Axe Throwing Amsterdam

My coworker Thomas turned 30 last year and instead of a dinner, he booked axe throwing for twelve of us. Half the group thought he was kidding. Nobody was kidding. It turned out to be the best group activity any of us had done in Amsterdam.

Axe throwing is exactly what it sounds like. You stand in a lane, pick up an axe, and throw it at a wooden target. There is an instructor who shows you the technique, and after about five minutes of practice, you are hitting the target. After fifteen minutes, you are competing with your friends. After thirty minutes, you are convinced you could have been a Viking.

The venue we went to is set up like a lodge — wooden everything, targets lined up in lanes, a bar area. It is casual and fun, not fancy. You book a session for your group (usually 1-1.5 hours), and the instructors run you through safety, technique, and then a series of games and competitions. Think darts, but with axes, and with a lot more adrenaline.

What surprised me was how accessible it is. I am not athletic. My coworker Lisa, who calls herself "the least coordinated person in Amsterdam," was hitting bullseyes by the end. The instructors are patient, funny, and clearly enjoy watching people go from nervous to obsessed in the span of five throws. My friend said the instructor at our session "could have been a stand-up comedian who happened to know about axes."

The competitive element is what makes it. Our group split into teams and the trash-talking was immediate. Thomas, the birthday boy, missed the target entirely on his first throw and we did not let him forget it. He then hit three bullseyes in a row and did not let us forget that either. It is the kind of activity that brings out everyone's competitive side in a hilarious way.

You can drink beer while you throw (within reason — they monitor this). Having a cold beer between throws while your friends cheer or heckle is peak entertainment. My coworker described it as "bowling but if bowling were actually exciting."

Price is around 25-35 euros per person for a 90-minute session. That includes instruction, equipment, and the lane. Some venues have group deals. Thomas got a discount for booking twelve people, which funded his post-axe-throwing bar tab. Smart move.

Practical stuff: wear closed-toe shoes. No sandals, no heels. Dress comfortably — you will be throwing things, so avoid anything restrictive. Book ahead, especially for weekend evenings and groups larger than six. Walk-ins are sometimes possible but not guaranteed.

One honest thing: it gets a bit repetitive after about 90 minutes for some people. An hour to 90 minutes is the sweet spot. My friend who booked two hours said the last 30 minutes dragged slightly. But for the first hour, everyone was completely locked in.

This is the perfect activity for groups — bachelor and bachelorette parties, birthdays, team outings, or just a fun evening that is not another bar. My coworker Thomas has already booked it again for this year. He says he is "training" between sessions. I think he is joking. I am not entirely sure.