15 of the best indoor activities and outings in the Netherlands when the weather is bad
Rain, wind, or just a day you'd rather be indoors? No problem! The Netherlands offers more than enough indoor activities and outings for inclement weather. From exciting escape rooms to relaxing spas, there's always something fun to do. Below, you'll discover 15 of the best indoor activities and outings for inclement weather in the Netherlands. Perfect for families, groups of friends, and couples.
Escape rooms
An escape room in the Netherlands is one of the most popular indoor activities during bad weather. The concept is simple yet brilliant: you and your team are locked in a room with a limited time to escape. Along the way, you solve riddles, discover hidden clues, and work together to crack codes. Will you and your team manage to escape?
Escape rooms in the Netherlands
There are hundreds of escape rooms spread across the Netherlands, from small villages to large cities. From a haunted house in Rotterdam to a futuristic spaceship mission in Utrecht or a detective story in Amsterdam. Each location has its own theme, where you play the lead role. In Eindhoven, you'll even find rooms so realistically decorated that you'll forget you're in a game for a moment.
Escaping together: from families to groups of friends
Groups of friends challenge each other, families collaborate to solve riddles, and companies increasingly use escape rooms as a team-building activity. It's all about smart teamwork, communication, and, above all, lots of fun. Even children can participate in special child-friendly rooms, while true daredevils opt for horror themes that will give you goosebumps. Escape rooms are one of the most popular and versatile indoor activities in the Netherlands during inclement weather.
Active indoor activities: from bowling to climbing and racing
Looking for a fun activity for all ages? Consider bowling, glow golf, or laser tag. Glow-in-the-dark mini golf courses and laser tag arenas provide excitement and fun, while bowling remains a classic. Perfect for a rainy family outing.
Enjoy bowling and glow golf
A classic that never gets old: bowling. Strike with friends or family, snacks on the table, and a cozy atmosphere. Perfect for an afternoon or evening out. Many bowling centers combine it with music and light shows. Disco bowling is therefore very popular, where you bowl under brightly colored lights and to the beat of the music.
For those looking for something a little more unusual, there's glow-in-the-dark minigolf. Play minigolf on colorfully lit courses in a completely new setting, often with themes like jungle, pirates, or space travel.
Excitement and action in laser gaming
Laser tag is one of the most popular indoor activities for groups. With a laser gun in hand, you roam through dark arenas filled with smoke and light effects. It's a combination of action, tactics, and teamwork.
Many locations make the game extra special with themed arenas like futuristic spaceships, mazes, or abandoned bunkers. The tension rises as the countdown begins and your teammates run wild. Every laser tag game is different, making it one of the most adrenaline-packed indoor activities.
Braving heights in climbing halls and bouldering gyms
Those who enjoy athletic challenges can visit a climbing gym or bouldering gym. In a climbing gym, you climb meters high on a secured wall, while bouldering involves shorter but intense ropeless routes.
What makes these kinds of outings so enjoyable is the combination of challenge and fun. As you navigate colorful holds, trying to conquer that one tricky section, you feel the excitement and pride with every step up.
Popular locations include Klimmuur Amsterdam and Neoliet Eindhoven, where both beginners and experienced climbers can have a blast. It's a fun way to stay active, even when the rain is pouring outside.
Ice skating on indoor ice rinks
Besides skiing and snowboarding indoors, you can also ice skate on an indoor ice rink. Many indoor ice rinks, such as De Uithof in The Hague or Thialf in Heerenveen, allow you to enjoy the true winter feeling all year round. Perfect for active outings with friends, but also great for a romantic stroll as a couple.
Adrenaline in indoor karting and racing simulators
For adrenaline seekers, there are plenty of indoor karting tracks in the Netherlands. Tear your kart down winding tracks at Kartfabrique in Utrecht or Race Planet Amsterdam and feel the adrenaline pumping. A growing number of locations also offer racing simulators, allowing you to experience what it's like to tear through tight corners like a Formula 1 driver. A spectacular indoor outing, even in bad weather!
Indoor amusement parks, trampoline parks and play paradises
Rainy days call for burning off energy in other ways. Fortunately, the Netherlands boasts countless indoor parks and play paradises where you can jump, climb, and play to your heart's content. From sporty trampoline parks to colorful indoor playgrounds and amusement parks, you'll never be bored here.
Day out at indoor amusement parks
Besides trampoline parks and playgrounds, the Netherlands also boasts large indoor amusement parks. Think of Plopsa Indoor Coevorden, KidZcity in Utrecht, or Speelstad Oranje. Enjoy the attractions, play zones, and themed areas at these parks, making it easy to spend an entire day. Kids will feel like they're on a mini-vacation, while parents can enjoy a carefree day out.
Jumping and bouncing in trampoline parks
A day at a trampoline park is always a hit. Children, teens, and adults can jump endlessly, practice somersaults, and clamber over obstacle courses. Popular parks include Jumpsquare, Bounce Valley, and Jump XL, which can be found throughout the Netherlands.
Extra fun: many parks organize freestyle hours and jump nights, full of music, light shows and competitions.
Play and romp in indoor play paradises
For families with young children, indoor playgrounds and play paradises are a great option. Well-known names include Monkey Town and Ballorig, where toddlers and preschoolers can entertain themselves for hours. While the little ones have fun in the ball pit, slides, and climbing frames, parents can relax with a cup of coffee in the cafeteria.
These indoor playgrounds are not only a safe place to play, but also a great solution for rainy days or children's parties.
Museums and exhibitions
Culture and art
The Netherlands boasts a huge variety of museums and exhibitions. From classical art at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam to modern art at the Stedelijk Museum and historical discoveries at the Drents Museum, there's always something to suit your taste.
For architecture or photography enthusiasts, there are also regular temporary exhibitions, so there is always something new to discover.
Science and technology
Museums like the NEMO Science Museum in Amsterdam and the Museon-Omniversum in The Hague introduce visitors to science, technology, and sustainability through play. These are also surprisingly inspiring places for adults, full of interactive experiences.
Child-friendly museums
The Netherlands is bursting with child-friendly museums designed specifically for young visitors. Think of the Railway Museum in Utrecht, where you can board vintage trains, or the Maritime Museum in Rotterdam, where children can play and learn about shipping. These locations combine fun with education, turning a rainy day into a great adventure for the whole family.
Indoor skiing and snowboarding
Snow fun doesn't have to be limited to winter sports! At an indoor ski slope in the Netherlands, you can ski or snowboard year-round. Experience the feeling of winter sports right on your doorstep. Complete with real snow, ski lifts, and slopes of varying difficulty.
SnowWorld
The most popular locations are SnowWorld Zoetermeer and SnowWorld Landgraaf. Here you'll find long slopes, fun parks with jumps and rails for snowboarders, and even après-ski bars for a real winter sports atmosphere.
For beginners and advanced users
A day of skiing or snowboarding at SnowWorld is the perfect way to practice before heading off to the slopes. Beginners can start with ski or snowboard lessons from professional instructors, while advanced skiers can hone their technique on more challenging slopes. For children, there are special zones and courses where they can learn to ski safely and playfully.
Workshops: creative, fun and inspiring
A workshop is a unique way to spend a day indoors. Instead of just watching, you get to work yourself.
This makes workshops one of the most interactive and enjoyable indoor activities in the Netherlands. They're just as fun for an intimate outing for two as they are for a larger group.
Cooking workshops and tastings
One of the most popular choices is a cooking workshop. Learn to make sushi together and discover the secrets of Italian cuisine. Beer and wine tastings are also popular, where you not only taste but also learn about the origins and flavors.
Ideal for groups of friends or as a unique company outing. The best part is that afterward, you'll not only have learned new skills but you'll also be able to immediately enjoy everything you've prepared.
Creative workshops
For the more artistic types, there are numerous creative workshops. Think painting, ceramics, photography, or jewelry design. These kinds of activities are perfect for those who want to fully immerse themselves in creativity and go home with something unique.
Shaking cocktails and becoming a barista
Looking for a fun and lighthearted outing? Then choose a cocktail workshop. Under the guidance of a professional, you'll learn how to shake, mix, and taste. Of course, you get to enjoy the results yourself. For coffee lovers, there are barista workshops focusing on latte art and espresso techniques.
Wellness and spas
Those looking to relax can visit one of the many wellness resorts and spas in the Netherlands. Leave the hustle and bustle of everyday life behind and find yourself in an oasis of tranquility. Enjoy saunas, baths, and massages, and leave the bad weather outside. A wonderfully romantic indoor getaway for couples.
Saunas, baths and massages
The offerings go much further than just a sauna. Think steam baths, salt caves, whirlpools, and outdoor pools where you can even enjoy a refreshing dip in winter.
You can also choose from a wide range of massages and treatments, from a relaxing massage to a luxurious hammam ritual. This way, you can make your wellness day complete.
Popular wellness and spas
Some of the most popular locations include Thermen Bussloo, Elysium, and Zwaluwhoeve. These resorts offer extensive facilities with various saunas, hot tubs, swimming pools, and relaxation areas. Each resort has its own unique atmosphere and themes.
Indoor zoos and aquariums
Those who prefer to immerse themselves in nature can visit the many aquariums in the Netherlands. At SEA LIFE Scheveningen, you'll walk past colorful corals and impressive sharks, while at Aquazoo Leerdam, you can admire unique freshwater fish.
Aquariums are perfect for anyone fascinated by life underwater.
From rainforest to coral reef
Zoos take things a step further with indoor areas, such as the covered Bush and Ocean areas at Burgers' Zoo Arnhem. There, you can wander through a tropical rainforest with exotic birds and plants or discover a coral reef teeming with fish.
Thanks to the simulated environments, it feels like you are thousands of miles away from home, while you are simply staying in the Netherlands.
Virtual reality experiences
Step into another world with a VR experience! Put on special glasses and everything around you disappears. Suddenly, you're in the middle of a futuristic city, a battlefield, or a mysterious jungle. Thanks to the latest technology, you'll feel like you're really there.
From escape rooms to free roaming
There are countless forms of VR outings. VR escape rooms are popular, where you solve riddles and puzzles together to escape. For action seekers, there are shooters where you battle zombies, aliens, or robots. There are also free-roaming VR experiences, where you can freely walk around a large hall and explore the virtual world with friends.
From groups of friends to company outings
Popular locations include The VR Room and Enversed VR Center. It's fun with friends, as an original company outing or team-building activity, or as a surprising outing with your partner. A unique and high-tech indoor activity for rainy weather.
