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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 welcomes third edition of Samsung Innovation Campus with livestream kick-off

On October 17, 2024, we welcomed the Samsung to our H20 Esports Campus venue, the largest permanent Esports stadium in Western Europe. For the third edition of the Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC)!

This technology program provides 90 youth between the ages of 12 and 17 with essential coding and programming skills. In an intensive game-based program, they get to work with Minecraft Code Builder, Scratch, Gamemaker and RUR-PLE, among others to prepare themselves for the digital future.

Following the success of previous editions in 2022 and 2023, with as many as 75 and 80 students participating, the Samsung Innovation Campus is further expanding its program this year. Samsung is thus taking a step forward to make technology accessible to a wider group of young people, with a special focus on those outside the mainstream education system.

Innovative collaboration with H20 Esports Campus

The H20 Esports Campus in Purmerend provides a unique setting for the trainings, where young people are introduced to digital skills in a stimulating and future-oriented environment. The choice of this location is in line with Samsung's vision to make technology accessible and inspiring to young people throughout the Netherlands and give every child equal opportunities.

Four locations in the Netherlands

In order to provide access to as many young people as possible from different regions, the trainings are offered not only in Purmerend, but also in Eindhoven, Utrecht and Rotterdam. Each student receives 10 three-hour lessons in which they learn programming and coding, with the support of experienced teachers and mentors. This gives them the opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience.

Kick-off with live stream on Oct. 17

The kick-off took place on Oct. 17, 2024, and was presented by Samsung ambassador and esports icon Puck van den Brekel, better known as "puxque." She inspired the youngsters with her experience and enthusiasm for technology. For the first time, the kick-off was streamed live so that participants who could not physically attend could follow the event and witness the start of the program.

This intensive training ends in December 2024 with a celebratory graduation ceremony where participants will receive their certificates. This certificate reflects not only the skills they have acquired, but more importantly their commitment and perseverance.

Inclusiveness and future-oriented education

Samsung is committed to making technology education more accessible to young people, with a particular focus on those outside the mainstream education pathway. The Samsung Innovation Campus gives them the opportunity to gain valuable digital skills and get ready for an ever-changing job market. In 2023, for example, as many as eight participants were able to work at various tech companies & start-ups after participating in the Samsung Innovation Campus. Thus, they took their first step towards a job in the IT sector.

The third edition of the Samsung Innovation Campus offers young people a unique opportunity to develop their digital skills in an inclusive and inspiring environment. With this edition, Samsung remains committed to the future of the next generation of technology talent in the Netherlands

VR children's party: an unforgettable experience for children in the world of virtual reality

Virtual reality (VR) has revolutionized the way we experience entertainment and education. And now also children's parties. As experienced professionals in the VR industry at H20 Esports Campus in Purmerend, near Amsterdam, we regularly organize VR events and children's parties. We would love to convince you of the added value of a VR children's party!

What is a VR children's party?

A VR children's party is a unique and innovative way to celebrate your child's birthday. Instead of traditional parties, children are taken on a virtual adventure. At H20 Esports Campus, we offer various VR experiences that range from exciting games like HADO to educational and creative activities. In these, we combine exercise and gaming into one. 

The magic of HADO

HADO is one of the most popular games at our VR kids' parties. It combines physical activity with augmented reality (AR). Children wear an AR headset and use arm and hand movements to throw "energy balls" and activate shields. This game promotes teamwork, strategy and physical movement in a way that traditional video games cannot match.

VR Game HADO viral dodgeball

Why choose a VR Children's Party?

The benefits of a VR children's party are numerous. First, we offer a completely new experience that children cannot possibly experience at home. In addition, VR stimulates creativity and problem-solving skills in children because they have to work together. And finally, VR Gaming is just incredibly fun! Parents looking for a unique and unforgettable way to celebrate their child's birthday often report that a VR kids' party turned out to be the perfect solution!

Safety and supervision

At H20 Esports Campus, we take children's safety very seriously. Our VR equipment is regularly checked and maintained to make sure it is safe and clean. During sessions, kids are always supervised by trained professionals who make sure everyone understands the rules and feels safe.

A look at future innovations

The world of VR is constantly evolving, and we at H20 stay on the forefront of the latest technologies and trends. We are excited about the future possibilities for VR kids' parties. We regularly check for new, challenging or educational games that will further engage and inspire children.

A VR kids' party at H20 Esports Campus in Purmerend offers an unparalleled experience that kids won't soon forget. With innovative games like HADO, a safe and supervised environment, and the latest VR technology, we create a magical and educational experience. Curious about what a VR children's party looks like? Visit our website H20 VR Kids Party and discover the possibilities. Book an unforgettable VR adventure for your child today and give them a birthday to remember!

SPORTS & GAMING CHAMPIONSHIP PURMEREND @ H20 ESPORTS CAMPUS

Get ready for a true spectacle and represent your district in Purmerend or Beemster! Will you become the champion of your district and perhaps of all of Purmerend and will your team walk away with the prize pool worth €1200.

The Sports & Gaming Championship Purmerend is the championship in which every young person from Purmerend in the age category of 8 to 18 years can participate. The special feature of this championship is that you not only have to be able to game, but also play soccer or dance (Just Dance). You can win a total prize pool of €1,200 and various game prizes in 4 age categories.

In May and June there are several qualification tournaments per district in Purmerend and Beemster. By participating in these qualification tournaments you and your team of 3 youngsters can qualify for the grand final in the Rabo Esports Stadium on July 3, 2024. In these qualifying tournaments you will compete in a game (Fortnite or EAFC/FIFA) and a sport (3×3 soccer or Just Dance) to see who is the best. Click the button for more information regarding the qualifying rounds and finals!

Important detail, this championship is for residents of the municipality of Purmerend

Note: All qualifiers will be held at the Rabo Esports Stadium on the Spinnekop in de Koog, participation is completely free and you may only participate if your entire team is from Purmerend and is between 8 and 18 years old

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NET4IT and H20 launch partnership!

H20 is starting a great partnership with NET4IT! The company offers a high-quality service that includes taking care of the best network at H20. In addition, NET4IT has a lot of knowledge and expertise with regard to cloud solutions, connectivity, security, system and network management and VoIP solutions which means that an IT solution is always nearby. We are very much looking forward to working together for the next 3 years!

Together with NET4IT, H20 will work to keep the network and data of tenants, partners and visitors secure and working. The partnership will work to provide the best available network. We are very pleased with the partnership with NET4IT and look forward to the improvement opportunities NET4IT will provide! Redundancy and separate internet systems are, with so many different types of visitors and tenants, essential in the H20 campus

The cooperation began from the start of H20, Net4IT has grown with H20 and has always provided support. Now that the cooperation is formal, the intensity and thus quality will increase.

NET4IT can take advantage of several opportunities within H20, including the use of the streaming studio. In addition, NET4IT employees and partners have the opportunity to use other facilities at H20 such as the game hall and a tour of the Rabo Esports Stadium. The first sim racing team outing is planned by employees today.

Of course, NET4IT will now also become part of H20's business club, which ensures that partners, tenants, other clients and associates can come together several times a year to meet and network.

Matthijs founder of H20: "We want to stay innovative and relevant in as many areas as possible. By collaborating with NET4IT we can ensure that our network and its management remains good and optimal for our tenants, partners and all visitors of our events. "I am delighted with this great partnership." Through the intensive cooperation with NET4IT, we want to continuously improve quality, this is only possible with the best partners."

 

 

These are the 5 challenges of talent development in esports in the Netherlands

These are the 5 challenges of talent development in esports in the Netherlands

Seminar esports: talent development

The insights in this article come from the May 26, 2023 online seminar esports on talent development. This is part of the seminar series on performance in esports, organized by the Kenniscentrum Sport & Bewegen in cooperation with Next Level Esports. The reason for this series is the Knowledge Agenda on esports: performance enhancement. The Knowledge Agenda provides a starting point for research on performance improvement in esports and includes the most relevant questions from Dutch esports coaches and staff members.

Gone are the days when gamers could storm to the top of esports from home and without professional guidance. More and more attention is being paid to nutrition, collaboration and mental and physical health. Several talent development programs for ambitious gamers have been created for esports players since 2020. In this article, the program coordinators of the programs of BrabantSport Esports Talent Hub, H20 Esports Campus and Esports Talentcenter Gelderland share the five main challenges and opportunities.

1. Lack of national (e)sports (pyramid)

The biggest challenge for talent development in esports is the lack of a national esports pyramid, believes Matthijs Mol, coordinator of BrabantSport Esports Talent Hub. "In traditional sports, there is a clear sports pyramid, where a player progresses from the bottom of the pyramid to the top. This clear structure is still limited in esports. I think this is a crucial factor for the structural flow of esports players."

Donny Stumpel, coordinator of Esports Talentcenter Gelderland, describes what he thinks a pyramid should look like: "At the top you have top-esports, in the middle talent development and at the bottom the width-esports. We are in the middle part, talent development, and have to build the bridge to top-esports. Through a school tour we try to get the width-esports athletes into the talent development program, but to the top is still difficult."

Dirk Tuip, coordinator of H20 Esports Campus, sees opportunities for the pyramid alongside challenges: "We have with Go!Gaming a basic infrastructure that you don't have in other countries, namely six esports and gaming facilities in different cities such as Utrecht, Nijmegen and Eindhoven, made possible by H20 and Pathé. This gives everyone a chance to train together not only online but also physically at different regional locations. This makes it easier to facilitate regional talent and competition." Mol explains what it takes to set up such a pyramid. "You need a point of contact that stands above it, represents interests and coordinates in certain areas like a federation in the traditional sports world."

2. Finding talent

Mol sees finding the right talents as a big challenge: "In esports, the broadcasting structure is often invisible because a lot of it happens online. This makes it difficult to find esports talent." Currently, teams and talent development centers often rely on players who sign up themselves or search within the social circle of players already signed up. Then the players must meet a number of quality requirements to get into the program. Stumpel: "We select players based on four aspects: skill in the game, motivation, age and location. Because of this, some of the interested players also drop out." Partly because of the lack of a pyramid and the online culture, identifying esports talent is still difficult for the centers.

3. The uncertain career path of an esporter

When talent does get discovered, the career path for esports players is often uncertain. This also has to do with the esports pyramid, Tuip says: "It is now often unclear how a player who has gained some experience in smaller tournaments or matches, who plays a little higher up the ladder and gets excited about this, can advance to semi-professional level." Mol adds: "In esports, you can be among the world's top players out of nowhere and also fall away just as quickly."

One explanation for this includes the instability of esports games and league structures. Owners of the games, when popularity declines, can unilaterally decide whether to keep the league funded. That means an esporter can be unemployed overnight and have to switch to another game, which requires different skills. Stumpel uses traditional sports to illustrate his point: "Compare it to a professional tennis player who suddenly has to play professional padel within a few months."

4. Lack of social support for an esports career

In addition to uncertainty, coordinators regularly see a lack of social support from a talent's environment, says Stumpel: "Parents and coaches are still often unaware of what their child is doing in esports and how much time is needed for further talent development. The lack of support is common among players, which seems to affect their development." Science also sees social support as an important motivator for (sports) talents[1]. Just when you realize that talents in other sports spend an average of 28.5 hours per week on their sport[2] this support seems indispensable.

5. Need for coaches with knowledge of the game, pedagogy and didactics

For a good training program, it is obviously important to have good coaching. Mol: "Currently, there are few coaches who have both game-specific knowledge of the games and experience or training in coaching." Stumpel explains, "We are dealing with first-generation, self-educated esports coaches, who have sufficient gaming experience, but often do not yet have sufficient knowledge of the didactic and pedagogical aspect of coaching."

At H20, like the other centers, they use a lot of knowledge from traditional top sports. Founder Dirk Tuip: "We work together with Talent Academy Group who have a lot of experience in performing in traditional top sports. There is specific attention to mental resilience and injury prevention in which we use knowledge from sports." With this, all centers indicate the need for coaches with the right mix of knowledge about how to coach and what to coach.

Structure, coaching and support

How can talent development among esports players be secured, professionalized and encouraged? In summary, according to the coordinators, a clear, industry-supported esports pyramid would be one of the solutions to better locate talent and provide a structured career path. It seems to remain in the middle who will take on this role. There is also a need for well-trained coaches with gaming, pedagogical and didactic knowledge, which presents opportunities for educational institutions. To create more support for careers in esports, the role of the talent's social environment seems to be an important factor. Research and knowledge institutions can help create appropriate information that talent programs can share with parents.

H20 Esports Campus and Body Bike capitalize on growing trend of indoor cycling with innovative collaboration

H20 Esports Campus and Body Bike capitalize on growing trend of indoor cycling with innovative collaboration

Purmerend, July 10, 2023, 

H20 Esports Campus, a leading platform for esports and virtual sports, today announced an exciting partnership with Body Bike, a global provider of high-quality indoor cycling solutions. The partnership aims to further advance the growing trend of indoor cycling and get young people moving in innovative ways.

Indoor cycling has gained popularity in recent years, thanks in part to platforms such as Zwift. Zwift allows cyclists to virtually cycle in an interactive environment, where they can train, race and connect with other cycling enthusiasts around the world. H20 Esports Campus recognizes the growth and potential of Zwift and will support this platform on campus.

As part of the partnership, Body Bike will deliver a number of brand new Body Bikes to H20 Esports Campus, including associated content to provide an immersive indoor cycling experience. H20 will host indoor cycling events and offer and promote them as a standard activity, allowing cyclists to enjoy both traditional indoor cycling and the emerging trend of cycling in Virtual Reality.

"H20 Esports Campus sees the growth and enthusiasm around platforms like Zwift and we are excited to further support this trend," said Dirk Tuip, founder of H20 esports Campus. "By partnering with Body Bike, we can offer high-quality indoor cycling equipment and innovative training experiences to our community. We are committed to encouraging young people to get active and enjoy the benefits of indoor cycling, both physically and mentally."

The partnership between H20 Esports Campus and Body Bike promises to create a stimulating environment where young people can take advantage of both traditional and emerging forms of indoor cycling. By supporting platforms such as Zwift on campus, H20 Esports Campus enables participants to explore virtual worlds, engage in challenging races and improve their performance using real-time data and analytics.

Body Bike, a trusted name in the indoor cycling industry, is excited about its partnership with H20 Esports Campus. "Together we can inspire young people and let them enjoy the many benefits of indoor cycling," said Kim Hessellund, CEO of Body Bike. "With high-quality equipment and innovative training options, we can promote an active and healthy lifestyle while catering to the needs and interests of young people."

The partnership between H20 Esports Campus and Body Bike highlights their shared commitment to promoting healthy and active lifestyles among young people. By integrating indoor cycling and platforms such as Zwift, they continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in virtual sports and gaming.

For more information about H20 Esports Campus and Body Bike, please visit their respective websites: www.h20.gg and www.body-bike.com.

BODY BIKE: The ultimate indoor cycling experience | Studion Fitness

End of press release

About H20 Esports Campus

H20 Esports Campus is a leading platform dedicated to the development and promotion of esports and virtual sports. With state-of-the-art facilities, a dynamic community and a wide range of events, H20 strives to engage young people in the world of gaming and physical activities.

About Body Bike

Body Bike is a global provider of high-quality indoor cycling solutions. With decades of experience and innovation, Body Bike is a trusted name in the fitness industry and has built a reputation for providing durable and user-friendly indoor cycling equipment.

Gaming impacting the world; H20 and Museon-Omniversum bring Minecraft to the Dome.

Purmerend July 13, 2023 - H20 starts collaboration with Museon-Omniversum.

 H20 esports & gaming campus and Museon-Omniversum are partnering to let visitors build the ´City of the Future´ in Minecraft. From October 7, 2023, visitors of the Museon-Omniversum can participate in cool Minecraft activities. Based on the idea of 'gaming impacting the world', H20 and Museon-Omniversum are setting up Minecraft workshops and Minecraft Watch Parties. The Minecraft activities will be part of the fall program at Museon-Omniversum. Visitors can work as designs themselves for a sustainable future. 

Future designers beware!
Minecrafters can help build via a specially set up Minecraft server. They can do so from home or from one of the gaming stations at the museum. As future designers, children and young people are dealing with topics such as climate change, inclusivity and mobility. They are given challenges during Minecraft building such as: How do we deal with increasing rain, drought and flood threats? How do we build a city that doesn't exclude anyone? And how do we make sure everything is accessible? At the end of the afternoon, they can take a look at the City of the Future they helped build themselves during the Minecraft Watch Party. City planners and Minecraft experts will comment on the creations, which will be displayed on the huge dome screen in the Dome. A worldwide premiere of Minecraft in a Dome!

Collaboration with impact
Matthijs Vink, founder of H20: "Gaming is impacting the world. Now even more so with a collaboration like this. Besides co-creating educational programs we want to provide entertainment, inspiration and knowledge sharing in an even more unique way. This is now possible with this collaboration with Museon-Omniversum. Reaching the new generation through gaming and imparting knowledge takes on a new dimension through this collaboration! For this project we consciously chose Minecraft, so we can make young people aware of the world they live in and how they themselves can have an impact on it."

Iris van den Akker, commercial director Museon-Omniversum: "This collaboration makes us very proud. As a museum and big screen movie theater, we are good at inspiring, learning and activating our visitors. In this collaboration with H20, we have increased the interaction with our visitors and the fun factor in a unique way. By using Minecraft in our program, we are taking it a step further than before and look forward to even more teens coming to help build the future." With this partnership with H20, we are also signing one of the first HANDSHAKES. As partners, we are rolling up our sleeves to promote each other's products and services as well as the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Together we are doing everything we can to inspire our target groups and the broader society for a livable planet for all. The signing of the HANDSHAKE is the start of a collaboration that will take different forms to support each other in achieving the SDGs

Call for young Minecraft enthusiasts.
Young Minecraft enthusiasts can apply now to Museon-Omniversum. The museum is looking for ambassadors who want to shape the first contours of the City of the Future. If so, sign up as an ambassador before the end of July here.

H20 in Minecraft: 

-END OF PRESS RELEASE-
Note to editors (not for publication):
About H20:
Through multiple gaming centers with the Go!Gaming brand (in major cities in the Netherlands) and the Esports Tech Campus Amsterdam (>12,000 m2 in Purmerend), H20 Esports has quickly grown into the largest sports gaming ecosystem in the Netherlands. More than 50 companies and startups are already housed at the campus and various partners such as Rabobank, KPN, Red Bull, OMEN, Playseat, Predator, Samsung and Philips are connected. Parties that want to connect with the new generation.

With various programs and activities, co-developed by our partners, we develop talent in the broadest sense. H20 sports wants a place for today's game and (e)sports talent, but at the same time we prepare that talent for a future in creative tech. Because not everyone makes it to the top. For questions about the partnership, please contact iris.giesen@h20.gg

For more information about H20 and all its activities click here.

About Museon-Omniversum:
Museon-Omniversum is all about the earth, people and sustainable development. With our program One Planet we inspire young and old to work towards a livable earth for everyone. In our museum and big screen movie theater we show how beautiful and special our planet is.

Museon-Omniversum's ambition is to inspire, teach and activate our environment on sustainable development. Real social impact is what we are all about. We have been measuring our impact through a Social Handprint report (via MAEX) since 2022. As a cultural institution, Museon-Omniversum creates a lot of value for society, value that cannot be directly traced to financial figures - something that the business world looks at mainly. For this reason, and to generate income, Museon-Omniversum is establishing the 'value retention' scheme. This allows (especially) SME entrepreneurs to step in as value holders on a piece of impact.

The kick-off of the Minecraft fall program is during the Weekend of Science on Oct. 7 and 8. During the fall break, from Oct. 14 to 22, there will be daily Minecraft activities. In addition, there are several other activities at the museum. Programming and registration will be online beginning in early September.

For more information, contact Masja Brouwer, 06 1442 4561 / mbrouwer@museon-omniversum.nl

 

Click here for more information about H20

Click here for even more news about H20

Gaming brand Predator and H20 Esports Campus join hands again, extending and expanding their partnership

The H20 Esports Campus opened in 2020, making it the largest permanent esports stadium in Western Europe with over 12,000m2 of surface area and has since hosted many gamers including Dante, mrsavage, Falcons, Mcon, Nova Esports and Solary.

Predator and H20 have had a successful partnership since 2020, with Predator having its own equipped gaming room under the name "Predator Gaming Room." The Predator Gaming Room is part of the Rabo Esports Stadium on the H20 Esports Campus, but is fully lockable, making it great for groups, training sessions and bootcamps. There is room for ten people and space for a coach and/or trainer. As of May 2023, this space has been updated with the latest Predator gaming hardware and equipment, and a new space has now been added specifically for streamers; the Predator Streaming Studio. With this space, Predator and H20 aim to facilitate gamers who want to create video content and/or live stream while gaming.

Predator is Acer's premium gaming brand and consists of a broad line of gaming hardware featuring powerful PCs and laptops, fast monitors and matching accessories. The products feature the latest technology, breakthrough innovation and iconic design suitable for hobby and hardcore gamers. Predator's full offerings can be found here.

Matthijs Vink, founder of H20 said, "That a globally renowned brand like Predator chooses to extend and expand their partnership with H20 says a lot about how important they want to be to the target audience that wants a physical experience at a unique location like H20 Rabo Esports Stadium. We would like to give visitors the opportunity to own and use Predator's hardware so that the gaming and streaming experience is optimal. We are very happy with this extended partnership!"

Sterre Swank, Marketing Manager at Acer thinks it's impressive what H20 has managed to establish over the past few years. "We believe in the concept and we are happy to hear that so many casual gamers of different ages, as well as esports teams for bootcamps and training sessions, love using the Predator Gaming Room. That we are now expanding the partnership to include the Predator Streaming Studio is great news and we hope this will introduce even more gamers to Predator and give them an even better and more intense gaming experience."

The Predator Gaming Room and Predator Streaming Studio are both designed to give gamers the best gaming experience possible. In both rooms, gamers can use the Predator Orion 5000 (640 I7208G) desktop with Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 video card and Intel Core i7-12700F processor. These powerhouses are known for high-end cooling technology using Predator Frost Blade 2.0. Gaming monitors also meet the demands of gamers. Streamers game on a monitor with a 270 Hz refresh rate and exceptional lag, making gaming feel smooth and responsive. The setup is made complete with all matching Predator peripherals.

To learn more about the Predator Gaming Room and Predator Streaming Studio, visit the following page: https://h20.gg/en/product/predator-gaming-room/ or visit https://h20.gg/en/product/streaming-studio-amsterdam/

Press Release: Festive kickoff campus development big success for region 

On Wednesday, March 22, 2023, H20 hosted the official launch of the (e)sports Tech Campus. In the coming years, all participating partners will work on the campus development. The campus at De Koog should become the place in the (metropolitan) region where working, living, sports, learning, esports, tech and culture come together.

For the campus development, governments, entrepreneurs, education and (sports) institutions from the region are joining forces. All collaborating partners from Purmerend and the region signed a symbolic covenant to jointly give the (e)sports Tech Campus a flying start. Alderman Mario Hegger (Purmerend municipality): "I would like to thank all parties who have thought along and collaborated on the area vision and on the campus development immensely.

This is a milestone for the city. Here we are creating the new economy and the future for our young people. Not only in Purmerend, but for the entire region.' The partners are Spurd, the Sports Council, the PRO, PurmerValley, Horizon College and the Purmerendse ScholenGroep, municipality of Edam-Volendam, Metropoolregio Amsterdam, province of North Holland, the Hogeschool van Amsterdam, House of Esports and H20, the host of the event.

Area vision and campus
At the end of February, the area vision for De Koog was adopted by the Purmerend municipal council. With the covenant, the partners are taking the next step toward campus development. Project leader Marcella Wiffrie of the municipality explains, "It is good to celebrate the steps we have already taken to get here. I am immensely proud of the process so far and invite all entrepreneurs to join us in seizing the opportunities that will arise here in the coming years. We will get the best results if we put our shoulders to the wheel together.

Continued
One of the starting points for the area vision is that current companies on De Koog can continue their business operations. In addition, the municipality sees room for adding housing and thus transforming the business park into a working/living area. Exactly how this will look will become clear in the coming years. The municipality and other parties will investigate this together in the coming period and further implement the area vision per sub-area on De Koog.

Harm-Jan Stalman is program manager Purmerend 2040 at the municipality and said, "Purmerend's ambition is to be a compact but complete town. This also requires employment and De Koog is really a growth area in the city in that respect. I see De Koog in 2040 as a versatile area where children discover and develop their talents.' 

 

Edam-Volendam also ambassador for Campus

Alderman Vincent Tuip was allowed to sign on behalf of the municipality of Edam-Volendam: 'the municipality of Edam-Volendam embraces the initiative of the campus and already cooperates a lot with the partners in H20 through, for example, the LEF program. We see opportunities 

in collaboration with (elite) sports and new digital technologies that go along with it. But also encouraging innovative programs between campus and education (through Triad and Don Bosco College) for more learning and work opportunities for young people in Edam-Volendam.'

A number of projects are currently underway with the Don Bosco College. For example, in the first year the VMBO students get an introduction to all kinds of new technologies such as streaming, VR, Augmented Reality, metaverse, programming and design thinking. In addition, 1st and 2nd year students receive a course in learning programming, which is done through various games and gaming techniques. And in 3rd grade - when students have chosen a profile, e.g. construction or healthcare - they are taught Virtual Reality and really get to work in the virtual world. 

 

In the coming years it is important to improve the public transport connection between De Koog and Edam-Volendam so that young people and employees of the campus, many of whom live in Edam-Volendam, can reach their destinations better and faster. This also applies to improving east-west (fast) bicycle connections.