An escape room isn’t just a race against time. It’s a story you step into. For Sven Enthoven, co-owner of Escape Haarlem, building these experiences began in 2016. At first, Sven’s rooms were entirely mechanical, full of levers and pulleys. Over time, he found that those kinds of puzzles had their limits.
Sven wanted to create more engaging and magical moments, though simple levers could only take him so far. That changed when he discovered Homey. Suddenly, he could connect all the devices, brands, and protocols he needed to bring his escape rooms to life.
When puzzles learned to think
Sven’s design process always starts with the story. For his latest room, he wanted to tell an authentic tale inspired by Haarlem’s rich beer-brewing history, set inside a classic bar. Once the narrative takes shape, his team chooses the right tools to make it work — and that’s where Homey became a game-changer. It allows them to create smooth scene transitions that no purely mechanical setup could achieve.
Homey acts as the central brain of the entire room, connecting Wi-Fi, Z-Wave, and Zigbee at once. When players solve a puzzle, the atmosphere shifts completely. The Spotify app automatically changes the music while Homey dims and adjusts the lighting. Smart plugs and sensors detect progress and trigger events. Hidden smart relays control 12V devices, making pianos rise or trapdoors open right on cue. That’s what makes the experience truly immersive. It’s not just a puzzle; it’s a responsive world that reacts to every move the players make.
An old clock with a new trick
Every escape room needs a timer, but a glowing digital clock can quickly break the illusion of history. Sven’s team knew a modern clock would never fit their authentic bar setting. Instead, they found a 60-year-old analog clock that looked perfect. They just needed a way to control it automatically for each one-hour game.
Homey turned out to be the perfect solution. When the game master starts the game, a Flow is triggered: the old clock face lights up, and the hand starts moving. Players can see how much time they have left by looking at a real, physical object that feels part of the story. It keeps them fully immersed in the world. After each game, Homey automatically resets the clock, ready for the next group.
Hints that play along
Sven’s team also built a unique hint system designed to keep players in control. Instead of automatically giving clues, they let players decide when they need help. When the game master notices a team is stuck, they trigger a Flow that turns all the lights bright red, clearly signalling that a hint is available.
Players can then unlock the hint by pressing a special button in the room — not just any button. Inside is a hidden Aqara door sensor. When pressed, the sensor sends a signal to the control room, letting the game master know a hint was requested. The hint is then sent to the players, and with a single press of a remote, the entire system resets, ready for the next group.
Never done learning
For Sven, using Homey has been both a fun journey and a great adventure. He and his team have learned a lot along the way, and the rapid progress in smart home tech now lets them build automations that once seemed out of reach. Sven checks Homey’s Best Buy Guides to discover new devices that could fit his setup, and those reads often spark fresh ideas for puzzles or effects. He also credits the Homey Community Forum, where other creative users share tips that help him experiment and push his ideas further.
Your turn to start the story
Sven’s confidence in Homey’s capabilities is clear. Since last year, he’s also been using a Homey Pro at home. Escape Haarlem runs smoothly on the 2019 model, while his personal setup uses the newer version. As he says, “Homey just keeps proving how versatile it is.”
That same power and versatility can make a difference in your home, too. Get started for free with Homey Cloud, or go all-in with Homey Pro.
