Haarlem Hidden Courtyards Self Guided City Exploration Game

1 h 30 min Free cancellation Private tour

Haarlem Hidden Courtyards Self Guided City Exploration Game, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

A self-guided walking game through Haarlem's old centre, following the city's story of printing, painting and quiet charity: the hidden courtyards (hofjes) built for the poor, museums grown from merchants' collections, and the statue of Laurens Janszoon Coster, whom Haarlem still credits with inventing movable type. Each stop hides a puzzle you solve on your phone, at your own pace.

The app tells you what you are looking at: an 1849 chemist's shop, the Proveniershof, the almshouses that became the Frans Hals Museum, Teylers, the oldest museum in the Netherlands (1784), the Bakenesserkerk's slender tower, and the town hall built where a count's hunting lodge stood in 1370. Hints are built in; chat support answers 24/7.

The route starts at the Jopenkerk, a brewery inside a former church, and ends at the Coster statue on the Grote Markt. About 4 km on flat streets, 90 to 120 minutes. Easy, in English or Dutch, good for couples, families and first-time visitors.

Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Historical Tours Walking Tours Nature Walks Short term availability

At a glance

Duration: 1 h 30 min
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–30
Written guide: English, Dutch
Operated by: Questo

Ages: Adults (14–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Full availability: Every day of the year.
Included: Flexibility: start, take a break and continue at your own pace.
Included: Access to the self-guided city exploration game in the Questo app

Not included

Not included: Live game master or physical guide
Not included: Private transportation
Not included: Meals

Itinerary

Discover Haarlem on a self-guided walking game through its hidden courtyards and quiet old streets. You will start at the Jopenkerk, a former church that is now a brewery, and follow a trail through the old centre: Van der Pigge, a drugstore that has kept its 1849 interior, the Nieuwe Kerk by Jacob van Campen, the Proveniershof, the old almshouses opposite the Frans Hals Museum, Teylers Museum (the oldest museum in the Netherlands), the Bakenesserkerk and the Waalse Kerk. Along the way you'll peek into the hofjes, the courtyards that wealthy Haarlem residents built to house people in need. At each stop you will study your surroundings (dates on facades, carved figures, letters on a monument, the gilded tips of a fence) to solve a puzzle that reveals your next clue, plus the real history of the place you're standing in. You can play alone or bring your whole group, any day and any hour: just book a ticket and start whenever you want. The walk takes about 90-120 minutes with optional breaks, over roughly 3.8 km (2.4 miles), and ends on the Grote Markt, by the town hall and the statue of Laurens Janszoon Coster, the man Haarlem long credited with inventing printing.

Stop 1
Van der Pigge
Proveniershof
Frans Hals Museum
Stop 5
Teylers Museum
Bakenesserkerk
Grote Markt
Beeld Laurens Janszoon Coster

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

The game starts in front of Jopenkerk Haarlem. After booking, we'll message you a code and activation link. Activate with your own email, then log in to the Questo app with that email. No message? Open the Questo app, tap "Bought a quest somewhere else?" and enter your booking reference number.

End point

The game starts in front of Jopenkerk Haarlem. After booking, we'll message you a code and activation link. Activate with your own email, then log in to the Questo app with that email. No message? Open the Questo app, tap "Bought a quest somewhere else?" and enter your booking reference number.

Using your ticket

Thank you for booking with Questo. Your code is your booking reference number: the digits after "BR-".

Here's how to play it:

1. Activate your quest. Go to the unlock page on the Questo website (questoapp.com/unlock), enter your email and your code.

2. Download the Questo app on your phone (App Store or Google Play) and create an account with the same email used for activation.

3. Once you're logged in to the Questo app, open the Quests section. Your quest will be there, ready to be played.

IMPORTANT

Booked more than one ticket? You can invite the other participants right after activating, or later from the Quests section in the app.
If you don't see your quest in the Quests section in the Questo app, tap "Bought a quest somewhere else?" and enter your code again. You can also upload a screenshot of your booking confirmation there.

GOOD TO KNOW

The quest is available every day, at any hour. Go to the starting point and begin whenever you're ready.
Download the story and the map before you head out. After that, it works without internet.
Start with at least 50% battery.

Still have questions? Send us a message or talk to our customer support at: questoapp.com/chat

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

Good to know

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
A charged smartphone with internet is required to play the game in the Questo app
Comfortable walking shoes are recommended