Playful, educational, and engaging: Proefkonijnen in virtual reality
When Dutch broadcaster BNNVARA approached us to translate their popular science TV show Proefkonijnen into virtual reality, we immediately saw the opportunity to create something special: an educational VR experience for children where learning feels like play.
Building on BNNVARA’s content and our expertise in playful learning with XR technologies, we developed XR Proefkonijnen: Chaos in the Lab. This mixed reality installation invites children into a safe virtual laboratory where they explore how different materials react to fire and learn how to extinguish it responsibly and safely.
The single-player VR experience premiered at Cinekid Festival, Europe’s leading media festival for children, making it an ideal environment to spark curiosity and experimentation among young audiences.
Why VR works so well for playful learning and training
Virtual reality is a powerful tool for education, especially for children, because it turns abstract concepts into tangible actions. In a virtual learning environment, children can experiment freely without real-world risks, lowering the barrier to exploration and discovery.
Research by PwC (2020) shows that learners in VR training simulations complete training up to four times faster and remain significantly more focused compared to traditional classroom settings. This makes VR particularly suitable for gamified VR training, immersive learning experiences, VR workshops for schools and museums, interactive science education, and hands-on learning without physical danger.
In short, VR creates a safe, engaging, and highly memorable learning environment where children actively understand the consequences of their actions. This makes XR Proefkonijnen suitable for use in schools, museums, science centers, and educational festivals looking for interactive VR learning experiences for children. The experience is designed as a guided educational environment rather than a commercial VR game, with learning and safety as its core focus.
Designing playful learning in VR for children
Designing VR for education is one thing, but designing VR for children is a discipline of its own. While adults often follow instructions, children dive straight in. They grab, test, improvise, and explore their own paths, which makes designing for them both challenging and exciting.
Throughout this project, we continuously asked ourselves how to make the experience intuitive without complex explanations, how to balance playfulness and education, and how to create a sense of achievement across different age groups.
Instead of teaching through instructions, we built a world that responds to children’s actions. In Chaos in the Lab, children are not passive users but active researchers. Some quickly discover which materials extinguish fire, while others take more time to test, observe, and adapt. Both approaches lead to meaningful learning moments.
In this educational VR game, curiosity leads the way, proving that learning doesn’t have to be serious to have impact.
Unfiltered reactions and collective fun
One of the most rewarding aspects of presenting Chaos in the Lab was witnessing children’s unfiltered reactions. They shouted advice to each other, laughed when experiments failed, and proudly declared themselves “real scientists.”
Although the VR experience itself is designed for one player, the physical setup naturally creates a shared social layer. Children gather around the participant wearing the headset, encourage them, and actively participate from the outside, turning each session into a small collective adventure.
A built-in timer adds a playful challenge and encourages repetition, reinforcing the idea of learning through gamified VR training. This social dynamic reflects our broader work, where shared experiences are central, such as the metaverse version of OBA NEXT, developed together with OBA and Kuba Jakiel based on community input.
Looking ahead: VR for education, museums, and classrooms
Chaos in the Lab reaffirmed our belief in the potential of VR for education, especially when experiences are designed specifically for young audiences. Projects like XR Proefkonijnen show how public broadcasters, cultural institutions, and educational partners can use immersive technology to create meaningful learning experiences for children. Originally developed and premiered in the Netherlands, the project is designed to be deployed at festivals, museums, and educational institutions across Europe. As an interactive VR learning experience for children, the project is designed to be flexible and scalable across different learning environments.
We are excited to explore how this project can evolve beyond the festival context and find its place in classrooms, museums, and other playful learning environments seeking interactive VR experiences for children. The installation is language-agnostic and adaptable, making it suitable for international educational and cultural contexts.
At the same time, Studio Vrij continues to create immersive experiences that connect people across generations. From conversational AI installations to multiplayer VR experiences such as Show Me the Light – The VR Silent Disco, our work explores how emerging technologies can create meaningful moments of learning, support, and genuine human connection.
Photo by Boudewijn Bollman
Interested in developing an educational VR experience, or bringing one of our VR installations to your festival, museum, or event? Get in touch with us and let’s create meaningful, playful, and immersive learning experiences in VR together.
