The DGA Network Lunch remains one of the most valuable opportunities to bring the Dutch games sector together. This time, THUAS GameLab was there. For many students, this kind of setting is their first real encounter with the industry beyond the classroom: through direct conversations with practising professionals, rather than internships or job vacancies.
Getting acquainted informally
That informal nature is precisely what makes it valuable. Students can ask questions freely, show their work and get a clearer picture of what different roles involve in practice. The gap between theory and reality becomes tangible: how teams work together, where the real challenges lie and which skills actually make the difference.
It also helps students start building a network early. An initial conversation with a composer, designer or lawyer can later develop into an internship, a collaboration or a first job. For THUAS GameLab students, this means learning not only how to make games, but also how to find their way in the industry.
The connection is equally important for the sector itself. It helps new talent enter better prepared and brings education and practice closer together. This exchange is precisely what gives such gatherings lasting value.
The latest edition was well attended and once again confirmed the demand for accessible, substantive meetings within the industry.
THUAS and Fontys
What made this lunch particularly strong was the combination of experienced professionals and new talent. Students from Fontys and THUAS GameLab attended and had the chance to meet people from the industry directly. This cross-pollination is exactly what strengthens the sector: direct contact, open conversations and tangible connections.
The lunch featured four showcases of games in development. These offered insight into the Dutch development scene and prompted substantive conversations about design choices, positioning and production challenges. Their quality and variety showed that plenty of creativity and ambition remains in the pipeline.
Alongside developers and students, professionals from several disciplines attended, including Jim Offerman (composer), Nick Post (3D designer) and René Otto (lawyer). This mix of creative, technical and business expertise makes the conversations more relevant and helps teams look beyond their product alone.
The DGA Network Lunch’s strength lies in its simplicity: good conversations, concrete feedback and new connections in an informal setting. Time and again, that proves an effective formula.
The next edition is already being planned. Anyone serious about games in the Netherlands, or aspiring to be, would do well to join.