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Secrets of Haarlem Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour

4.4 on Google (23 reviews)

Secrets of Haarlem Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Walking TourSecrets of Haarlem Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour – Haarlem (2)Secrets of Haarlem Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour – Haarlem (3)Secrets of Haarlem Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour – Haarlem (4)Secrets of Haarlem Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour – Haarlem (5)
  • 1.5–2 hours
  • 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

Wander a city where centuries breathe through cobbled lanes, lively squares, and canal air, and help Kenau Simonsdochter Hasselaer recover the spear that became Haarlem’s courage in its darkest hour.

Secrets of Haarlem is what happens when a walking route stops telling you things and starts asking. Your own phone, your own pace, the streets themselves as the board.

Everything runs off your location. Stand somewhere that matters in Haarlem and the game opens that spot's riddle, puzzle or photo task — and the only way through is to look up. Nothing is solvable from the screen. Two hours later you are the one in the group explaining the place to everyone else.

Hoofdwacht, Frans Hals Museum and Gedempte Voldersgracht are among the places you reach. The finding mostly happens in between, and none of it can be answered without actually standing there.

Other stops include Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) and Stadsbibliotheek Haarlem — enough of them that the group ends up arguing about answers rather than asking what to do next.

The Walking Tour of Haarlem Where Nobody Talks at You

Everything a self-guided tour of Haarlem gives you, minus the narration. The route is real and so is the history behind it — but you get at it by solving rather than listening, and nobody is standing at the front of a group. You walk, you look, you work it out. Intermediate difficulty, so most things fall and the rest makes for a decent argument. Riddles, code-breaking, and photographs you would not have taken.

Looking for a Scavenger Hunt to Do in Haarlem?

This is it, and the setup is a minute long: book a date, get a link by email and open it at the starting point in Haarlem on your phone when you are ready to go. There is nothing to print, nothing to hide in advance and no list to write, because the route around Haarlem, the riddles and the photo tasks are all in place — two hours or so, 3 to 4 km on foot. One ticket takes up to four people on a single phone for €19.95, which is less than the evening you would have spent building it.

An Outdoor Scavenger Hunt That Works for Any Group in Haarlem

Adults. Nothing about this resembles a printable list of things to find. It runs at intermediate difficulty, the riddles want things read properly rather than glanced at, and two hours passes without anyone checking their phone for other reasons.

Teams. Nothing to facilitate, nowhere to book, no start time to enforce. One ticket per four colleagues, every group loose in Haarlem on the same route, and a comparison at the end. Several teams at once is what makes it a team scavenger hunt rather than a walk.

Families. Children manage the walking easily and tend to win the photo tasks outright. Because the riddles get solved together, a group spanning three generations still functions as one team.

Couples and friends. A self-guided walking tour that does not involve following an umbrella. You set the pace, stop where you want, and end up knowing things about Haarlem that most people who live there do not.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Secrets exploration game work?

You book a date, get a link by email and open the game at the starting point in Haarlem on your phone. It is GPS-based: it knows where you are, and each location holds a riddle, a puzzle or a photo task. Solve one and the next location unlocks.

Is this a walking tour or a game?

Both, and that is the point. It follows a walking route through Haarlem the way a self-guided walking tour does, and you pick up the history as you go — but instead of a commentary in your ear you get riddles to solve. Nobody walks in front of you holding a sign.

What do we need to bring?

A phone with battery and shoes that handle 3 to 4 km. You get a link when you book and open the game at the starting point in Haarlem — no printing, no hiding things in advance, no kit to collect from anyone.

How long does it take?

Two hours is typical, over a 3 to 4 km route. There is no clock and no scheduled departure — you fix the day when you book and start whenever you want on it.

How many people can play on one ticket?

One ticket covers a group of 1 to 4 people playing on one device, at €19.95 in total. Groups larger than four buy a second ticket, which also lets them play against each other.

Is it hard?

It sits at intermediate. What it asks for is attention and lateral thinking rather than local knowledge, and no riddle is obscure enough to end the afternoon.

Is it suitable for children?

Yes — the 3 to 4 km is no obstacle and the photo tasks are where younger players get ahead. The riddles sit at intermediate, so families tend to solve them as a group, which is the intended way round.

Do we need to book a time slot?

Not a slot, just a date. When you start on that date is entirely up to you, and there is nowhere to assemble and nobody to find.

What happens if it rains?

You decide when to play and you can pause whenever you like. If a shower comes over, step inside somewhere, wait it out and pick up where you left off — you pause whenever you like and there is no clock running.

Will we actually learn something about Haarlem?

Yes, and not as a side effect. The riddles are made from the history and the characters of Haarlem and from details most people never notice, so the learning is the solving. Anyone who would rather follow a story can take one of the other city games in Haarlem.

More City Games: city games across the Netherlands · Secrets of Arnhem

  1. HoofdwachtGrote Markt 18, 2011 RD Haarlem
  2. Frans Hals MuseumGroot Heiligland 62, 2011 ES Haarlem
  3. Gedempte VoldersgrachtGedempte Voldersgracht 11, 2011 BS Haarlem
  4. Nieuwe Kerk (New Church)Nieuwe Kerksplein 1, 2011 ZW Haarlem
  5. Stadsbibliotheek HaarlemGasthuisvest 32, 2011 NX Haarlem
  6. Molen de AdriaanPapentorenvest 1A, 2011 BW Haarlem
  7. Teylers MuseumSpaarne 16, 2011 CH Haarlem
  8. KattenslootbrugOostvest 1, 2011 BW Haarlem
Show all 15 stops
  1. Muziekkoepel in KenauparkKenaupark, 2011 MH Haarlem
  2. Hofje van LooNieuwe Gracht 17, 2011 NB Haarlem
  3. Nieuwe Gracht 21Nieuwe Gracht 21, 2011 NB Haarlem
  4. Oud Sint Elisabeth GasthuisGroot Heiligland 47, 2011 ES Haarlem
  5. ProveniershofjeGrote Houwersstraat 1, 2011 KL Haarlem
  6. Hofje De EgelantierGrote Houtstraat 142, 2011 EV Haarlem
  7. PaterskerkGedempte Oude Gracht 61, 2011 GM Haarlem

How it works

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

What players in other cities say

4.4 on Google (23 reviews)

  • ★★★★★

    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
  • ★★★★★

    This was a fun game! It had a few challenges which was good and surprises. It got me to go around and explore Queenstown, New Zealand. I got to places in Queenstown, New Zealand I hadn’t been to before while on holiday here. Thank you for that and it gave a feel what it would be like to be the actual Sherlock Holmes!

    Dylan J.February 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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