Team vs team
Use your own phones and join a team. Any teammate’s answer advances everyone. Beat the other teams on the leaderboard.
City exploration game
The Ship-Sinking Secret – Uncover It in Amsterdam
4.38Player rating
A DIFFERENT WAY TO SEE THE CITY
Play at your pace · usually 82 min 4.3 km Amsterdam App-guided
Play in
EnglishDutch
The experience
About this quest
Amsterdam, 1951. A blueprint. A hidden flaw. And a race against time. Your father, a ship engineer, has passed—leaving behind more than memories.
Among his sketches, you uncover a secret that could sink a grand passenger ship before it ever leaves port. With only your wits and his cryptic notes, you must walk the canals of Amsterdam, follow the clues he left behind, and solve puzzles to reach those who will believe you—before it's too late.
This is no ordinary stroll. It’s a mystery woven through the city’s heart, a story of courage, legacy, and doing what’s right. Bring your friends or family and become part of a real-world adventure that’s as thrilling as it is unforgettable. Will you stop the disaster in time?
Is this for you?
Who it's for
Puzzle and mystery players, couples and friends who already know the canal ring will find a reason to cross the IJ here: a 1951 story about a ship engineer's hidden blueprint flaw, played out at old shipyard sites such as NDSM, the Lasloods and the stone silo. First-time visitors after the classic centre, or anyone not up for 4.3 km on foot, should pick another route.
What makes this quest special
Highlights
Take the free ferry across the IJ.
Discover Amsterdam Noord. Beloved among locals as the city's creative hotspot.
Discover Amsterdam's maritime past by walking around the Western Islands.
Solve puzzles as part of a compelling story set in the 20th century.
From people who played this quest
Good times. In their words.
4.38 / 5
16 player ratings
Selected player reviews. Original words and ratings.
Most relevant starts with detailed five-star reviews. All ratings remain available.
From your phone to the streets
A walk that turns into an adventure.
- 1
Open the app. You’re on your way.
Choose your pass, then open your quest in the Questo app. It guides you from the starting point.
- 2
Get outside. Follow your curiosity.
Discover real places and their stories on foot. Stop for a coffee or a photo, then pick up where you left off.
- 3
Crack a clue. Share a little victory.
Look around for answers, solve puzzles and enjoy the “we got it!” moments.
CHOOSE YOUR PASS
How many are playing?
Get this questNo booking slot · play any dayFull refund until you start playing
BRING YOUR WHOLE GROUP
One city. Rival teams. Great stories together.
A school trip, a team day or friends out together. Turn your next outing into a little friendly competition.
Everyone for themselves
One player per phone. Solve clues on your own and race for the top spot on the final leaderboard.
Can a team share one phone?
Yes. Play together on one phone per team, or use your own phones and join the same team in the app. We recommend your own phones so everyone can take part.
Your walk, at a glance
Amsterdam
A · Start
De Ruijterkade, S100, 1013 AA Amsterdam, Nederland
B · Finish
NDSM-Plein 78, 1033 WB Amsterdam, Nederland
Start and finish only. Discover the stops as you play.
The people behind the adventure
Created by Tom Gentenaar.
A route that brings places and playful storytelling together.
Made by Tom Gentenaar
WHAT MAKES A QUEST DIFFERENT
Your adventure, with a playful twist.
1 / 4
Experience
- This quest
- Discover places through stories and clues in the app
- Guided walking tour
- Hear stories and ask a guide questions
2 / 4
Pace
- This quest
- Pause for a photo, a café or a longer look
- Guided walking tour
- Usually follows the guide’s schedule
3 / 4
Company
- This quest
- Explore with your own people or on your own
- Guided walking tour
- Private and shared group tours are available
4 / 4
Guidance
- This quest
- Directions and challenges in the Questo app
- Guided walking tour
- Live interpretation from a guide
Features and terms vary by experience. Check the details before booking.
Good to know before you play
- If the weather gets cold, you can pause and go inside to warm up at almost any location in the game
- We recommend not playing at night
- No attractions ticket(s) required
A little clarity before you go
Frequently asked questions
Where does the walk start and which places does it pass?
The route starts and finishes at the point the app calls Arrival in Amsterdam. Along the way it takes in the Crane, DOK, NDSM, a ferry crossing, the Lasloods, Pontsteiger, the stone silo, a ship, the gallows and the bridge that never closes.
How long does it take and how far will we walk?
Plan on around 80 to 90 minutes for the whole route, covering about 4.3 km on foot. Because you set your own pace with the app, stopping longer at the shipyard sites or over a puzzle simply adds a little time.
Do we need to book a time slot or buy entry tickets?
No time slot is needed, so you can start whenever suits you. No attraction tickets are required either: the story and puzzles use what you see outdoors along the harbour fronts and old shipyards, so the only thing you need is your phone.
Can we pause if it gets cold or rainy?
Yes. You can pause the game and continue later, and if the weather turns cold you can step inside to warm up at almost any location on the route before picking the story up again where you left off.
Can we play it in the evening?
It is best played in daylight. The recommendation is not to play at night, so start early enough to finish the roughly 90-minute route, including the ferry crossing, before it gets dark. You can also pause and finish another day.
Is The Ship-Sinking Secret – Uncover It in Amsterdam self-guided?
Yes. The Questo app guides you between locations without a tour guide or fixed departure. You can start when it suits you and pause if needed.
Where does The Ship-Sinking Secret – Uncover It in Amsterdam start and finish?
It starts at Arrival in Amsterdam, De Ruijterkade, S100, 1013 AA Amsterdam, Nederland and finishes at Crane, NDSM-Plein 78, 1033 WB Amsterdam, Nederland. The route is approximately 4.3 km and includes 12 location-based puzzles.
How many accesses does our group need?
This classic quest sells access per device and player. Each person who wants to solve clues on their own phone needs their own access.
Keep exploring
Every quest. One year.
Explore the annual passGive them a story
A day out, gifted.
Explore Questo giftsKeep exploring Amsterdam
More adventures in Amsterdam
DARK STORIES OF AMSTERDAM
A self-guided ghost-story route through Amsterdam
The Ship-Sinking Secret – Uncover It in Amsterdam is for ghost-story and horror fans who want atmosphere, clues and a private route through Amsterdam rather than a standard sightseeing walk.
The route starts at Arrival in Amsterdam and finishes at Crane over 4.3 km, with 12 challenge locations. Typical duration: 82 min; 4.3 km walking route; 12 challenge locations
Choose this when solving and moving through the story is part of the fun. Choose a guided ghost tour when live narration and a group atmosphere matter more. Playable languages: English, Dutch.
Halloween 2026 in Amsterdam
Plan a self-guided Halloween outing with ghost stories, haunted walks or a fictional horror game. Compare the available quests before choosing.
Check the starting point, duration, available languages, recommended age and access details on the quest page. These are app-guided games, not tickets to a scheduled Halloween event.
