Maastricht city game: Solve riddles, crack mystery

Riddles, goat hoofprints and the Buckriders mystery

A self-guided riddle game played on your smartphone through Maastricht's city center, where you solve clues about an 18th-century legend while walking past the Vrijthof, old churches, a watermill and the Stokstraat. Start whenever you like after receiving your access code by email. Hints keep you moving if you get stuck. Suitable for ages 12 and up, and playable solo or together on one phone.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Maastricht city center

• Walk across old bridge to city center
• Stroll through Stokstraat street
• Visit the large bookstore and terrace
• See Romanesque Catholic church
• Take photos at picturesque watermill
• View 13th century city gate
• Visit Saint Servatius church
• Explore Vrijthof square
• Pass by town hall in Markt
• Relax at market square cafes

The experience

The game arrives as a link and access code in your email after booking. Open it on your phone whenever you're ready to start: no guide, no fixed departure time, no group waiting for you. You'll walk to ten stops scattered across the city center, each one tied to a riddle about the Buckriders, an infamous 18th-century gang. The riddles test what you actually notice: the architecture around you, the street names, the details on buildings. If you get stuck, the app feeds you hints instead of leaving you stranded.

The route takes you across the old bridge over the Meuse to the city center, then through the Stokstraat (a street that shifted from a rough neighborhood into a row of upscale shops and restaurants) past a beloved independent bookstore with a terrace, and to the Vrijthof, Maastricht's largest square. You'll see a Romanesque church with stained glass, the 13th-century city gate with its two towers, and the Jekerkwartier's watermill. The town hall on the Markt and the church believed to stand on Saint Servatius's grave round out the stops. The whole thing runs one to two hours, though you set the pace and can linger at cafes or shops along the way.

Play solo on your own phone or hand one device between two or three people and solve together. Children under 12 can join with extra help from an adult. Everything you need (the riddles, the hints, the route) loads on your phone. There are no additional fees once you've booked.

What’s included

• Detailed online instructions with riddles and hints delivered via email link and access code.
• self-guided route through ten stops in Maastricht's city center.
• playable on one phone or multiple devices.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Outside Escape

Is this one for you?One to two hours means you can fit this into a morning or afternoon and still have time for lunch or other stops in Maastricht. You set the pace and the start time, so it works around whatever else you've planned for the day.

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Top questions

Can I play this game with my kids, or is it just for adults?

The game is designed for ages 12 and up. Younger children can play with adult assistance and still have fun solving the riddles together.

What happens if I get stuck on one of the riddles?

The app provides hints that keep you moving forward, so you won't get trapped on any single clue.

Do I need to download an app, or does it work in my phone's browser?

After you book, you'll receive an email with a link and access code. You use those to start the game whenever you like, no separate app download required.

How long does the whole game take?

The route takes one to two hours depending on how long you spend at each stop and whether you pause for a coffee or browse the shops along the way.

What is the Buckriders mystery I'm solving?

The riddles center on an 18th-century gang called the Buckriders and a legend about goat hoofprints found in the city center. Solving the clues helps you uncover the story as you walk.