Detective Murder Mystery Game

Detective Murder Mystery Game Amsterdam

4.4 on Google (24 reviews)

A small group shares a smartphone clue during a City Game Amsterdam Escape Game in front of the historic Oude Kerk.

Two players follow a smartphone clue during a City Game Amsterdam Exploration Game in the quiet historic Begijnhof courtyard.

A City Game Amsterdam scavenger hunt beside the Royal Palace on Dam Square.

Friends explore the city centre during a City Game Amsterdam Self-Guided Tour with the historic Munttoren clearly visible.

A couple completes a clue during a City Game Amsterdam Treasure Hunt beside the canal near the recognizable Westerkerk tower.

1.5–2 hours
The same story in every city: like an escape room, this story is yours to crack once, so pick the city that makes it special. Want more? Secrets games tell a new story in every city.
1–4 players per team
On your own phone, no app
Language of the game: English +31
Start any time within 12 months
Free cancellation until you start

Solve a detective murder mystery on foot in Amsterdam, from Beursplein past the Royal Palace and the Begijnhof, at your own pace.

On the route

14 places, in this order

Westerkerk
Homomonument
Royal Palace of Amsterdam
Tingel Tangel
Amsterdam Museum
De Papegaai
Heilige Stede
English Reformed Church, Amsterdam
Het Lieverdje
Yab Yum
Netherlands Media Art Institute
Kees Fensbrug
Nieuwe Kerk
Dam Square

Step into the story

A murder in the city

You are Sherlock Holmes, and Watson is at your side. Balthazar has been found dead, four people had a reason, and only one of them did it.

1.5–2 hours
1–4 players per team

Start the mission

It begins
And we need you to find out who killed Balthazar.
It goes wrong
You ring the bell. Nobody opens the door but you catch a shadow moving through the house! Somebody is home!
Your move
Walk the city, question the witnesses, gather the evidence and name the killer. Good luck, and have fun.

Every player takes on one of these roles.

The Reasoner
The Lookout
The Photographer
The Casebook

Somebody killed Balthasar in Amsterdam. The evidence never left the neighbourhood, which is where you come in.

Think of it as a detective game the size of a city. The murder mystery runs on your phone while Amsterdam supplies the evidence: witnesses to question, codes to crack, photographs to take, and one name to hand in when you are sure. Nobody guides you and nothing starts at a fixed hour.

Part of what the route covers: Van Gogh Museum, Royal Palace Amsterdam and Rembrandt House Museum.

Where the Case Takes You in Amsterdam

Skinny Bridge and Flower Market are on the route as well. Anyone keeping decent notes will find they only have to confirm there what they already suspect.

Had great fun playing secrets of Haarlem!

Martin M.

Playing the Detective Game in Amsterdam

You move, the case moves. Each stop has something to solve and each digital character has something to say once you have solved it, and the suspect list shortens accordingly. Figure on 1.5 to 2 hours across 3 to 4 km, with as many breaks as you feel like taking. It asks the sort of attention Sherlock Holmes made his name on - the detail other people step over.

For Families, Friends and Teams in Amsterdam

With friends. Four people, one phone, one case. Somebody will back the wrong suspect early and refuse to let it go, and that is the part everyone remembers.

With your team. Split into fours, buy a ticket each, and send them off on the same murder. Team building without a facilitator, a venue or a start time - and in Amsterdam that means nobody has to be anywhere by nine.

With kids. Eight and up manage it comfortably. Children are usually quickest on the photo tasks, and teenagers who have stopped being impressed by old buildings get competitive about the puzzles instead.

Before You Book

How does the murder mystery game work?

You play it through the link in your email on your own phone. It opens in Amsterdam, the story moves with you, and every stop holds a puzzle, a code or a photo task standing between you and the next piece.

How long does it take?

Between one and a half and two hours for most groups, across 3 to 4 km. Slower is free: nothing is timed and nothing expires while you are having lunch.

How many people can play on one ticket?

One €19.95 ticket covers four players on a single phone. Past four, take a second ticket: two teams chasing the same killer beats six people squinting at one screen.

Do we need to book a time?

A date is all we need. The starting time is yours, because there is no host, no departure and nobody else's schedule involved.

Is it suitable for children?

Eight and up handle it well. Nothing along the way is beyond them, and more often than you would expect it is the youngest player who notices the detail that decides the case.

What happens if it rains?

You decide when to play and you can pause whenever you want. Step inside, wait the shower out and pick the case up again - no clock is running and nothing closes.

Is this a detective game or a walking tour of Amsterdam?

It is a detective game first. But you see Amsterdam properly while you play it, and people tend to remember a street they searched better than one they were shown.

What else is there to do in Amsterdam?

You can play more than one: other city games in Amsterdam use the same streets for another case, and the rest of the Netherlands is one list away.

More City Games: Secrets of Amsterdam · Secrets of Gardens of West · The Amsterdam Syndicate · city games across the Netherlands

How it works

BookYour ticket arrives by email.
Go to the startThe start point is in your email. Any day within 12 months.
PlayOpen the link on one phone per team and press start.

What players in other cities say

4.4 on Google (24 reviews)

★★★★★
Wir (Mein Mann, unsere 9-jährige Tochter und ich) haben heute ganz spontan das Spiel "Moordmysterie Düsseldorf" gebucht und gespielt. Die Buchung verlief schnell und reibungslos. Es hat super viel Spaß gemacht! Die Story, die Rätsel, das Konzept, die Route, die Gestaltung der App... richtig gut!!! Das Spiel würde ich vor allem Familien mit Kindern empfehlen. Für Erwachsene waren die Rätsel (meiner Meinung nach) zu einfach. Aber trotzdem wegen der schönen Route durch Düsseldorf, der Story, den lustigen Anweisungen zwischendurch eine schöne Aktion, die man zusammen machen kann.
Lingling Z.October 2026 · via google
★★★★★
Had great fun playing secrets of Haarlem!
Martin M.March 2026 · via google
★★★★★
Game in Amsterdam was fun!
Enzo L.March 2026 · via google
★★★★★
Had So much fun playing while exploring the city
Philip C.March 2026 · via google
★★★★★
I had a fantastic experience with CityGame! The concept is creative, engaging, and a great way to explore a city in a completely new way. The games are well-designed, combining puzzles, storytelling, and adventure so you’re constantly discovering something interesting around every corner. What I especially love is how CityGame turns a normal walk through the city into an interactive experience. It’s perfect for friends, families, or team outings, and it makes sightseeing much more exciting than the usual tours. Everything was easy to use, the challenges were fun and clever, and it really encouraged us to look closer at the city and its hidden details. Highly recommended if you’re looking for a unique and memorable way to explore!
Jessica S.March 2026 · via google
★★★★★
This is an interesting way to conduct a self-guided Amsterdam city tour. It used the GPS on your phone to guide you to stops on a route. There are mini quizzes once you arrive at the stops on the path. The quizzes draw your attention to features in front of you or to a brief history of the place. In many cases, we visited a spot that would not have been obvious as a regular passer by. The tour as a whole was interesting to us as newcomers, but I would have liked more information on many locations we visited - a few links outside of the app for each place would have been helpful. Beyond that, the interface was a bit clunky and sometimes awkward to navigate. We definitely don't regret trying this out and feel like we got our money's worth on the experience.
JaibhijaiJune 2024 · via google

How we check reviews

These reviews were left by players on Google and other review sites and are copied from there as they are, with their source.

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