Heksenjacht Bladel isn't backed by a large company with a marketing department. It's the work of two sisters: Laura and Lenne, both born and raised in Bladel. Laura still lives there, while Lenne lived in Amsterdam for years and has since returned to Brabant. De Kempen is and always will be home, and that's precisely where we wanted to create something special. In this blog, we'll take you behind the scenes.
It started (already) in 2021
The idea originated in 2021, during a family holiday. We did an active outing together there and became so enthusiastic that we thought: we want this too, but in our own Kempen and with our own story. Back home, we couldn't let go of that idea. What if you could discover Bladel in an exciting, adventurous way, with a legend that truly belongs here?
Why Zwarte Kaat?
That legend was ripe for the taking. Zwarte Kaat, the robber witch who terrorized the region in 1596, is a true Bladel story that immediately appealed to us. We thought it would be amazing to give that story a leading role. Do you want to read the whole legend? You can find it in our blog about the legend of Zwarte Kaat.
Years of work, 22 locations
What started as a fun idea grew into a project spanning years. We wrote the story, devised the riddles, and eventually chose 22 locations that together form a coherent route. We provided a captivating narrator's voice and atmospheric music, and made the entire quest available in both Dutch and English. No off-the-shelf template, but a game that is entirely our own.
First far away, then local
The road to it was full of ups and downs. We initially had the app and website built by a company from far outside the region, but that was difficult: they simply didn't understand our story well. Then we decided to look closer to home, and that turned out to be the best decision we could make.
Through Laura's neighbor, we met Remco, and he built the complete app. Lenne took care of the website. Working with Remco was immediately pleasant, because he genuinely cared about the game. He couldn't wait to play it himself with his family and even tested it out during his nephew's birthday party. That's how we keep it local: a game about Bladel, made by people from Bladel.
Test, test, and test again
Inventing a game is one thing, making it work is another. We walked, cycled, and drove the route ourselves countless times. This also led to some beautiful moments. For example, Laura's daughter thought she saw the real Zwarte Kaat walking during a test drive. It turned out to be an elderly lady in black, but the fright and the fun were no less for it. Exactly that feeling, that the story becomes very real for a moment, is what we wanted to achieve.
What we wish for you
Do you know what we love to hear most? That people are a little euphoric afterwards. That, especially if they played in teams, they still feel the adrenaline. The feeling that they've really done something different. Laughing, playing, thinking, and winning, all at once. How great is that?
Come and discover it for yourself
The best compliment you can give us is to participate. Gather your team, download the app, and go hunting for Zwarte Kaat yourself. Curious how it works exactly? You can read about it on the game page.
Book your ticket now and experience what we have been building for years.
