The Best Indoor Activities

It’s raining, it’s windy, the temperature isn’t exactly inviting, or you just feel like a fun outing where you don’t have to worry about the weather. Fortunately, there are plenty of fun indoor activities to be found in the Netherlands. From an exciting escape room and a spectacular VR experience to creative activities, glow-in-the-dark mini-golf, or an afternoon full of action.

Whether you’re heading out with friends, family, coworkers, or your kids, you won’t be bored on a fun indoor outing. We’ve put together a list of some of our favorite indoor activities for you.

Escape Rooms and Other Exciting Indoor Activities

An escape room is, of course, a classic when it comes to indoor outings. Solving puzzles together, searching for clues, and keeping an eye on the clock all at the same time. But there are now many more variations that focus on teamwork and competition.

Escape Room TIME in Utrecht

In the mood for an outing that really puts your brain to work? At Escaperoom TIME in Utrecht, it’s all about teamwork, making smart choices, and taking on challenges. You can choose from various types of games here, ranging from a classic escape room with VR elements to larger team games where you compete against each other.

Escaperoom TIME itself combines real-life puzzles with virtual reality and is suitable for 2 to 6 people. For larger groups, options include La Casa de Papel, The Elimination Game, and other team games. There’s also a VR Arena where you can dive into a virtual world together. A fun option for a group of friends, a company outing, a bachelor/bachelorette party, or simply when you’re in the mood for an evening full of excitement and teamwork.

Get active at an indoor park

Who says you have to sit inside on a chair when the weather’s bad? Put on some comfortable clothes and get moving.

Bounce Valley Delft

At Bounce Valley Delft, you step into a massive indoor inflatable park. Jump, climb, slide, and conquer obstacles—you’ll definitely burn off plenty of energy here. The venue offers over 1,000 m² of adventure, and in addition to the inflatable park, you’ll find a net obstacle course, interactive games, and an 18-hole GlowGolf course. This means you can extend your visit with a round of glow-in-the-dark mini-golf. Bounce Valley is perfect for families, kids, teens, and groups. It’s also a great option for a kids’ party or group outing. And perhaps the biggest perk: you won’t notice a thing about the rain outside once you’re inside.

Adventure City Rotterdam

At Adventure City Rotterdam, you can also stay active indoors. In this indoor park, you’ll climb and scramble at various heights and can keep challenging yourself further and further. It’s ideal for anyone who’d rather not sit still during an indoor outing. The best part is that you decide for yourself how far you’ll go. Start off slowly and keep trying the next challenge. This makes it fun not only for kids but also for adults who want to test their climbing skills.

Step into another world with VR

Virtual reality has long since ceased to be just a game where you stand still with a headset on your head. In some VR experiences, you actually walk through a virtual world and experience the adventure together.

Zero Latency VR

At Zero Latency VR in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht, you literally step into another world. Instead of playing with a controller from the couch, you walk freely around a large VR arena. Together with your team, you’ll embark on an adventure. For example, you can fight zombies, explore different worlds, or compete against each other in a futuristic VR environment. There are various games and experiences, so you can enjoy a different adventure every time.

The fun part about free-roam VR is that you’re truly playing together. You have to work together, help each other, and at the same time try not to get eliminated yourself. That’s guaranteed to lead to some hilarious moments. It’s a unique idea for a group of friends, family, a team outing, or a date.

Getting Creative

Not every indoor outing has to be packed with adrenaline. Sometimes it’s just wonderful to spend a few quiet hours being creative. Get your hands busy, have a nice chat, and take home something beautiful.

Hearts & Crafts in Delft

At Hearts & Crafts in Delft, it’s all about creativity and relaxation. You definitely don’t have to be a natural-born artist. During the various workshops, you’ll get to work step by step. For example, you can make a bottle garden, create paper flowers, paint a vase, or work with Jesmonite. There are also other workshops regularly on the schedule.

A creative workshop is fun as a girls’ day out, a mother-daughter outing, or a creative date. And perhaps the best part is that afterward, you get to take home something you made yourself. Forget about shopping lists, work emails, or other to-dos for a while—just enjoy getting your hands dirty.

Indoor mini-golf

Of course, we’re all familiar with mini-golf, but these days there are plenty of indoor courses that turn a round of mini-golf into a complete experience.

At Madness Minigolf, you play mini-golf in a colorful setting where the courses are almost works of art in their own right. This makes it not just a game, but also a fun place to take photos. Great for a date, an afternoon with girlfriends, or a fun outing with friends. At GlowGolf Almere, you play 18 holes in the dark, with the surroundings illuminated by neon colors and unique lighting effects. This gives the traditional game of mini-golf a completely different atmosphere. A fun activity for families, friends, and kids’ parties. And if you’re not done yet? Then you can combine the activity with bowling. You can also play indoor mini-golf in the dark in Amsterdam. At Glow MiniGolf, you’ll play a 12-hole course right in the heart of the city. It’s a fun activity to combine with a day trip to Amsterdam or a night out.

You can also play a round of glow-in-the-dark mini-golf in Delft. At Bounce Valley Delft, you’ll find an 18-hole GlowGolf course right next to the indoor inflatable park. In the dark, hole after hole, you’ll try to get the ball into the hole in as few strokes as possible, while the neon colors and lighting effects create a cheerful atmosphere. Fun fact: you can easily combine GlowGolf Delft with a visit to the Bounce Valley park. First, enjoy some jumping, climbing, and scrambling, and then play a round of mini-golf. That way, you can turn your visit into a complete indoor outing.

Indoor Jeu de Boules

Jeu de boules has long since ceased to be just for the campground. Indoors, too, there are more and more places where you can roll a ball and combine the game with good food and drinks.

Right in the heart of Alkmaar, you’ll find The Boules Club, which features several indoor jeu de boules courts. You don’t have to be an experienced player to join in. It’s just as much about having fun as it is about winning. In addition to boules, there are several other games to play, making it easy to spend a whole afternoon or evening there.

At Mooie Boules in Amsterdam, you can combine jeu de boules with food and drinks. The indoor courts, the cozy atmosphere, and the chance to enjoy a drink in between games make this a great spot for an evening with friends or coworkers. You can also head to Utrecht for a game of jeu de boules. At JEU, it’s all about the game, but definitely also about the fun surrounding it. A great option for a group of friends, a date, or a company outing.

An evening of bowling

Bowling remains one of those activities that’s always a hit. You don’t have to be good at it, and that’s exactly what makes it so much fun. Add a little competition, a drink, and plenty of laughter, and you’ve got a great evening.

At Claus Bowling in Hoofddorp, you can try hyperbowling. It’s not just about the pins—it’s also about the glowing targets on the lane. The retro-American vibe completes the picture. Lucky’s Bowling in Warmond has a striking vintage look and combines the old-school bowling experience with modern elements. You can also do more than just bowl here—mini-golf and pool are among the options. At De Voltage in Tilburg, you’ll find a full-fledged indoor entertainment center. In addition to bowling, you can go karting, play laser tag, sing karaoke, and try escape rooms, among other things.

This is handy if you’re with a larger group and not everyone wants to do the same thing. You can combine different activities to make a full day or evening out of it.

Fun Village Rotterdam: Multiple Activities Under One Roof

Can’t decide between an escape room, mini-golf, or an active team game? Then Fun Village Rotterdam might be exactly what you’re looking for. Here you’ll find various indoor activities all under one roof. For example, you can choose Prison Island, where you’ll tackle physical, technical, and tactical challenges in different cells. You can also play Prison Golf, try Real Axe Throwing, or play the Black Box Escape Room with a large group.

It’s especially convenient for groups of friends, families, and company outings to be able to combine multiple activities. That way, you can easily turn it into a full day or evening out. And of course, you can wrap up the outing with some food and drinks.

Indoor Outings for All Ages

The great thing about indoor activities is that there’s something for almost every group. Want to get active? Then go climbing, jumping, or embark on a VR adventure. Prefer something a bit more laid-back? Then opt for a creative workshop or a game of bocce. And of course, an escape room, bowling alley, or indoor mini-golf course is always a great idea when you want to do something together.

So the next time the weather forecast doesn’t look too great, you really don’t have to cancel your plans right away. Get out there and just find a fun activity that keeps you indoors. Because let’s be honest: sometimes a rainy day is actually the perfect excuse to try something new.

Photo credits: OpstapmetLisa, Canva.com, and participating partners