Team building Amsterdam North: puzzles along the IJ waterfront

A city game gets people out of the meeting room and into a shared task. One colleague reads the puzzle, another studies the buildings around you, a third works out the best angle for the photo task. Roles appear by themselves, and people who rarely work together end up swapping ideas within minutes.

Each team shares one phone, so nobody disappears into their own screen. The decisions are made together, out loud. Because all teams start at the same time, the end of the game turns into a natural moment to compare scores, laugh about the photos and talk about how each team tackled the route. That conversation is often the part people remember.

Secrets of Amsterdam North is a self-guided walking game 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 marker of Nieuwendam village. It shows a quieter, village-like side of Amsterdam North that many visitors never see.

Sherlock Holmes murder mystery in Amsterdam North is a detective case on foot, from the A'DAM Toren past the Tolhuistuin to the Eye Filmmuseum. You also cross the Van der Pekbrug. The story is based on Sherlock Holmes and suits teams that like to argue about suspects.

Both games use the free Loquiz app on your own phone.

Divide your colleagues into teams of up to 4 players. Each team needs one phone and its own game. Agree on a meeting point and a start time, and let every team set off together. You can give all teams the same game so the scores are easy to compare, or mix both games for more variety.

The price is €19.95 per team: one phone, at most 4 players. A game takes 1.5 to 2 hours, you can start whenever you want, every day, and the game stays valid for 12 months. Planning an outing for a larger group? Ask for a group quote on the website.

Make sure every phone is charged before you start, and ask people to wear comfortable shoes. Mixing departments or experience levels in each team helps new connections form. Give each team a name and keep a few minutes at the end to announce the scores.

Because the game has no guide, teams can take a short break whenever they like and still finish together. Afterwards, ask each team which task they found the hardest and why.