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10 awesome activities in the Netherlands for a corporate retreat
1. Beach Olympics in Scheveningen
Head to the popular seaside destination of Scheveningen in the Hague for a day of beach volleyball, sandcastle building competitions, or a relaxed beach picnic. Teams can test their strengths and bond while soaking in the sun.Venues and operators:The Carlton Beach Hotel is a retreat venue that offers special meeting packages that include meals, use of audio-visual equipment, and elegant facilities. The Inntel Hotel Den Haag Marina Beach has meeting facilities with natural sunlight, breakout rooms for workshops and training sessions, and staff that can organise activities in the area.Best time to engage in this activity:Summer is the best time to enjoy water sports and beach activities; however, crowds and prices increase this season. Meanwhile, May and September offer fewer tourists and mild weather.How to get there:Accessing Scheveningen by train usually requires a transfer at Den Haag Centraal Station. Trains reach this station from Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and Utrecht. From there, take a 20-minute tram ride or bus ride to Scheveningen.You can also reach Scheveningen by car via the A13 motorway. Average budget: ££-££££
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2. Escape rooms
Popular in many Dutch cities, escape rooms require teamwork, problem-solving skills, and quick thinking under pressure to solve puzzles and escape within a set time. This is the ideal team building activity for companies organising an offsite in Europe on a budget.Venues and operators:The Netherlands is home to several highly-rated escape rooms, each offering unique themes and challenging puzzles. Amsterdam’s Sherlocked and Escape World can handle large corporate parties. Also in Amsterdam, Questomatica’s high-tech rooms are perfect for tech-savvy teams looking for visually impressive and interactive challenges. Missionroom Escaperoom Den Haag and Escape Room Utrecht provide deeply engaging narratives and high-quality settings.Many escape room operators provide corporate packages with additional activities, like laser tag, food, and drinks.Best time to engage in this activity: Escape rooms can be enjoyed at any time of year. To make your offsite unforgettable, host a presentation or training session before your escape room adventure and treat your team to dinner afterwards.Average budget: ££
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3. Cycling tours
The Netherlands is known for its bike-friendly infrastructure. Companies can organise a group cycling tour and wellbeing retreat through scenic countryside or urban areas. Biking promotes physical wellness, teamwork, and offers a unique way to see the sights and learn about a city or region’s history. Teams can bring their own bikes or rent them through on-site operators.Venues and operators:Cycling tours are an easily accessible activity in the Netherlands. We Bike Amsterdam, Cycle and the City the Hague, and See Rotterdam offer customisable city or country tours with options to add food, drink, and other team building activities to the itinerary.Best time to engage in this activity:Spring and autumn are the best seasons for comfortable temperatures and fewer tourists.Average budget: £-££
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4. Art workshops
Art workshops are one of the most inclusive team building activities companies can organise, as they welcome participation from individuals of any skill level, background, and physical ability. These workshops help employees convey ideas in new ways, approach problems more creatively, and bond in a relaxing setting.Venues and operators:Every major Dutch city offers art workshops. In Amsterdam, Grafische Werkplaats offers workshops in screen printing, letterpress, and other graphic arts, while Atelier Molenpad offers pottery and ceramics workshops. In Utrecht, companies can rent space from De Vrijstaat, an art laboratory and creative space, for workshops and team building.Best time to engage in this activity:Art workshops can be enjoyed at any time of year. In warmer weather, companies can consider an outdoor workshop. In the winter, a creative session indoors with wine and refreshments creates a cosy atmosphere.Average budget: £-£££
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5. Cooking classes & coffee workshops
Team members can bond while learning to prepare traditional Dutch dishes like stroopwafels and poffertjes (mini pancakes), or international cuisines like Thai and Indian. Encourage teamwork and creativity in the kitchen whilst cooking together!Smaller teams can enjoy the meditative process of coffee-brewing or latte art with a barista-led workshop. This is a great way to cultivate patience and attention to detail.Venues and operators: De Kookfabriek offers cooking class packages for corporate groups in many Dutch cities. Doppio Espresso’s coffee workshop is ideal for small teams who want to learn the basics of gourmet coffee-making and create some latte art. Cupp in Utrecht has different coffee workshops for specific interests.Useful tips:A cooking challenge or latte art competition allows teams to apply their newfound skills and work together under time constraints. Class instructors make excellent, impartial facilitators and judges.Average budget: £-£££
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6. Wadden Sea excursions
Situated along the North Sea coast, the Wadden Sea boasts the largest tidal flats system in the world. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this area is teeming with biodiversity, hosting over 10,000 species of flora and fauna. Explore the Frisian Islands, embark on mudflat hiking adventures (wadlopen), and enjoy seal-watching excursions.Venues and operators:Wadlopen Pieterburen offers wadlopen hiking packages with overnight accommodations. The Wadden Association’s numerous team building packages include beach clean-up, dark sky tours, and research excursions on a boat. The Pieterburen Seal Rescue Centre offers seal-watching tours, and even takes groups to release rehabilitated creatures back into the wild.Best time to engage in this activity:From cities like Utrecht, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague, the journey typically involves taking a train to a nearby city, such as Leeuwarden or Amsterdam, followed by a transfer to a regional train or bus. Travel times by public transport range from two to four hours. You can also reach the Wadden Sea from these cities by car in 1.5-3.5 hours.Average budget: ££-£££
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7. Wine tasting and vineyard tours
Although the Netherlands might not be as famous for its wine as France or Italy, it has a growing wine industry with distinctive varieties. Choose from the country’s 180+ vineyards for a decadent tasting experience, perfect for a reward or incentive trip. Venues and operators: Apostelhoeve, the oldest and perhaps most famous Dutch winery, offers vineyard tours and wine tastings. St. Martinus offers private master classes and allows groups to participate in Picking Days during harvest time. Betuws Wijndomein offers tailored corporate packages, and features meeting rooms with audio-visual equipment.Best time to engage in this activity: The best time to visit vineyards is from late spring to early autumn, when vines are in full growth. Late September and early October allow visitors to engage in harvest activities.How to get there: There are four prominent wine regions in the Netherlands: Zeeland, Limburg, North Holland, and Wageningen. Although accessible by public transportation, the best way to reach the wineries is by car or charter bus.Useful tips:Arrange transportation to and from the vineyard, especially if your group plans to sample wine. Consider an overnight stay at a nearby hotel or campsite to ensure a comfortable and relaxing end to a day of training and tasting.Average budget: ££-££££
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8. Forest survival courses
For a dynamic and competitive team building excursion, try an outdoor survival course. This type of experience builds trust among colleagues, teaches the skills to stay calm in a crisis, and helps people connect with nature.Venues and operators:Catalyst Team Building and De Outdoor School’s courses include training in emergency skills, such as CPR, creating an improvised stretcher, and more. Survival School offers customisable survival workshops on basic skills and navigation. Those who want a shorter workshop can opt for Bed & Beekse Hoeve’s 1.5-hour team building workshop.Best time to engage in this activity: Teams will experience more comfortable temperatures in spring and autumn. Spring and summer provide longer daylight hours. Winter offers unique survival challenges for more experienced teams, with fewer insects.Useful tips:More competitive groups may enjoy holding individual or team contests throughout the workshop. Compete for the most innovative or sturdy shelter design, or race to successfully start a fire or patch a wound. Then, after roughing it in the wilderness, enjoy a hearty meal at a local restaurant.Average budget: ££-£££
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9. Adventure park sports and games
Looking for a fun and high-energy team building experience? Try visiting any of the Netherlands’ many adventure parks. These parks offer zip-lining, rope courses, bubble football, and other high-adrenaline activities to boost team morale and trust.Venues and operators: Most adventure parks offer team building packages with meals and meeting spaces. Outdoor Valley’s wide range of corporate packages can incorporate activities like canoe polo and building a catapult. Each of Fun Forest’s four retreat locations features distinct events and challenging activities, including water sports and climbing. ActionPlanet offers adrenaline-pumping activities such as off-roading, shooting, and obstacle course programs that culminate in an awards ceremony.Best time to engage in this activity: Warmer weather is the best time to engage in outdoor adventure park team building. Though spring and autumn are more temperate seasons, the summer is ideal for water sports. Helpful tips: Team building and meeting packages at adventure parks can often be combined with other on-site activities such as canoe polo, laser tag, bubble football, and more. When booking, ask about this opportunity.Average budget: £-£££
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10. Canal cruises
Groups can enjoy a private boat tour through the canals of many Dutch cities, including Amsterdam, Utrecht, and Leiden. This relaxing activity allows participants to experience the city’s historic architecture and scenic views, while fostering conversation and networking over refreshments.Venues and operators:There are many canal cruise operators in major Dutch cities. Blue Boat Company specialises in corporate events with catering options in Amsterdam. Schuttevaer and Sloep Huren offer spacious rentals and customisable tours in Utrecht. Bootjes en Broodjes offers private tours and boat rentals for groups of various sizes in Leiden.Best time to engage in this activity:Spring and autumn offer mild weather, beautiful scenery, and fewer tourists.How to get there:Most canal cruise companies are situated within city centres, and tend to be within walking distance or a short journey via public transport from central train stations.Average budget: ££-£££
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