GameLab was buzzing today! For Girls Day 2026, we welcomed no fewer than 90 enthusiastic boys and girls. The aim? To show that IT and game development are not only incredibly important, but also wonderful fields to work in. With an inspiring talk by student Amber Koens and an enthusiastic session in our mini arcade, it was a day to remember.
Amber Koens: from Google Sheets to Steam
The morning began with a presentation by Amber Koens, a fourth-year HBO-ICT student at The Hague University of Applied Sciences specialising in Game Development. Amber is living proof that you do not have to be the quiet type to excel in IT.
Her journey really began at secondary school, when she started following an online JavaScript tutorial on her own. While others were bored, Amber built a simple rock-paper-scissors game in Google Sheets. That was the turning point: she was hooked on the logic of programming.
She has since become a real pro:
- Radial Overdrive: Together with her team, she developed this racing game, which is now available to play on the global platform Steam.
- .synth_protocol: She is currently working on her graduation project, an ambitious multiplayer game.
- Gamification: Amber spoke passionately about how IT is everywhere: from safety systems in road tunnels to healthcare tools. For her, IT is the ultimate combination of technology, visual design and creativity.
“IT is not just about technology, but about using logic to improve the human experience. It is the best job in the world.” — Amber Koens
Catching up and the tip of the day
Amber was also honest about the challenges. Having had little exposure to IT at secondary school, she sometimes felt she was behind at the start of her degree. Her advice to the 90 pupils present was simple: “Just give it a go!” Whether you follow a YouTube tutorial or add a pause button to a simple script, you learn most by doing. “If you can make a character walk, see if you can make it run yourself,” Amber said.
High scores in the Mini Arcade
After hearing about the code and logic behind games, it was time for the real thing: playing! Our mini arcade was flooded with pupils. While one tried to beat the high score on a classic arcade cabinet, another discussed with Amber how you actually design a level like that.
It was wonderful to see the gap between “user” and “creator” become a little smaller today. Whether you are a boy or a girl, a passion for technology and creativity is universal.
The future of GameLab
At GameLab, we believe talent is everywhere. Days like Girls Day are essential to showing young people, and girls in particular, that they can play a crucial role in tomorrow’s digital world.
Caught the gaming bug today? Then do come back to GameLab or explore the degree programmes at Dutch Innovation Park. Who knows, your game might be on Steam in a few years too!