Family day out Amsterdam North: a puzzle walk for all ages

In a city game everybody has a job. One person reads the puzzle out loud, someone else looks for the answer on a house or a sign, and another takes the photo. Children love spotting the detail first and shouting out the answer, while parents help when a question gets tricky.

Because the whole family shares one phone, nobody wanders off into their own screen. You talk, guess and decide together. And since there is no group to keep up with, you can stop at a bench, watch the boats or grab a snack before carrying on. It turns a walk into a shared adventure.

Secrets of Amsterdam North is the best fit for most families. This self-guided walk starts from the IJ waterfront, with puzzles, photo tasks and stories about the waterfront. On the way you pass Purmerplein, the Nieuwendammersluis, the Vienna street sign (WENEN) and the Nieuwendam village marker. Children like the wooden houses and little bridges of the old dike village, which feel far away from the busy city centre.

Sherlock Holmes murder mystery in Amsterdam North is a detective case from the A'DAM Toren past the Tolhuistuin to the Eye Filmmuseum. It is a murder story, so talk about the theme with your children first and choose it for older kids who like detectives.

Both games use the free Loquiz app.

A game takes 1.5 to 2 hours, walking at your own pace. The price is €19.95 per team: one phone, at most 4 players. A bigger family or two families together can split into several teams, each with its own phone and game, and start at the same time.

You can begin whenever you want, every day, and the game stays valid for 12 months. That makes it easy to pick a dry afternoon, a school holiday or a relaxed weekend morning for your family day out in Amsterdam North.

Charge your phone, bring water and wear comfortable shoes, because the whole route is on foot. Download the free Loquiz app at home so you can start straight away.

Read the questions out loud so the children can look around instead of at the screen. Let them lead now and then: they can choose the direction or take the photos. If a puzzle is hard, look for clues together. Afterwards, ask everyone which puzzle they liked best.