Dropping
made to measure
We set out the route, take the group out there and keep a quiet eye on things along the way. All they have to do is find the way back.
A group that has to work it out for themselves
In a dropping (a Dutch night-time orienteering game), a group is dropped at an unknown point and has to find the way back together to an agreed end point. There is no host walking with them and no game master giving hints. That is exactly why it works: within ten minutes the group is discussing, and within twenty minutes you know who is quietly taking the lead.
We take care of the dropping from setting out the route to picking up at the end. The route is made for your group, not pulled out of a drawer, and we check beforehand that it works on the evening and in the season you'll be walking it.
What we provide
You provide the group and a meeting point. We arrange the rest, including the part of the preparation that people underestimate when they do it themselves: walking the route beforehand.
- A tailor-made route, matched to age, fitness and season
- A starting point that we choose, and support at the end point
- Vests, lights and an emergency number that can be reached all evening
- Someone who follows along remotely and steers if a group gets stuck
Three variants
The plain dropping is the classic form: an end point and nothing else. It is the most exciting and the cheapest, and works best with groups who already know each other and are happy in each other's company.
The challenge dropping has points along the way where there is something to do. That keeps the pace up with groups who would otherwise get their phones out halfway, and it gives you a result at the end. This form is similar to a challenge game, but linked to a route.
The story dropping has a storyline that runs through the whole evening: the group is given a situation and solves pieces of a riddle along the way. This takes the most preparation and is best suited to team days and anniversaries, where the programme needs to be about something.
Safety and age
A dropping works from around ten years old, with supervision from a distance. From around fifteen, a group walks independently, with a phone and an agreed pick-up point. We make sure everyone is visible and that someone is reachable all evening who can be on the spot within ten minutes.
The route runs along public roads and paths. Many nature reserves are closed after sunset, even for organised groups, and we take that into account when setting out the route. That saves you a conversation with a forest ranger halfway through the evening.
Frequently asked questions
Which groups is a dropping suitable for?
A dropping works for groups of about eight to fifty people, from around ten years old. Clubs, school groups, staff outings and groups of friends book it most often. With more than twenty participants we work with several starting points, so groups don't meet each other along the way.
How long does a dropping take?
Allow an hour and a half to two hours of walking, plus the journey to the starting point. We match the length of the route to the age and fitness of the group: three to four kilometres for children, five to eight for adults. Including drop-off and pick-up, you're looking at about three hours in total.
What do you do in bad weather?
Rain is no reason to call it off, but thunderstorms and storms are. We agree a decision point beforehand, usually in the afternoon of the day itself, and we also settle what the alternative is. That way a group is never waiting at the start only to hear at the last moment that it isn't going ahead.
What does a dropping cost?
A compact dropping with route, materials and supervision starts at €195. The number of groups weighs more heavily in the price than the length of the route. After the first conversation you get a specific price.
Tell us about your plan
Interested in a dropping? Fill in the short form and we'll send a price estimate within 1 working day.
A dropping for your group
Let us know how many people, what age and which evening, and we'll send a proposal.