With our Customer Support department of TomTom International B.V. we went to Antwerp for a weekend in September 2005. With more than 50 people, we spent the night in a luxury hotel on Friday evening, had a delicious meal and a great evening.
The next day we were dropped off in the heart of Antwerp for our company outing. Wiping the sleep from our eyes, we stood looking around and waited for what was to come. Nothing happened.
After fifteen minutes of waiting, some started to worry about the reliability of our Belgian organizers. A few did not take it any longer and gave themselves up to a delicious wafer with whipped cream that was sold nearby on the street. Not much later, a remote-controlled cart drove into the group of impatient Dutchmen, but it still took a while before people paid attention to it and saw that letters were attached to this cart. The letters turned out to be electronic keys from a station locker, the waiting group was divided into small groups and each went his own way. In the locker, next to a metal suitcase, we found pictures of ourselves that had been taken of us just minutes ago. Everyone looked around and suspected every innocent wandering Antwerp resident. The Game was on… ..
Literally with a suitcase of assignments and a suitcase full of tools, measuring equipment, mobile communication equipment and electronics, we were sent to Antwerp. At a good pace we tried to carry out as many assignments as possible and we were constantly bombarded by text messages. Either we were given cryptic clues or we were confronted with our own mistakes. One thing was certain, those who sent this were always close by and could literally hear us.
The day flew by, we saw every nook and cranny of the center of Antwerp, constantly wondered whether or not people were involved and enjoyed it.
At the end of the company outing, we were led to a Belgian brown café. The whole group met again, over a nice Belgian beer they caught up and the results were compared. In this beer cellar we finally met our mysterious opponents. There were many more than expected and they had enjoyed it too….
Satisfied, the bus driver looked in his rear-view mirror on the way back. Everyone was asleep. Now he could listen to his favorite radio station.