Reflecting on the first year of mentorship in the Dutch games industry
Dutch Game Mentors, the mentorship program by the Dutch Games Association (DGA), has reached its first anniversary. A good moment to celebrate—but even more importantly, a moment to reflect, evaluate, and learn from the first year of connecting mentors and mentees across the Dutch games industry.
A program born from change
When Dutch Game Mentors launched in October last year, the closure of Dutch Game Garden was still fresh news. The need for accessible entry points into the Dutch games industry, especially for new studios and professionals, was greater than ever.
The DGA stepped in to preserve several key community initiatives, such as the Network Lunch. Also new third party initiatives emerged, including 1-Up Club, Dutch Gaming Network and Dutch Game Hub. Dutch Game Mentors was envisioned as a bridge between emerging talent and seasoned professionals—a way to make experience, advice, and encouragement more accessible to anyone trying to build a career in games.
But how well has that worked out in practice?
What the numbers tell us
To find out, we surveyed both mentors and mentees and looked at some key figures.
As of today, 55 mentors are active in the program. Half of them run their own studios, while the other half work as professionals or freelancers. Among the mentees who shared their background, 57% are professionals or freelancers, slightly outweighing studio owners.
Our mentors represent a wide range of sectors: AAA, indie, casual, applied, and skill-based games. This diversity is crucial, as the mentorship requests we receive span that same variety. Still, with 59% of applicants working on indie titles, demand for indie-focused mentors remains especially strong.
Since launch, we’ve received 78 mentorship requests, averaging nearly two per week. Most of these have successfully been matched with mentors. Given that most mentors only take one or two mentees—and that successful mentorships often extend beyond a year—this is a healthy pace. In fact, more than two-thirds of mentees say they are still in active mentorship.
We’re also proud that mentors are spread across the country, with the largest hubs in Amsterdam, Utrecht and Rotterdam.
What mentees are saying
The true measure of success lies in how participants experience the program. The feedback so far has been overwhelmingly positive.
Lex Steffens, mentored by Martine Spaans, when asked if he would recommend the program to others: “Absolutely. It is very beneficial and accessible in what is offered.”
Loek Iedema of Roaring Luck followed his mentor Alex Kentie’s advice to attend Gamescom, returning with valuable insights and several promising publisher meetings. “Mentors have invaluable experience to jumpstart you in the space.”
Marlinda van der Spek adds:
“I would recommend the program. The mentorship is very valuable—the founder journey can be challenging at times, and having an experienced entrepreneur to spar with helps a lot. It’s also fun to share ideas and hear your mentor’s perspective. Brainstorming with someone more experienced helps you think and dream bigger while appreciating how far you’ve come.”
For mentors, the motivation is clear: giving back to the industry that helped them succeed.
Learning and improving
Of course, there’s always room for improvement. Both mentors and mentees shared suggestions on how to make the program even better.
One change already implemented is the launch of a #dga-mentors channel on the Dutch Games Industry Slack, where mentorship requests can be discussed and matched more efficiently.
The open, “free-form” nature of the program has both advocates and critics. Sometimes communication doesn’t take off, or mentees are unsure which questions to ask. That’s why it’s good to know that mentees can submit a new mentor request after completing a mentorship—especially if there wasn’t a strong match or if the learning goals have been achieved.
Some mentees also suggested adding more structure or organized activities. The DGA will continue to listen and iterate. Future additions might include Q&A sessions, or informal gatherings where mentors and mentees can exchange experiences and inspire one another.
Looking ahead
After one year, Dutch Game Mentors has already connected dozens of professionals, helped mentees accelerate their growth, and strengthened the sense of community within the Dutch games sector. As we move forward, our goal remains the same: to make mentorship accessible, meaningful, and impactful for everyone in our industry.
Join the network!
Looking for a mentor?
Would you like to benefit from the Dutch Game Mentors network? You can apply for a mentor here.
Want to give back?
Great mentors make great industries. We’re grateful for the 55 mentors who have already joined the program—but we’d love to expand this further. If you’d like to share your experience and support the next generation of game creators, become a mentor.