Awards

Below is the long list of more than 200 awards that my designs have won so far. It’s always nice that people or organizations recognize the quality of my work, but the real award for me is when customers enjoy one of my games or toys and come back for more. 

Many of the awards below are for toys and puzzles I created for SmartGames and SmartMax. This is done in collaboration with a few colleagues, so the awards are often the result of the effort of a whole team.

Jaak en de Bonenstaak

IQ-Gears (for SmartGames)

• “Hero Toy”, London Toy Fair 2024 by the British Toy & Hobby Association (UK)


TowerStacks (for SmartGames)

• Winnaar Speelgoed van het Jaar 2023 - Puzzels (Nederland)


Cats & Boxes (for SmartGames)

• Independent Toy Awards 2023 Gold - Category: educational Games (United Kingdom)

• Winnaar Speelgoed van het Jaar 2023 - Kinderspellen (Nederland)

• Spiel Gut Award 2023 (Germany)


Safari Park JR (for SmartGames)

• ASTRA 2023 Play Award Winner Brainteasers (US)

• Winnaar Speelgoed van het Jaar 2023 - Peuter (Nederland)

• Toy of the Year 2023 Finalist (Finland)

• PAL Award 2023 (US)


Grizzly Gears (for SmartGames)

• Independent Toy Awards 2022 Silver - Category: educational Games (United Kingdom)

• Made for Mums 2022 Silver Award: Best Puzzle (United Kingdom)


Horse Academy (for SmartGames)

• Made for Mums - Silver Toy Award 2022 - Category: Jigsaw/Puzzle (United Kingdom)

• Spiel Gut Award 2023 (Germany)


IQ-Stixx (for SmartGames)

• 2022 Toy Insider Winner (US)

• NAPPA 2022 Winner (US)


Apple Twist (for SmartGames)

• Creative Child Magazine: 2021 Game of the Year Award,  Kid’s Puzzle Games category and 2021 Travel Fun Award (US)

• Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award 2021 (US)

• Speelgoed van het Jaar 2021 (NL), Winnaar Kinderspel


Pirates Crossfire (for SmartGames)

• Tillywig Brainchild Award  Winner 2021 (US)

• Bronze Award: 2021 Independent Toy Awards, ‘Educational Games’ category (UK)


IQ-Circuit (for SmartGames)

• ASTRA 2021 “Best Toys for Kids” finalist (US)

• NAPPA 2021 Winner (US)


Shooting Stars (for SmartGames)

• Independent Toy  Award 2020, Bronse Award (UK)


Plug & Play Puzzler (for SmartGames)

• Top 100 Made For Mums Xmas Toys list (UK)


Jack & the Beanstalk (for SmartGames)

• Winnaar Speelgoed van het Jaar 2020 (België)

• Winnaar Speelgoed van het Jaar 2020 (Nederland)

• Finalist Best stem/Educational Range Progressive Preschool Award 2020 (UK)


SmartFarmer (for SmartGames)

  • Nominated Guldbriken 2019 (Denmark)
  • Winnaar Speelgoed van het Jaar 2019, categorie 4 - 5 jaar (Nederland)
  • 2019 Independent Toy Shop Awards, Bronze Award (UK)
  • Winner 2019 Right Start Award (UK)
  • NAPPA Awards 2019 Winner (US)
  • Astra Best Toys for Kids 2019 Finalist Puzzles Astra (USA)
  • Recommended Spiel Gut (Germany)


BrainTrain (for SmartGames)

  • Het Speelgoed van het Jaar 2019, categorie denk-en logicaspellen (Belgium)
  • Genomineerd Speelgoed van het Jaar 2019, categorie 0 - 3 jaar (Nederland)
  • Astra Best Toys for Kids Finalist Puzzles 2019 (USA)
  • Recommended Spiel Gut (Germany)
  • Nominated 2019 Goldenes Schaukelpferd“ (PR award) in category „for the youngest“ (Germany)
  • “Shortlisted“ by Made For Mums Toy Awards 2019 (UK)


Colour Catch (for SmartGames)

  • Genomineerd Speelgoed van het Jaar 2019, categorie 6 - 7 jaar (Nederland)
  • Creative Child Award 2019 (US)
  • Recommended Spiel Gut (Germany)


Chicken Shuffle JR (for SmartGames)

  • Creative Child Award 2019 (US)


Atlantis Escape (for SmartGames)

  • Genomineerd Speelgoed van het Jaar 2019, categorie 8 - 9 jaar (Nederland)
  • Recommended Spiel Gut (Germany)


Sleeping Beauty Deluxe (for SmartGames)


Asteroid Escape (for SmartGames)


Squirrels Go Nuts! (for SmartGames)


Cube Puzzler Pro (for SmartGames)


IQ-Stars (for SmartGames)


Snowwhite Deluxe (for SmartGames)

  • Het Speelgoed van het Jaar 2017 (Belgium)
  • Etoiles du Jouet 2017 (France)
  • Award of Excellence 2017, Noise on Toys (USA)
  • Purdue Engineering Gift Guide Selection 2017 – Purdue University (USA)


Jump In’ (for SmartGames)


Temple Connection (for SmartGames)

  • Genomineerd Speelgoed van het jaar 2017 (Netherlands)
  • Award of Excellence 2017, Noise on Toys (USA)
  • Purdue Engineering Gift Guide Selection 2017 – Purdue University (USA)
  • Recommended Spiel Gut (Germany)


IQ-Focus (for SmartGames)

  • NAPPA Gold Winner 2017 (USA)
  • Game of the Year 2017 Puzzle Game – Creative Child Magazine (USA)
  • Purdue Engineering Gift Guide Selection 2017 – Purdue University (USA)
  • Recommended Spiel Gut (Germany)


Dinosaurs - Mystic Islands (for SmartGames)

  • Protégéz-vous Magazine 2016: 5 stars (Canada)
  • Het Speelgoed van het Jaar 2016 (België)


Parking Puzzler (for SmartGames)

  • Protégéz-vous Magazine 2016: 5 stars (Canada)


IQ-Puzzler Pro (for SmartGames)

  • Tillywig Brain Child Award Winner 2016 (USA)


Jungle Hide & Seek (for SmartGames)

  • Tillywig Brain Child Award Winner 2016 (USA)
  • Spiel Gut (Germany 2017)


Little Red Riding Hood (for SmartGames)

  • Best Toys for Kids award 2016, ASTRA (USA)
  • Genomineerd Speelgoed van het jaar 2016 (Netherlands)
  • PAL (Play Advance Language) Award 2016 (USA)
  • Het Speelgoed van het Jaar 2016 (België)
  • Protégéz-vous Magazine 2016: 5 stars (Canada)
  • Made for Mums: Golden Toy Award 2017 (UK)
  • Årets Barnspel 2017, The Best Children's Game 2017 (Sweden)


Penguins Parade (for SmartGames)


Three Little Piggies (for SmartGames)

  • PAL Award 2015 (USA)
  • Right Start Best Toy Award 2015 (UK)
  • Best Toys for Kids award 2015, ASTRA (USA)
  • Toy of the year Award 2015 (Belgium)
  • Speelgoed van het jaar 2015 (Netherlands)
  • Creative Child 2015 GAME OF THE YEAR award, Puzzle Games category (USA)
  • 2015 Gold Star Toy Award Winner by Scholastic Parent & Child Magazine (USA)
  • Parents’Choice Award Spring 2015 Games (USA): Silver Award
  • Creative Child 2015 PUZZLE OF THE YEAR award, Puzzle Brainteasers category (USA)


Butterflies (for SmartGames)


City Maze (for SmartGames)


Quadrillion (for SmartGames)


Brain Cheeser (for SmartGames)


Bunny (peek a) Boo (for SmartGames)

  • Tillywig Top Fun Award Spring 2013 (USA)
  • The Toy Insider’s Honor Spring 2013 (USA)
  • 4,5 stars Editors’ Ranking by Timetoplaymag.com (USA)
  • Dr. Toy’s Best Green Children’s Products Award winner 2013 (USA)
  • Parents’Choice Award Spring 2013 Games (USA): Silver Honor
  • Astra Best Toy for Kids Winner 2013 (USA)
  • Winner of the Toy of the Year 2013 (Guldbrikken) in the category “Puzzles” (Denmark)
  • 21 Best Toys for Kids 2013, Beaumont Enterprise (USA)
  • Toy of the Year Belgium 2013
  • Nominated “Toy of the Year 2013 (Netherlands)
  • Award of Excellence 2017, Noise on Toys (USA)


Noah’s Ark (for SmartGames)

  • Pihla's award of excellence 2018 (Finland): "The most fun brain game I have played”


Vikings (for SmartGames)

  • Tillywig Brain Child Award Spring 2013 (USA)


IQ-Link (for SmartGames)

  • Nominated “Toy of the Year 2013 (Netherlands)
  • Best Puzzle Nominee 2014: GAMES Magazine (USA)


Back 2 Back (for SmartGames)

  • Best Puzzle Nominee 2014: GAMES Magazine (USA)
  • Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award 2013 (USA)


Angry Birds On Top (for SmartGames)

  • Seal of approval Winner Fall 2013: National Parenting Center (USA)


SmartGamesLive.com


IQ-Twist (for SmartGames)

  • Best New Puzzle 2012 (GAMES Magazine USA)
  • Parents’Choice Award Spring 2012 Games USA: Recommended


Bill and Betty Bricks (for SmartGames)

  • Seal of approval Winner Spring 2012: National Parenting Center (USA)
  • Top Fun Award Winner Spring 2012: Tillywig Toy Awards (USA)
  • Gold Award: Oppenheim Toy Portfolio 2012 (USA)
  • Guldbrikken: nominated “Toy of the Year 2012-2013” (Denmark)
  • Creative Child Magazine USA: 2012 GAME OF THE YEAR AWARD (Construction Games category)
  • Toy of the Year 2012 (Belgium)
  • Parents’Choice Award Fall 2012 Toys: Silver Honor (USA)
  • CTTC Children’s Choice Award 2013 (Canada)


IQ-Fit (for SmartGames)

  • Parents’Choice Award Spring 2012 Games USA: Silver Honor
  • Creative Child Magazine USA: 2012 SEAL OF EXCELLENCE AWARD (Kids Games category)
  • Best Puzzle Nominee 2013 (GAMES Magazine USA)


AquaBelle (for SmartGames)


Bend-it (for SmartGames)

  • Guldbrikken: nominated “Toy of the Year 2012-2013” (Denmark)
  • Major Fun Award 2013 (USA)
  • Best Puzzle Nominee 2014: GAMES Magazine (USA)


Temple Trap (for SmartGames)

  • Creative Child Magazine USA: 2012SEAL OF EXCELLENCE AWARD (Kids Games category)
  • Best Puzzle Runner-Up 2014: GAMES Magazine (USA)
  • Spiel Gut (Germany 2017)


Titanic (for SmartGames)

  • Best Puzzle nominee 2011 (GAMES Magazine USA)


SmartCar (for SmartGames)


Hide & Seek - Canada, special version of Pirates (for SmartGames)

  • 6/6 rating (Highest Recommendation) Protégez-Vous Magazine 2011 (Canada)


Penguins on Ice (for SmartGames)

  • Guldbrikken: nominated “Toy of the Year 2011” (Denmark)
  • Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award 2011 (USA)
  • National Parenting Publications Awards Honors 2011 (USA)
  • Toy of the Year 2011 (Belgium)
  • Consumer Label 2011, category “girls”, selected by the visitors of the Toy Museum (Belgium)
  • Best Puzzle Runner-Up 2012: GAMES Magazine (USA)
  • 2011 People’s Play Awards Nominee, category “Puzzles”: Timetoplaymag.com (USA)
  • 6/6 rating (Highest Recommendation) Protégez-Vous Magazine 2012 (Canada)
  • CTTC Best Bet Award 2013 (Canada)
  • Toy of the Year 2012, games category and overall winner (Czech Republic)
  • Winner of Creative Child’s 2013 Game of the Year Award (USA)
  • Gamepuzzles Annual Pentomino Excellence award 2018, Kadon Enterprises (USA)
  • Recommended Spiel Gut (Germany)


Trucky 3 (for SmartGames)

  • Good Toy Foundation: nominated "Toy of the Year 2011” (The Netherlands) 
  • Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award 2011 (USA)
  • National Parenting Publications Awards: Gold Award 2011 (USA)
  • Fun Award 2011 girls age 3-6 (Belgium)
  • Gold Medal, Toy and Games Fair  2011 in Łódź (Poland)
  • 6/6 rating (Highest Recommendation) Protégez-Vous Magazine 2012 (Canada)
  • Seal of approval Winner Spring 2012: National Parenting Center (USA)
  • Parents’Choice Award Spring 2012 Games USA:Silver Honor
  • Toy of the year 2012 (puzzle), recommended by child psychologists (Russia)


Troy “extra muros” (for SmartGames)


Chicken Shuffle (for SmartGames)

  • 6/6 rating (Highest Recommendation) Protégez-Vous Magazine  2011 (Canada)


Anaconda (for SmartGames)

  • Best Puzzle nominee 2012 (GAMES Magazine USA)


Alcatraz (for SmartGames)

  • Best Puzzle Runner-up 2011 (GAMES Magazine USA)


MetroVille (for SmartGames)

  • Best Puzzle nominee 2011 (GAMES Magazine USA)


Day & Night (for SmartGames)

  • Mam Dziecko (I Have A Child Magazine): Superproduct 2009 (Poland)
  • Seal of Excellence 2011 (Canada): Protégez-Vous Magazine
  • Main Prize Winner “A child’s Friendly World” 2010, age 3-7 years (Poland)
  • First Prize “Grand Prix 2011”, Best product on Toy Fair Prague (Czech Republic)
  • Silver Award, Best Toy Guide 2011: Right Start Magazine (UK)


RoadBlock (for SmartGames)


CastleLogix (for SmartGames)

  • Good Toy Foundation: nominated "Toy of the Year 2007” (The Netherlands)
  • Finnish Toy Association: Game of the Year 2009 (Finland)
  • Mam Dziecko   (I Have A Child Magazine): Superproduct 2009 (Poland)
  • Main Prize Winner “A child’s Friendly World” 2010, age 3-7 years (Poland)
  • 6/6 rating (Highest Recommendation) Protégez-Vous Magazine (Canada)


Camelot JR. (for SmartGames)


Tower of Logic - Inferno (for SmartGames)

  • Best Puzzle Nominee 2009: GAMES Magazine (USA)


Airport Traffic Control (for SmartGames)

  • The Ombudsman for Children, Main Prize Winner category: Toys for 7-12 year (Poland) 2009
  • AGA Award Winner 2007 (Australian Games Association)
  • Best Puzzle nominee 2010 (GAMES Magazine USA)


Hide & Seek - Pirates (for SmartGames)

  • CTTC three star rating 2007 (Canada)
  • Highest Recommendation 2007 (Canada): Protégez-Vous Magazine
  • Parents Choice Gold Award 2008 (USA)
  • “BEST BET AWARD” 2007, CTTC (Canada)
  • МОО "Экспертиза для детей ( IPO, "Examination for Children): Gold Award 2008 (Russia)
  • The Ombudsman for Children, Main Prize Winner Toys for 7-12 year (Poland) 2009


Hide & Seek - Safari (for SmartGames)

  • Good Toy Foundation: nominated "Toy of the Year 2006 (The Netherlands)
  • Good Toy Guide Award 2006 (UK)
  • Hamleys :”The Toy That makes You Turn Off Your TV “AWARD 2006 (UK)
  • Best Puzzle Nominee 2009: GAMES Magazine (USA)
  • МОО "Экспертиза для детей ( IPO, "Examination for Children): Gold Award 2008 (Russia)
  • The Ombudsman for Children, Main Prize Winner Toys for 7-12 year (Poland) 2009
  • Toy of the Year 2011, category of educational toys and games (Czech Republic)


Camouflage - North Pole (for SmartGames)

  • Seal of Excellence 2007 (Canada): Protégez-Vous Magazine
  • CTTC three star rating (Canada)
  • Nomination Hamleys Toy of the Year 2006 (UK)
  • Good Toy Award 2006 (UK)
  • Best Puzzle Nominee 2009: GAMES Magazine (USA)
  • Dr Toy's Best Vacation Product 2007 (USA)
  • МОО "Экспертиза для детей ( IPO, "Examination for Children): Gold Award 2008 (Russia)
  • The Ombudsman for Children, Main Prize Winner Toys for 7-12 year (Poland) 2009
  • Gold Award, Best Toy Guide 2011: Right Start Magazine (UK)


GoGetter (for SmartGames)

  • Belgian Toy Federation: Toy of the Year 2002 (Belgium)
  • Dr Toy’s Best Vacation Product 2000 (USA)
  • Parent’s Choice Recommended 2000 Award (USA)
  • Toy of the Year - Parenting magazine (USA)
  • Seal of Approval 2000 - National Parenting Center (USA)
  • Educational Toy Star Award 2006 (China)
  • МОО "Экспертиза для детей ( IPO, "Examination for Children): Gold Award 2008 (Russia)
  • ITSA Best Game Award 2008 (Australia)
  • Best Puzzle Runner-Up 2009: GAMES Magazine (USA) for Cat & Mouse, Mummy Mystery
  • Puzzle nominee 2011 (GAMES Magazine USA) for Prince & Dragon


SmartMax (magnetic discovery toys) awards until 2015

  • Editors’ Recommended Specialty Toy, TDmonthly Magazine
  • Toy of the Year 2010 (Netherlands)
  • Dr. Toy’s 2011 Best Picks Children’s Product Award (2011)
  • Seal of approval Winner Spring 2012: National Parenting Center (USA)
  • Parents’Choice Award Spring 2012 Toys: Silver Honor (USA) for SmartMax Stunt
  • Top Fun Award Winner Spring 2012: Tillywig Toy Awards (USA)
  • Creative Child Magazine USA: 2012 TOP TOY OF THE YEAR AWARD (Builder Construction Toys category) for SmartMax Flower Palace
  • Creative Child Magazine USA: 2012 PREFERRED CHOICE AWARD (Builder Construction Toys category) for SmartMax Racers, SmartMax Express, SmartMax Airborne and SmartMax Drive 'n' Fly
  • Toy of the Year 2012 (Belgium) for Flower Palace
  • Dr. Toy’s “Best Picks Children’s Products for 2012” award for Flower Palace
  • PAL AWARD 2013 for Flower Palace (USA) and Tommy Train
  • Winner of Creative Child’s 2013 Game of the Year Award (USA) for SmartMax BASIC 25
  • Seal of Approval Winner , The National Parenting Center (USA), Holiday 2013 for SmartMax Build & Light
  • COZI 2013 Best Children's Products: Toys and Puzzles: GOLD WINNER for SmartMax Lighthouse
  • Tillywig Best Creative Fun Award Fall 2014 (USA) for SmartMax Mega Ball Run
  • Major Fun Keeper Award Fall 2014 (USA) for SmartMax Barrel with 42 pieces
  • Parents’ Choice Award Fall 2014 (USA) for SmartMax Factory with Car
  • Family Choice Award 2014 (USA) for SmartMax Factory with Car
  • Nominated “Toy of the Year 2014 (Netherlands) for SmartMax Factory with Car
  • Seal of Approval Winner , The National Parenting Center (USA), Holiday 2014 for Home Sweet Home
  • Right Start Best Toy Award 2015 (UK)
  • Bewegungsbilduung und Bewegungsforschung 2016 (DE) for SMX 309 and 515


BeadBabies (for SmartFrames)


Packaging for bottles (school project)

  • Silver student oscar: 1994 Belgisch Verpakkingsinstituut


Gotcha, wooden toy (one of my graduation projects)

  • Aanmoedigingsprijs Vormgeving Provincie Limburg 1994


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