BattleKart Apeldoorn

In Apeldoorn, in the eastern Netherlands, BattleKart offers a karting format that breaks the mould: electric karts run on a wall-free track, where projectors draw the layout and various augmented-reality game modes on the floor. You string together classic races as well as more playful rounds mixing bonuses, virtual missiles and team challenges, all in a large covered hall.

The concept is open to a wide public: no experience needed, and a patented anti-collision system lets you drive safely. The electric karts, quiet and odourless, make the activity pleasant indoors and suited to families as much as groups. It is an outing that works especially well with friends, for a birthday or a corporate event, where the game side matters as much as the stopwatch.

Apeldoorn is a town in the province of Gelderland, on the edge of the Veluwe national park, one of the country's largest natural areas, known for its forests and heaths. It is also home to Het Loo Palace, a former royal residence surrounded by gardens. BattleKart's covered track makes a handy all-weather activity to slot into a stay in this green corner of the eastern Netherlands, especially on rainy days. The concept appeals to children, drawn by the video-game side, as much as to adults after an original group experience. It is also a good gateway to karting for anyone who has never taken the wheel of a kart.