connect: bring young people together, stimulate education in technology & gaming, focus on responsible gaming. This season, H20 will be the training location for FC Volendam's Esporter. In addition, H20 will be used as an event location for gaming related activities of FC Volendam.

"FC Volendam and H20 are joining forces in the field of Esports," said Nino Sneek, Commercial Officer of FC Volendam. "With the top sports and Esports experience of the owners and organization of H20, together we create new opportunities for talent development and business in the region. In doing so, we can count on the excellent facilities in Purmerend."

Matthijs Vink, owner of H20, also responds happily to the partnership. "Being H20, we find the connection with sports and top sport important. Our background in top sports with HV KRAS/Volendam makes us eager to enter into this cooperation with FC Volendam. We both have an important regional function for youth with a national image. I am convinced that this cooperation will yield beautiful performances on and off the digital field!"

Setup eDivision

The eDivisie is the official Dutch EA FC26 competition. In the eDivisie, all eighteen Eredivisie clubs compete for the virtual championship in EA Sports FC 26 Ultimate Team. The seventeen rounds of play are divided into four periods, with the winner of each period earning prize money and a qualification for the KPN eDivisie Finals. The matches will be broadcast via the eDivision's YouTube channel.

Hack Your Future Sept. 18

Hack your future - young talents build challenges for the company of the future!

The new and unique concept that brings together business, education and gamification has not been organized in the Netherlands before. H20 believes in these innovative forms of education and is going into the project with full energy!

Hundreds of students will start the project this Thursday, September 18, which will last until the end of January. On January 29, the grand finale will take place at our H20 Event location in a project intensively supported by ST.AN through Renate Ooms.

During the kick-off, in addition to getting to know the companies, the classes will have the opportunity to attend informative workshops. Broad development is important to us at Hack Your Future. Workshops such as AI, social media, presentation techniques, understanding your talent, job training, dealing with emotions and setting boundaries, making choices about education and life, cyber security and how to create a start-up will be offered. Specialists will be speaking and we are incredibly grateful to have you committed to the new generation! Darragh Baratin, Tobias van der Stelt, Paddy Stegerhoek, Kim Kulderij, 👊🏻Lonneke Deutekom, Arend de Geus, Ninco van Sligtenhorst, Carmen Lopez-Brea -!

Several schools are stepping into the project such as Vonk, SG De Triade, Ir. Lely Lyceum, Bit Academy, Purmerendse ScholenGroep and Jan Arentsz.

These are the wonderful companies that brought in challenges: KBO Noord-Holland, Vitalics, Van 't Hek Groep, Woon Gangmakers, NRG PALLAS, Door met Zorg, PDZ Uitzendbureau, Endeavour, Davinci college Purmerend ESPORTS TECH CAMPUS. Matthijs Kruijer, Ludo van de Grift, Nancy Boterblom, Julien Pieterse, Monique Stam-de Nijs, Hans Hoek, Klaas de Jong, Dirk Tuip thanks for opening up your companies!

Collaborative partner Paddy Stegerhoek has been involved from the beginning, and Talland College is also making an important contribution!

If you would also like to attend to watch and meet, you can! please email eefje@h20.gg

Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eFQdTZ7W

Tobias new Head of Education at H20

From Silicon Valley to the Netherlands: Tobias new Head of Education at H20

As of September 1, Tobias van der Stelt has started as Head of Education at H20 Campus. Tobias brings years of experience as an educator and innovator at the intersection of technology and learning. After four years in Silicon Valley, where he set up the quality control department of online classes and worked as a teacher at Synthesis.com, an edtech startup that grew out of Elon Musk's spaceX school, and ran as a first staff member at Recess.gg in setting up an online community for homeschooling and education development through gamification - he now chooses to start a new chapter at H20.

In his role as Head of Education, Tobias focuses on two main tasks: implementing new technological innovations for and with education together as well as deepening the educational impact of social projects within H20.
Some of the projects Tobias is directly involved in:
Minecraft at the Museon-Omniversum, where young people learn about climate change and technology through gamification;

Learning programming through gaming, in partnership with Samsung Benelux;

And a new partnership with Young Impact, which encourages young people to use their talents for a better world, with technology as the driving force.

"After an extraordinary period in Silicon Valley, it felt like the right time to refocus on innovation in the Netherlands - for the love and for the chance to make a difference here at H20," Tobias said. "Education is on the brink of a revolution, and I believe that innovation, technology, gamification and creativity play a key role in it." "Exactly what I have found at H20."

"With his international experience in edtech and innovative education, H20 sees in Tobias the ideal person to take its educational program to a higher and deeper level," said Matthijs Vink, CEO of H20. "We want to attract both edtech start-ups and innovative schools to collaborate with the H20 campus, we believe with Tobias' arrival this can be accelerated."

Vacancy: Education Lead H20 Campus

We are happy to announce that we have a vacancy available for a new position!

Will you be the new Education Lead at H20?

As education lead, you are ultimately responsible for all education and education initiatives within the campus and at the other locations. This includes workshops, trainings, courses, PO, VO, MBO, HBO and university, both in the field of Esports, gaming and creative tech.
To streamline this together with our educational partners and trainers we are looking for an education lead who has proven experience with enthusing, organizing and coordinating multiple projects as well as knowledge and experience with certifications and 21st century skills. At
we like to see our core values and the skills of the future reflected in all our activities.

Because H20 is growing, and education is changing too slowly in our eyes, you will need to have a growth hacking mentality. Thanks to you, H20 Campus will be the place to be for youth with a passion for gaming and tech.

Gaming and tech as a means to get the new generation literally and figuratively moving, that's what we're all about! Especially with the developments of the ESPORTS TECH CAMPUS we see great opportunities to make an impact and secure this for the longer term.

If you are or know someone, let us know!

Then email hr@h20.gg!

Cyber Security Event: make sure you don't get h@cked

Cybersecurity is becoming more important than ever. Are you ready for it?

New legislation such as NIS2 requires action. But what does it mean concretely for your organization? On Thursday, June 19, together with TechoneNL, Rabobank and ThreadStone Cyber Security, we organize an afternoon at the H20 Esports Campus in Purmerend, where we take entrepreneurs and professionals into the world of digital security. Including:

  • Xander Koppelmans, sharing his personal story as 'the hacked entrepreneur'
  • René V. and Floris van Zonneveld, Threadstone Cyber Security, discuss NIS2 and show how hackers operate

We will conclude with an enjoyable networking reception. You can find the entire program here. You don't want to miss this!

📍 H20 Campus, Purmerend
📅 Thursday, June 19
🕒 From 2:30 p.m.
👉 You can sign up here.

H20 contribution to the gaming event sector

🚀 Proud of our contribution to the gaming event industry! 🎮

We are pleased to share that we contributed to an important report on the gaming events sector from the Mulier Institute. This report highlights some crucial findings:

  • The industry needs current and independent market information and ways to measure the (social) impact of gaming events.
  • A better understanding of the characteristics, motivations and behaviors of players and viewers of gaming events is needed.

Curious about the details? 📊 Click on the link and read the full report:

Gaming Event Sector Report

If you want to bring your ideas or plans to life, send us an email at sales@h20.gg, we have a lot of experience with gaming and events.

Let's shape the future of gaming events together! 💡

 

Game.co.uk visiting the H20 Esports Campus

H20 Esports Campus

What do the Ziggo Dome, the Johan Cruijff Arena and the H20 Esports Campus have in common? The first two are top venues for music and soccer, while the H20 Esports Campus is the hotspot for esports in the Netherlands. We visited this unique gaming campus, and our eyes fell from one surprise to another. From esports hall and the Red Bull Esports Area to Go!Gaming and a retro gaming exhibit, the H20 Esports Campus is the epicenter of gaming and entertainment in the Netherlands. Read on to find out exactly what this campus is all about and what our extensive tour of this massive building was like.

H20 Esports Campus

What is the H20 Esports Campus?

The H20 Esports Campus in Purmerend is one of the largest and most advanced esports and gaming centers in Europe. The huge complex of more than 12,000 m² offers everything you could want as a gamer, from high-end gaming spots to a huge arena for esports tournaments. It is not just a place for fans to game; it is a center that brings gaming, esports and entertainment together in a way that is unique in the Netherlands.

Esports Stadium

The heart of the campus is the Esports Stadium, a state-of-the-art arena that can accommodate more than 1,200 spectators. This is where the big events take place, such as the Red Bull Home Ground, an international 5-on-5 Valorant tournament that took place in May 2024. The arena is equipped with cool LED screens and audio systems, making it the perfect venue for big gaming events. It's a place where players, fans and streamers gather to enjoy the action, and the atmosphere is always intense.

H20 Esports Campus

GO!GAMING at H20 Esports Campus

Another unique addition to the H20 Esports Campus is the Go!Gaming zone. Here visitors can enjoy a wide range of gaming stations, from the latest games to classic titles. Go!Gaming provides an interactive environment where everyone from casual gamers to hardcore esports fans can test their skills. Whether you come to play or just soak up the atmosphere, Go!Gaming is the ideal place to escape into the world of gaming for a while.

Want to know more about Go!Gaming? Then read our earlier article where we delve deeper into exactly what Go!Gaming has to offer.

VR capabilities

In addition, the H20 Esports Campus also offers VR opportunities. In their VR zone, visitors can immerse themselves in cool virtual reality experiences. Whether it's VR gaming, simulations or even professional training in VR, the H20 offers a platform to discover what the future of gaming has to offer. With VR headsets and a space fully equipped for this technology, visitors can immerse themselves in the virtual world. It is similar to A'DAM VR, although A'DAM VR focuses even more on VR.

What makes the H20 Esports Campus truly special is the combination of the gaming world and community that comes together on a daily basis. It is the ultimate destination for anyone involved in gaming and esports.

H20 Esports Campus Retro space

Our experience in the H20 Esports Campus

We were invited to take a look at the H20 Esports Campus, and it was immediately clear that this place has everything to offer for the gaming and esports community. Upon reception, our tour began with a stop in the campus' retro space. There, the retro gamers in our party went absolutely wild with what they saw. The room was full of classic consoles, vintage games and an impressive collection of retro gaming gear. We even got a chance to sit behind some of those old consoles ourselves. The highlight was talking to Repair-Bas, the passionate retro gamer who maintained the space. Bas told us all about the valuable retro gear that was there and how he carefully repairs and maintains these items.

After the retro space, it was time to move on to another part of campus, which is all about virtual reality (VR). In this building, you can immerse yourself in the future of gaming with VR experiences and even VR escape rooms.

But then came the moment we had actually come for: the huge esports hall. We were welcomed with the game.co.uk logo standing proudly on the huge stage. And I can't help but say that I was really impressed with the space. It is quite obviously a professional esports arena, complete with a 5-on-5 setting on the stage and a grandstand on the side for fans and supporters. The atmosphere was impressive, and it was easy to imagine how big events could be here.

What makes this campus so special is that everywhere you look, you see something related to gaming. From streaming rooms to huge amounts of gaming PCs, the building is full of technology and options for every gamer. Clearly, the H20 Esports Campus is not just a place for events, but a complete hub for the gaming community.

H20 presents the fattest Simracing Arena at International Amsterdam Motor Show

 

Simracing Arena IAMS 2025

Press release H20 x IAMS

Purmerend, April 2, 2025

H20 presents the fattest Simracing Arena at International Amsterdam Motor Show

The International Amsterdam Motor Show (IAMS) and H20 are joining forces once again for a groundbreaking edition of the Netherlands' largest automotive event. From April 17 to 21, part of the RAI Amsterdam will transform into the largest Simracing Arena to date, where motorsport and gaming come together. 

Visitors can check out all the cool cars on display during the event, but it is not possible to drive them themselves. Fortunately, the Simracing Arena offers the opportunity to race in-game anyway! Visitors can participate in various races and enjoy a unique simracing experience designed specifically for both beginners and experienced racers.

Comprehensive program

The five-day event has several highlights.

For example, there are mini-competitions in popular (racing) games such as Forza Motorsport 8 and Rocket League.

Attendees can sim race against each other and some specially invited guests (information to follow!) at any level, on an impressive stage with the very best gear. In addition, attendees can enjoy Xbox fun games such as Gang Beasts, Golf With Your Friends, Overcooked 2 and Human Fall Flat.

There is also a prize pool available worth a total of €3,000, including a Playseat® RedTrophy, Thrustmaster T598 and more.

Accessible to all

To make simracing accessible to a wide audience, H20 is introducing two special promotions:

  • 25% off IAMS admission tickets with code H20IAMS2025
  • A nationwide "Bring Your Friend" campaign at Go!Gaming locations, where visitors can race with a friend for an hour for €13.90. 

Partners

The event is made possible by our lead partner IAMS and our supporting partners Playseat®, Thrustmaster, Black Bananas and Xbox Game Pass. 

Practical information

Date: April 17-21, 2025

Location: RAI Amsterdam

Tickets: available at h20.gg/iams (or click on the banner)

Discount code: H20IAMS2025 (25% off)

IAMS2025

 

 

 

Hack Your Future - Design the company of the future!

Hack Your Future - Design the company of the future!

Purmerend, March 5, 2025 - H20, ST.AN & Dutch Affairs are proud to announce 'Hack Your Future'. Hack Your Future is an initiative that challenges young people and students to actively participate in thinking about the future of work. The event offers them a platform to get creative, meet companies, and gain valuable insights that will help them in their future careers.

Hack Your Future is a unique challenge for students from secondary schools, MBO, HBO and universities to design the workplace of the future in a digital visualization. What does the company of the future look like? What is young people's vision of the workplace 10, 25 or even 50 years from now? It is now up to them to find out!

The final event at the H20 Campus in Purmerend

The grand finale of Hack Your Future will take place on the impressive stage of the H20 Campus in Purmerend. Here, students will present their creative ideas in front of a panel of experts and share their vision of the workplace of the future. The best designs will have a chance to win great prizes! Spectators/fans are also welcome. 

Getting to know companies in the region

In addition to the exciting finals, students will also have the opportunity during the event to meet leading companies in the region. ST.AN (Stichting Arbeidsmarktstrategie Noordwest-Holland), the sponsor of this event, ensures that a number of top organizations are present to share information about internships, workplaces and the (future) labor market. Hack Your Future is thus an excellent opportunity for students to orient themselves within the work field and for companies to present themselves to and hear from their potential future employees. 

Break Out Sessions are also organized by the companies where pupils and students can go for interesting topics such as job training or efficient collaboration, for example.*

*Final program + topics for the Break Out Sessions to follow. Keep an eye on the website!

Sign up and more information

We cordially invite all schools in the region to promote this project to students, whether or not to include it in the curriculum. This is a great opportunity to actively engage students in thinking about the future business, develop 21st century skills and help them prepare for the challenges of tomorrow.

For more information about the event, registration and participating companies, please visit our website or contact us at info@h20.gg.

We hope for great participation and look forward to a fantastic event together with students, businesses and schools!