Haarlem — The Heroine's Secret
Uncover the hidden truth behind the 1573 Siege of Haarlem. Was Kenau Simonsdochter a traitor or savior? Decipher clues across landmarks to expose her secret pact that saved the city.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In 1573, Haarlem endured a brutal seven-month siege by Spanish forces during the Dutch Revolt
Haarlem — The Heroine's Secret
You are a trusted courier for Kenau Hasselaer, Haarlem, spring 1573, tasked with verifying the city's desperate defense strategy during the seven-month siege that forged the
Follow the traces of Kenau Hasselaer, heroine of the 1572-1573 siege of Haarlem, through the Renaissance fortifications that defended Dutch freedom.
« Haarlem, city full of history and courage, where women and men defended freedom »— Local commemorative inscription, Siege of Haarlem Plaque (1572-1573), Kenaupark
The story that haunts this land
The Grote Kerk Saint-Bavo raises its 38-meter flamboyant Gothic vault since 1532, silent witness to Frans Hals' baptism in 1582. Its walls sheltered the secret assemblies of 1572, when Haarlem's burghers swore allegiance to William of Orange against Philip II of Spain. The Müller organ from 1738, with its 3,800 pipes, resounded with Te Deums of victory after each assault repelled during the siege.
The Stadhuis, Gothic edifice from 1245 rebuilt after the 1351 fire, served as Kenau Hasselaer's headquarters during the seven months of resistance. Its Renaissance facade, added by Lieven de Key in the 16th century, still bears traces of Spanish cannonballs. From its 40-meter watchtower, defenders monitored the movements of Fadrique de Toledo's tercios camped at the city gates.
Kenaupark has perpetuated since 1906 the memory of Kenau Hasselaer, born in 1526, who led 300 women in defending the ramparts. Her statue, erected in 1876 by Bart van Hove, depicts her brandishing a sword against the Spanish invader. This heroine of the Eighty Years' War died in 1588, fifteen years after saving Haarlem's honor through her fierce resistance.
The Amsterdamse Poort, sole survivor of the seven fortified gates from 1355, was rebuilt in 1585 according to Renaissance standards after its destruction during the religious wars. Its 26-meter height commanded the northern access to the besieged city. Municipal archives relate that Kenau had artillery pieces recovered from Sea Beggar ships installed there to bombard Spanish lines.
Your journey in the heroine's footsteps reveals a Haarlem where every stone tells the story of Dutch resistance's birth. From the Hofje van Staats of 1620, refuge for war widows, to the Adriaan windmill of 1779 still grinding spices from renewed commerce, you measure the legacy of those seven months that transformed a merchant city into a symbol of freedom.
A game, a guided tour and a heritage guide — all in one
You're not just buying an escape game. You're carrying a living guide — historical anecdotes, forgotten legends, key monuments, hidden architecture — unfolding as you go.
At each stop, places ordinary guides miss — secret façades, sculpted crests, alleys steeped in history.
Every riddle is rooted in a real historical fact or local legend. You leave with dozens of stories to tell.
Learn to read buildings — flamboyant Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco — like a real art historian, while having fun.
Walk through the city like a novel's character — every alley becomes a stage, every square a theatre.
A voice walks with you at every step, tells the story of each place, reads clues, adds a cinematic feel.
Keep access to the guide & game for 1 year. Come back any time, share it with friends.
« You will not leave this city the way you entered it. »
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
The game downloads to your phone on start. Once the "✓ Downloaded" indicator appears, everything works without data — narration, AR, GPS and puzzles. Perfect abroad without a data plan.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The Route
8 stages through the city
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 12€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
Military Strategy
Discover the daring tactics and stratagems used by Haarlem's defenders to repel Spanish assaults.
Civic Courage
Explore the incredible resilience of the inhabitants, men and women, who transformed their city into a human fortress.
Resistance Logbook
Reconstruct a secret logbook that reveals the unknown facts and forgotten heroes of the Siege of Haarlem.
Even in defeat, the spirit of Haarlem endured.
Untangle the threads of history to reveal the truth of the siege.
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Is this an outdoor escape game in Haarlem, Netherlands or a classic scavenger hunt?
Both at once: it's an outdoor escape game — team puzzles, narration, clues, final code — but in the streets of Haarlem, Netherlands, at your pace. The classic scavenger hunt mechanic plus augmented reality through the camera.
Q02Can we take a break mid-trail?
Of course. Stop at a café, have lunch, resume later: your progress is saved. Many players bake a meal break into the trail, especially with families.
Q03Do we need to be several people to enjoy it?
No, solo works very well. The outdoor escape game format in self-guided mode leaves room for introspection: read the story at your pace, hunt clues like a detective. 2-6 players is more social, solo is more contemplative.
Q04Best season to explore Haarlem, Netherlands like this?
Spring and autumn are the best seasons: mild temperatures, fewer tourists, gorgeous light. Summer is also great but go for early morning before 11 or late afternoon. Winter is perfectly playable, especially in southern cities — Haarlem, Netherlands often feels more authentic then.
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Your turn to play
Follow the traces of Kenau Hasselaer, heroine of the 1572-1573 siege of Haarlem, through the Renaissance fortifications that defended Dutch freedom.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
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