You hear about them more and more often: GPS scavenger hunts. Friends enthusiastically tell you about an afternoon spent in a village center, hunting for clues using their phones. Or a colleague recommends it as a team outing. But what exactly is it? And is it for you?
We'll explain.
What is a GPS scavenger hunt?
A GPS scavenger hunt is an interactive outdoor activity where you are guided along a route via an app on your smartphone. GPS stands for Global Positioning System — the same system your navigation app uses to know where you are.
During a GPS scavenger hunt, you use this location technology to navigate to specific places. At each location, a task, riddle, or clue awaits. Solve it, and you'll progress further in the story or route.
The big difference from a regular walk or tour? You are actively involved. You solve the riddles. You and your team determine the strategy. There's no guide telling the story — you discover it yourself.
How does it work in practice?
Most GPS scavenger hunts, including Heksenjacht Bladel, work like this:
- You book online and receive a unique code via email
- You download the app for free from the App Store or Play Store
- You start at the indicated starting location and enter your code
- The app guides you from place to place via GPS
- Along the way, you solve tasks: search quests, knowledge questions, photo challenges, or creative puzzles
- You work towards the climax — and discover how the story ends
Everything happens via your own smartphone. No paper tickets, no guide, no fixed start times. So make sure you have enough battery!
Who is a GPS scavenger hunt suitable for?
The short answer: almost everyone. GPS scavenger hunts are popular with:
- Families with children — actively enjoying the outdoors, puzzling together
- Groups of friends — a combination of exercise, laughter, and challenge
- Couples — an original outing beyond standard options
- Teams and departments — teambuilding without a boardroom feel
- Tourists — the best way to truly get to know a new place
You don't need to be athletic, have technical knowledge, or prepare anything. If you can operate a smartphone, you can participate.
How is a GPS scavenger hunt different from an escape room?
Good question. The difference lies in three things:
Location: An escape room is played indoors, in an enclosed space. A GPS scavenger hunt is played outdoors, through real streets, forests, or villages.
Freedom: With an escape room, you have a fixed time and a fixed space. With a GPS scavenger hunt, you decide when to start, how fast you walk, and when to take a break.
Experience: An escape room is purely about puzzling. A GPS scavenger hunt combines puzzling with movement, fresh air, and discovering a real place — including the story that goes with it.
Heksenjacht Bladel: a GPS scavenger hunt with a real legend
In Heksenjacht Bladel, you hunt for Zwarte Kaat — a notorious robber witch who terrorized the Brabantse Kempen around 1596. The game is based on real folk tales and historical locations in and around Bladel.
You play whenever you want, with your own team, via the free app. One ticket is valid for 2 to 4 people and is valid for one year.
Curious how it feels? Book your ticket and discover it for yourself.
