In 2009, he achieved his first International Master (IM) norm at the Batavia Chess Tournament, a round-robin event in Amsterdam.

[5] At the end of 2009, at the Groningen Chess Festival, the newly-minted IM played a four-game match with Timman, losing by 2.5-1.5 after a last-round defeat and exchanging wins in the first two rounds.

[7] By doing so he became the youngest Dutch chess player to qualify for the GM title, at the age of 16 years, 8 months and 17 days.

In 2010, he made his debut at the traditional Wijk aan Zee Corus Chess Tournament in the Grandmaster Group C, sharing 3rd–4th place with Daniele Vocaturo.

In 2015, van Kampen placed fourth in the Challengers group of the 77th Tata Steel Chess Tournament in Wijk aan Zee, behind Wei Yi, David Navara and Sam Shankland.