Category Archives: News

Rabobank and H20 extend partnership for three years

Building the future together with area development

"We would like to let the campus grow together, in line with the plans the Municipality of Purmerend has for the area development," says Ugur Pekdemir, director of Cooperative Rabobank. "Establishing a hub where tech companies and education know how to find each other creates a recognizable place in the region that we can use to attract young talent, thereby also stimulating business and economic prosperity."

"The fact that the municipality sees opportunities to convert the business park in the Koog into a live/work area offers even more opportunities for the region. As a cooperative bank, together with our partners, we want to make a substantial contribution to welfare and prosperity in North Holland North. The development of the campus fits in perfectly with that."

Technology for a new generation

Rabobank was an important partner of H20 from the beginning. "The fact that a reliable party like Rabobank has supported us from day one gives us tremendous confidence," said Matthijs Vink, co-founder of H20 Esports Campus. "Our campus offers not only entertainment, but also training and growth opportunities for companies. Here we prepare young people for the jobs of tomorrow. In addition, we have had the opportunity to facilitate many conferences and activities for Rabobank to inspire their stakeholders; truly a partnership as desired!"

Unique collaboration contributes to education, innovation and connection in the region

Rabobank has renewed its partner contract with H20 for three years. Five years ago, from the beginning of the establishment of H20, Rabobank joined H20 as a founding partner. From this came the Rabo Esports Stadium Amsterdam, located in the H20 Esports Campus.

This collaboration aims to prepare young people for the jobs of the future, stimulate innovation and support creative tech startups. The success of recent years was a good reason for both parties to continue the cooperation.

A hub for talent and development

The H20 Esports Campus in Purmerend, with more than 12,000 m2 of space, offers a unique environment where young talent comes together. The event location and the Esports Stadium, Europe's largest permanent esports and gaming center, are the heart of this campus. More than 100,000 visitors come there every year.

On the campus, tech talent, gamers and esporters meet, students are trained for jobs in creative technology and startups and innovative companies grow into success stories. Currently, the campus houses more than 40 companies and educational institutions such as Talland College and Hogeschool van Amsterdam work closely with H20. 

Focus on tech development
"The application of technology in business is broadening," notes founder Dirk Tuip. "Gamification is a powerful tool that helps companies and schools reach and engage younger audiences. Using game elements in non-game environments can also increase efficiency and improve the customer experience." Ugur Pedemir adds: "For the future-proofing of businesses, it is essential to embrace and deploy technology. "Gamification and other technological innovations not only help companies operate more efficiently, but also help them stay relevant to the new generation."

H20 Esports Campus and BrainsFirst launch innovative talent development partnership!

With the introduction of the NeurOlympics assessments at H20, gamers, athletes and professionals have the opportunity to discover their cognitive skills and talents through gamification.

This collaboration is an important step in combining gaming, science and personal development.

Visitors to the H20 Esports Campus can now participate in the BrainsFirst NeurOlympics, a series of science-based games that provide insight into working memory, stress resistance, spatial awareness and mental flexibility.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is the NeurOlympics?
The NeurOlympics consists of four games, each measuring a specific aspect of cognitive ability;

  1. Working memory and focus: receive information on skills such as anticipation, imperturbability and attention.
  2. Stress Resilience and Spatial Awareness: Discover how you perform under pressure and interpret your environment.
  3. Reaction time and mental flexibility: How quickly and effectively can you switch between tasks.
  4. Attention Shift and Information Processing: Gain insight into how accurately and efficiently you process information.

After playing the various games, you will receive a Brain Profile, which is a summary of unique cognitive abilities.

Versatile offerings
It's not just aimed at gamers! Thanks to extensive reporting capabilities, the assessments also offer value for a variety of purposes, such as;

  • Cognitive reports
  • Behavioral reports
  • Career Reports
  • Study choice reports (coming soon)

Future-oriented partnership
''With NeurOlympics, we are bringing an innovative and science-based way of talent development to our campus through gaming and gamification,'' said Matthijs Vink.

Visit the BrainsFirst booth at H20
Visitors to H20 Esports Campus can now try out the BrainsFirst booth and discover their own Brain Profile. Want to learn more or request a quote? Visit h20.gg/brainsfirst/

SG Gerrit Rietveld and H20 join hands again and extend their valuable partnership!

Ever since the start of H20, H20 and SG Gerrit Rietveld have been working together. SG Gerrit Rietveld closely follows the dynamic H20. The development of the Esports Tech Campus ensures that parties not only extend the cooperation, but also intensify it. A beautiful contract has been signed: the partnership is official!

SG Gerrit Rietveld stands for, among other things, appropriate education, vocational orientation or 'Discover your talents, learn with pleasure! and 'Learning by doing'. By collaborating with H20, students can now also actively contribute to events or projects on the H20 Campus, giving them practical experience. In addition, it is enormously valuable that they have the opportunity to learn new skills and develop new insights.

H20 also offers SG Gerrit Rietveld the opportunity to use a wide range of facilities and services, including the possibility of organizing school outings, use of teaching packages and/or meeting rooms.

With the intensification of cooperation, the development of the Esports Tech Campus will also become a major focus point. H20 and SG Gerrit Rietveld will jointly use their expertise to inspire the next generation of technological talents.

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.

Go!Gaming opens seventh location at Pathé Eindhoven

GO!GAMING OPENS SEVENTH LOCATION IN PATHÉ EINDHOVEN

Go!Gaming from October 21, 2023 also to be experienced at Pathé Eindhoven

Eindhoven, Oct. 19 - Good news for gamers! After the success of the other six locations in the Netherlands, Go!Gaming is now also coming to Eindhoven center. Starting Saturday, Oct. 21, gamers can fully immerse themselves in the gaming world and compete with friends or other gamers. 

Go!Gaming Eindhoven is located in the foyer of Pathé Eindhoven and is a high-end gaming area with the best and most advanced gaming equipment where you can game to your heart's content on state of the art Alienware PCs with the very best RTX video cards, Samsung Odyssey screens, PlayseatⓇ Gaming Chairs, Philips Hue Game Light and HyperX peripherals or on the racing seats with PlayseatⓇ Racing Seats with Thrustmaster handlebars and the latest consoles such as the Nintendo Switch and Playstations 5 and Xbox Series X. The focus is on playing competitive games like Fortnite and League of Legends and racing games like The Crew 2, Forza Horizon 5 and Sim Racing among others via the Xbox GamePass. At Go!Gaming, there is always something extra for the gamer to do, with regular events and tournaments organized.

Good luck Go!Gaming

The first Go!Gaming location opened in December 2021 at Pathé Schouwburgplein in Rotterdam, six locations have since been added and it has been a great success. A loyal fan base of gamers has been built up, and there have been many times when all gaming spots were sold out. In cooperation with various gaming brands, appealing gaming events were organized, such as the 'Let's Play Nintendo' (including Mario Kart and Mario Party) and the 'Alienware Duo Championships' with Fortnite.

Opening weekend Go!Gaming Eindhoven

On Saturday November 18 and Sunday November 19, Go!Gaming Eindhoven will be officially opened during a smashing opening weekend. On Saturday, November 18, everyone can come and play 1.5 hours of gaming for an introductory price. All ticket proceeds from that day will be donated to the Make-a-Wish Netherlands foundation. Tickets for November 18 are available at www.gogaming.gg/eindhoven

On Sunday, November 19, the League of Legends Worlds 2023 Viewing Party will be held in conjunction with Pathé. During this event, visitors can watch one of the biggest gaming events in the world on the big screen. Afterwards, a 1v1 LoL tournament will be organized with great prizes to be won. Ticket sales for the Viewing Party and the 1v1 tournament will start soon.

Booking Gametime

At Go!Gaming Eindhoven, our crew will be on hand to guide gamers, explain and further enthuse those interested about the cool world of gaming. For tickets and more information go to: www.gogaming.gg/eindhoven

H20 Esports Campus gets trusted again to host KPN eDivision

A new KPN eDivisie season is about to begin. Vitesse starts Season VII as title holder, Heracles Almelo and PEC Zwolle return to the KPN eDivisie and Almere City FC makes its debut in the Eredivisie's online gaming competition.

On November 7, the first mutual confrontations between the esports players of premier league clubs will take place. Starting at 5:30 p.m., the battle for the online national championship will erupt at H20 Esports Campus in Purmerend. In addition to the honor and the official KPN eDivisie championship trophy, there will be weekly battles for the accompanying prize money of €50,000 and direct qualification for the world championship.

REIGNING WORLD CHAMPIONS AND FORMER KPN EDIVISIE CHAMPIONS

Season VII of the KPN eDivisie promises to be an exciting competition, with several (world) champions. Former KPN eDivisie champions Dani Hagebeuk and Dani Visser are again crawling behind the controllers on behalf of RKC Waalwijk and AZ. In addition to 2v2 world champion Levi de Weerd, Ajax has also chosen Brazilian Paulo Henrique Chaves(better known as PHzin), who won the eNations Cup with Brazil last season, among others, to play on behalf of the Amsterdammers.

The most notable changes are taking place in Eindhoven. Ali Riza Aygün gets with world champion and reigning KPN eDivisie titleholder Manuel Bachoore and eChampions League winner Emre Yilmaz two absolute top players at his side. With this, PSV seems to be looking for revenge for the mediocre sixth season in which PSV finished in a disappointing 17th place. With these world-class players, the KPN eDivision has a great lineup.

View a list of all clubs and players here.

NATIONAL CHAMPION VITESSE STARTS AGAINST AZ, DEBUTANT ALMERE CITY FC MEETS FEYENOORD

Newcomer Almere City FC kicks off the KPN eDivisie season with a match against Feyenoord at 17:30. At the same time, Heracles Almelo makes its return to the KPN eDivisie; the Almeloërs take on FC Utrecht, which qualified for the Finals last season.

Defending champion Vitesse will face AZ. Runner-up Ajax prepares for a game with Sparta Rotterdam, while PSV meets promoted PEC Zwolle. The entire schedule can be viewed here.

KPN EDIVISIE LIVE WEEKLY WITH PASKIE ROKUS, SEBAS DE JONG AND BAS VAN VELZEN

The matches in the KPN eDivision are broadcast live every week on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on ESPN 3 and streamed via the KPN eDivision's YouTube and Twitch channels. The live broadcasts are presented by influencers Paskie Rokus, Sebas de Jong and Bas van Velzen, the latter returning after a year. A summary program of all matches can be seen a day later on ESPN, KPN's Channel 41 (window channel) and YouTube. A weekly recap of the round of play will follow on Friday during ALLsportsradio's radio broadcast.