Kartcentrum Westfriesland

In Grootebroek, in West Friesland in the north of the province of North Holland, Kartcentrum Westfriesland runs its karts on a covered track, inside a large leisure complex. You string heats together under cover, on petrol karts, without depending on the region's changeable skies. The indoor format suits a first time at the wheel as well as a group out to settle scores on the clock.

Karting is only the way in here. The venue, called HappyDays, brings together more than eleven thousand square metres of entertainment under one roof. Bowling, laser game, escape rooms, paintball and catering sit alongside the track, enough to fill a whole afternoon without stepping back outside. Birthday, corporate and group packages are built to order, combining several activities to match the mood and the head count.

Grootebroek is part of the municipality of Stede Broec, in a rural West Friesland made of polders, ribbon villages and fields reclaimed from the water, a short distance from the Markermeer. It is a flat, airy region where people happily cycle between the small towns. The centre has run for years as a safe bet for local families and passing visitors, especially when rain or the northern wind pushes you to look for something dry to do. Its all-in-one format makes it a handy address when you want variety without piling up the journeys.