Sherlock Holmes · Murder mystery

Rotterdam Self-Guided Detective Murder Mystery Game

★★★★★ 2.0 (Verified reviews: 1)
  • 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

Walk a self-guided detective murder mystery through central Rotterdam, from the Stadhuis to the Markthal and the Maritime Museum.

Balthasar is dead in Rotterdam, and whoever closes the case is going to have to walk it.

A self-guided murder mystery game for people who would rather walk than sit. Rotterdam 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.

Names that turn up in the case notes: Euromast, Markthal and Kunsthal Rotterdam.

The Walk Through Rotterdam

Add Maritime Museum and Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen to that. The whole thing measures 3 to 4 km, which is a comfortable afternoon rather than a hike.

Playing the Detective Game in Rotterdam

Nothing happens until you walk. The evidence is at the locations, the witnesses are on the phone, and every puzzle, code and photo task you get through hands you another piece of Balthasar's last day. 1.5 to 2 hours, 3 to 4 km, no time limit of any kind. The habit is the one the Sherlock Holmes stories are built on: notice the thing nobody else bothered to look at, then say out loud what it means.

Who Plays This in Rotterdam

With friends. Four of you on one phone and everybody gets a say. Somebody always commits to a theory early, loudly, and wrongly - that is half of what you will talk about afterwards.

With your team. Buy a ticket per four, put every team on the same murder, compare the answers over lunch. Nothing to hire and nobody to brief, so a company outing in Rotterdam survives people turning up late.

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.

Questions People Ask First

How does the murder mystery game work?

It runs in the Loquiz app on your own phone. Open it at the starting point in Rotterdam, 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?

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?

Just a date. The hour is yours to choose, because nobody is standing anywhere in Rotterdam expecting you - no meeting point, no guide, no group.

Is it suitable for children?

From roughly age eight it works well. The puzzles are built to be solved, not to defeat anyone, and younger children happily walk along and help.

What happens if it rains?

Nothing forces you to keep walking. Duck into a cafe, let it pass and carry on when you feel like it - there is no time limit on any part of this.

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

Both, in practice. You cover Rotterdam on foot and you notice far more than you would on a normal walk, because the case gives you a reason to look closely at things you would otherwise pass.

What else is there to do in Rotterdam?

The same streets carry other city games in Rotterdam, each with its own story, and anyone travelling on will find the next stop under the Netherlands.

  1. EuromastParkhaven 20, 3016 GM Rotterdam
  2. MarkthalDominee Jan Scharpstraat 298, 3011 GZ Rotterdam
  3. Kunsthal RotterdamWestzeedijk 341, 3015 AA Rotterdam
  4. Maritime MuseumLeuvehaven 1, 3011 EA Rotterdam
  5. Museum Boijmans Van BeuningenMuseumpark 24, 3015 CX Rotterdam
  6. Kijk-KubusOverblaak 70, 3011 MH Rotterdam
  7. Witte de WithstraatWitte de Withstraat, 3012 Rotterdam
  8. ErasmusbrugErasmusbrug, 3011 BN Rotterdam

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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