A gaming tournament, part of a NATO through the Netherlands tour, is engaging young people in Eindhoven with the popular tactical shooter game Valorant. The event, held in a university building due to its ample space and strong WiFi, combines e-sports with security awareness initiatives.

The NATO Cup features three qualifying tournaments for non-military teams in Nijmegen, Eindhoven, and Utrecht. Winners from these events will advance to the final round in The Hague on June 14, where they will compete against the Ministry of Defence team.

Defence teams from NATO allies France and England will also participate remotely. The tournament is being streamed live on Twitch and YouTube, platforms where the Ministry of Defence has a significant following.

While the Ministry of Defence e-sports team was initially created to attract potential recruits, the NATO Cup aims to educate young people about the importance of NATO. Promotional videos from the Ministry of Defence, including recruitment appeals, are interspersed throughout the stream.