Search at Hoornse Vaart swimming pool creates enthusiastic sleuths in Alkmaar

Published on: 18 August 2026

Standing ready on the Waagplein, searching under swivel chairs and deciphering cryptic clues. To bring the summer holidays to a fun close, Alkmaar Sport hid an envelope in the Alkmaar city centre every day from Monday 10 to Friday 14 August. Each envelope contained four complimentary tickets for the Hoornse Vaart swimming pool. The campaign created enthusiasm among children, parents, regular visitors and swimming enthusiasts who were poised to go on the hunt every day. Alkmaar Sport looks back with great pleasure on the campaign and especially on the many happy reactions from the searchers and finders.

Quickly on your way after every new clue

Every day, a blurry photo and a cryptic clue appeared on Facebook and Instagram. With these, participants could try to figure out where the envelope was hidden that day. That quickly resulted in avid sleuths.

On Tuesday, Mathijs, Mick and Wessel were the first to arrive at De Laat. They searched in the right spot, but just missed looking under the little chair where the envelope was. Another searcher beat them to it. Because the boys were so close and were the first ones searching, Alkmaar Sport still surprised them with four complimentary tickets.

‘We had a clever tactic’

A day later, it became clear how seriously some participants were taking the search. Brothers Thijs and Daan from Alkmaar found the envelope within five minutes near the Waagplein. Their cheering could be heard clearly.

“We had a clever tactic,” they said. “We knew the envelope would be hidden between 11:00 and 12:00, so we were ready at Waagplein from 11:00 onwards, right in the middle of Alkmaar town centre.”

Their tactic worked. After finding the envelope, Thijs and Daan went straight to the Hoornse Vaart swimming pool to use their free tickets.

A little more difficult each time

As the envelopes were found increasingly quickly during the week, Alkmaar Sport made the clues and hiding places progressively more difficult. The search ended on Friday at Piet's Mill, where the final envelope was hidden early due to the heat.

With the campaign, Alkmaar Sport wanted to bring the final week of the summer holidays to a playful close and let people experience something fun in the city. The enthusiastic reactions, keen seekers and happy finders made the campaign a success for the organisation.