Secrets of · Scavenger hunt
Secrets of Leiden Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour
1.5–2 hours · 1–4 players per team · no app€19.95 per team
Sherlock Holmes · Murder mystery
Leiden Self-Guided Detective Murder Mystery Game
- 1.5–2 hours
- 1–4 players per team
- In the free Loquiz app on your phone
- Start any time within 12 months
- Free cancellation until you start
Solve a detective murder mystery on foot in Leiden, from Stadhuisplein to the Burcht and the Pieterskerk, at your own pace.
Balthasar died in Leiden and the file lands on your phone. Everything you need to close it is out there on the street.
A self-guided murder mystery game for people who would rather walk than sit. Leiden holds the evidence, the app holds the file, and the puzzles, codes and photo tasks in between are what narrow a long suspect list down to one name.
The case takes you past Burcht van Leiden, Leiden American Pilgrim Museum and Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC).
Where the Case Takes You in Leiden
National Museum of Ethnology and Hortus Botanicus Leiden belong to the same case. You cover 3 to 4 km in all, and there is nothing stopping you sitting down halfway.
Playing the Detective Game in Leiden
The story arrives as you move. Every location holds something to work out, and the digital characters you meet each know one piece of what happened to Balthasar. Reckon on 1.5 to 2 hours and 3 to 4 km, but there is no clock: break for lunch and pick it up afterwards. It asks the sort of attention Sherlock Holmes made his name on - the detail other people step over.
Who Plays This in Leiden
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 Leiden 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the murder mystery game work?
It runs in the Loquiz app on your own phone. Open it at the starting point in Leiden, and from there the case comes to you: someone to question at each location, something to solve before they talk, and a name to hand in at the end.
How long does it take?
About two hours of playing and 3 to 4 km of walking. How long the whole outing takes is up to you, because you can stop for as long as you like and carry on after.
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?
Just a date. The hour is yours to choose, because nobody is standing anywhere in Leiden expecting you - no meeting point, no guide, no group.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes, from about eight. The difficulty is easy, the walking is gentle, and children tend to be the fastest in the group at the photo tasks.
What happens if it rains?
Rain is an interruption, not a problem: you choose the moment to start and you can stop as long as you like. Plenty of groups split the case over a morning and an afternoon.
Is this a detective game or a walking tour of Leiden?
You get the walk either way. The difference is that you arrive at each place with a question, and a question makes people look at a building far harder than a plaque ever does.
What else is there to do in Leiden?
You can play more than one: other city games in Leiden use the same streets for another case, and the rest of the Netherlands is one list away.
Keep going: Secrets of Leiden · The Leiden Syndicate · city games across the Netherlands
- Burcht van LeidenVan der Sterrepad 5, 2312 JS Leiden
- Leiden American Pilgrim MuseumKloksteeg 16A, 2311 SL Leiden
- Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC)Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZG Leiden
- National Museum of EthnologySteenstraat 1B, 2312 BS Leiden
- Hortus Botanicus LeidenRapenburg 73, 2311 WJ Leiden
- PieterskerkKloksteeg 16, 2311 SL Leiden
- Molen De ValkMolenwerf 1, 2312 BZ Leiden
- Museum De LakenhalOude Singel 32, 2312 RA Leiden
Show all 10 stops
- National Museum of AntiquitiesRapenburg 28, 2311 TV Leiden
- Naturalis Biodiversity CenterDarwinweg 2, 2333 CR Leiden
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
- ★★★★★
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.
Leaderboard
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No team has played in this period yet.
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