Secrets of
Haarlem

Self-Guided Secrets of Haarlem Exploration Game

Unleash Haarlem’s Heroic Spirit! Dive into a city of golden-age grit and atmospheric canals as you join Kenau Simonsdochter Hasselaer on a quest to recover the lost spear, a relic still charged with the fire of a city once under siege.

About Secrets of Haarlem

The Secrets of Haarlem City Game is a self-guided, GPS-based game that leads you through the historic center of Haarlem, turning the city into your interactive playground. Using your smartphone, you explore the old streets, canals and courtyards while solving puzzles, cracking riddles and completing creative photo challenges. Along the way you uncover stories about Haarlem’s history, culture and hidden details that even many locals do not know. This exploration game is perfect for visitors who want an engaging way to discover the city and for locals who want to see Haarlem with fresh eyes, and it works just as well for solo players as it does for couples, families and groups of friends.

1.5-2 hours of play time

3-4 km walking distance

Start at Haarlem, Grote markt

Start, pause & continue whenever you want

Play on your smartphone, no downloads needed

1-4 people per smartphone

What you’ll experience during the game

The Secrets of Haarlem City Game blends sightseeing with an immersive story and interactive challenges, guiding you to both iconic and lesser-known places in the city. Along the route you might visit the lively Grote Markt with its historic façades, the impressive St. Bavo Church, the moving Corrie ten Boom House, the elegant Teylers Museum and the atmospheric Jopenkerk brewery inside a former church.

As you explore, you solve fun puzzles, tricky questions, riddles and creative photo challenges to earn points, unlock hints and move closer to solving the final mystery connected to Kenau’s lost spear. You are free to pause the game anytime for a drink or to explore a spot longer, and simply continue whenever you want. Competitive players can even chase a top position on the leaderboard.

Who is it for?

This City Game is designed for anyone who wants to discover Haarlem in a playful and meaningful way. It’s ideal for:

  • Solo explorers looking for a flexible adventure
  • Couples who want to experience the city in a fun and surprising way
  • Families with curious kids who enjoy puzzles and challenges
  • Friends wanting a lighthearted activity full of laughter
  • Groups and teams searching for a unique, self-guided teambuilding experience

Whether you’re a local seeing Haarlem with fresh eyes or a visitor exploring the city for the first time, this GPS-based game offers a memorable way to connect, play and explore together.

What’s included?

Included

  • Self-guided Exploration Game
    Play independently on your own smartphone.
  • Game link & instructions
    Simple steps to start the activity.
  • GPS-based route with puzzles & challenges
    Riddles, questions and photo tasks.
  • Fun facts & stories about Haarlem
    Learn about iconic and hidden spots.

Excluded

  • Smartphone or other devices (bring your own to play)
    You only need one phone per team.
  • In-person guide (digital guide in-game only)
    Everything is fully self-guided inside the game.

Good to know

  • Flexible start, pause & continue
  • 1-year access from purchase date
  • 1–4 people per smartphone
  • Difficulty: Easy-moderate
  • Recommended age: 8+
  • Internet & GPS required
  • Available languages: Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and 30+ more!
  • Start location: Haarlem, Grote markt

How to play

After booking the Secrets of Haarlem City Game, you receive an email with a direct play link for your team. On the chosen day, you simply go to the start location at Grote Markt Haarlem, open the link on your smartphone and begin the game right away. You explore at your own pace, follow the GPS-based route, complete the challenges and pause or resume the game whenever it suits you.

Book your Secrets of Haarlem experience now

Per group

€ 25,95

Book your Secrets of Haarlem experience now

A 2-hour self-guided City Explore Game through Haarlem: explore highlights, solve puzzles and play at your own pace.

  • 1.5 – 2 hours
  • 3 – 4 km
  • Haarlem, Grote markt
  • Languages: Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and 30+ more!

Per group

€ 25,95

  • Cancel anytime for full refund
  • Instant confirmation
  • Accessible for 1 year from the purchase date
  • Payments are secure & encrypted
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The story of Secrets of Haarlem

Haarlem remembers. Not just through statues and plaques, but through the voices that still echo in its courtyards and canals. One of them belongs to Kenau Simonsdochter Hasselaer, a woman who stood tall during the siege, spear in hand, when others fled. Now she walks again, not to fight, but to find, the very spear she lost in the chaos near the water gate.

That weapon was more than steel. It was a symbol of defiance, of people standing together. Your journey through Haarlem will uncover hidden memories, silent witnesses, and the courage that shaped a city. Help her find the spear, and return a piece of Haarlem’s soul to the light.

Not just a game. A city. A secret. A story only you can finish.

Book now

Kenau Simonsdochter

Your start location

After booking, you’ll receive an email with your play link and simple start instructions. On the day you want to play, just head to the start location at Haarlem, Grote markt, open the link on your smartphone and begin the game. From there, you simply follow the GPS route, complete the challenges and explore at your own pace.

Haarlem, Grote markt

Get directions

How the Secrets of Exploration City Game works

Discover how the self-guided exploration game leads you through the city, step by step.

Start whenever you want

Begin the game the moment you arrive at the starting location, with no fixed departure time.

Follow the GPS route

Navigate through the city using the built in map that guides you from checkpoint to checkpoint.

Solve puzzles and riddles

Crack codes, answer clever questions and use your surroundings to complete challenges.

Complete creative photo challenges

Capture fun moments, recreate poses or search for hidden details as part of interactive missions.

Discover local stories and fun facts

Each location reveals surprising insights about the area’s history, culture and hidden secrets.

Earn points at every location

Score points by completing assignments at each point. Compete with other teams and climb the leaderboard.

Unlock badges and achievements

Earn digital badges as you reach milestones during the game. Every achievement adds to your team’s progress.

Play at your own pace

Take breaks whenever you like and continue the adventure when you are ready.

Book now

How the Secrets of Exploration City Game works

Discover how the self-guided exploration game leads you through the city, step by step.

  • Start whenever you want

    Begin the game the moment you arrive at the starting location, with no fixed departure time.

  • Follow the GPS route

    Navigate through the city using the built in map that guides you from checkpoint to checkpoint.

  • Solve puzzles and examine evidence

    Crack codes, answer clever questions and use your surroundings to complete challenges.

  • Complete creative photo challenges

    Capture fun moments, recreate poses or search for hidden details as part of interactive missions.

  • Discover local stories and fun facts

    Each location reveals surprising insights about the area’s history, culture and hidden secrets.

  • Earn points at every location

    Score points by completing assignments at each point. Compete with other teams and climb the leaderboard.

  • Unlock badges and achievements

    Earn digital badges as you reach milestones during the game. Every achievement adds to your team’s progress.

  • Play at your own pace

    Take breaks whenever you like and continue the adventure when you are ready.

Book now

What others think of our City Games

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Do you have questions? We have answers!

Check out our frequently asked questions and find out everything you want to know. Is your question not among them? Feel free to contact us.

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Secrets of Haarlem takes around 1.5 to 2 hours to complete. There is no strict time limit, so you can explore Haarlem at your own pace and pause the game whenever you like.

Most teams complete the game within this time frame, but you’re free to take longer if you want to stop for a drink, explore a location more deeply, or enjoy the city along the way!

The game starts at Haarlem, Grote markt. After booking, the start location is clearly communicated in the instruction email and becomes visible in the game.

The entire game takes place outdoors. You don’t need to enter any buildings or visit locations with opening hours. Simply arrive at the start location, open the game on your smartphone, and you can begin exploring right away!

There is no limit to the total number of players for Secrets of Haarlem!

The game is played in teams of 1 to 4 people per smartphone.
If you’re playing with more than 4 people, simply book multiple teams, so everyone can play at the same time using their own devices and use the same play link.

For larger groups or corporate events, a fully hosted version of this City Game is also available, including on-site guidance, tablets and live support.

Planning a larger group or corporate event?
Explore the hosted City Game experience for groups

No, you don’t need to reserve a time slot for Secrets of Haarlem! After purchase, you can start the game anytime you want, on any day, within the 1-year access period.

This flexibility makes Secrets of Haarlem ideal if you’re visiting the city without a fixed schedule, want to check the weather first, or prefer to start spontaneously once you arrive in the city!

Yes, Secrets of Haarlem is suitable for families with children aged 8 and up!

The game is designed as a shared experience, where puzzles, riddles and challenges can be solved together, making it accessible for both kids and adults.

Younger players can actively join by spotting details, answering questions and completing photo challenges, while adults guide the team through the more challenging parts. This makes Secrets of Haarlem a fun and engaging activity for mixed-age groups exploring the city together.

Secrets of Haarlem is available in 30+ languages, allowing players from all over the world to enjoy the game in their own language while exploring the city.

The game supports many widely spoken languages such as English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Dutch, among others.

This makes Secrets of Haarlem an accessible and enjoyable experience for international visitors, expats and mixed-language groups.

All available languages:

  • Arabic
  • Bulgarian
  • Chinese
  • Chinese (Hong Kong)
  • Croatian
  • Czech
  • Danish
  • Dutch
  • English
  • Finnish
  • French
  • German
  • Greek
  • Hebrew
  • Hungarian
  • Icelandic
  • Indonesian
  • Italian
  • Japanese
  • Korean
  • Lithuanian
  • Norwegian
  • Polish
  • Portuguese
  • Portuguese (Brazil)
  • Russian
  • Serbian
  • Slovak
  • Slovenian
  • Spanish
  • Spanish (Latin America)
  • Swedish
  • Thai
  • Turkish
  • Vietnamese

(Language availability may vary slightly per update)

To play Secrets of Haarlem, you only need a charged smartphone with internet access and GPS enabled. The game is fully digital, self-guided and played outdoors while exploring Haarlem.

We recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes, as you’ll stroll through streets and squares, and bringing a fully charged phone or power bank so you can enjoy the entire experience without interruptions.

Other than that, just bring your curiosity and sense of adventure and discover Haarlem at your own pace!

Your favourite City Games, professionally hosted by our team

Enjoy the same City Games as our self-guided version, but with full on-site support from our professional hosts. We take care of the briefing, tablets, coordination and technical support, so your group can focus entirely on the fun and competition.

What’s included:

  • Same City Game, fully hosted
    You play the exact same experience as our self-guided version, now with our hosts guiding your group.
  • Live ranking & prize ceremony
    For larger groups, our hosts reveal the final scores and announce the winning team with a fun award moment.
  • Hosted start & finish
    We welcome your group, explain the game clearly and end with an exciting wrap-up.
  • Real-time support during the game
    Our team assists with devices, app issues and coordination throughout the experience.
  • Tablets included (optional)
    Available for groups who prefer using our devices instead of their own.

Trusted by teams worldwide, from small groups to large corporate events.

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Ready for an unforgettable adventure?

Explore Haarlem in a unique and interactive way with our Secrets of Haarlem City Game. Play today and create lasting memories!