What is a walking dinner? And why it works so well for a team

A walking dinner is a dinner where you keep moving while you eat, instead of sitting on the same chair for three hours. In the Netherlands, people use the term for two different things. The first is a standing dinner at a single venue, with small dishes passed around or set out at food stations, the kind you see at weddings and receptions. The second is a dinner spread over several restaurants: each course at a different address, with a walk in between. In Delft we do the second: three courses at three historic restaurants, two guided walks in between, about four hours in total, for €99 per person including VAT.

This explainer is based on the evenings we organise ourselves in Delft, for groups of five to eighty people. The times and prices below come from a real booking this autumn.

What is the difference between a walking dinner and a buffet?

At a buffet you walk up to the food and then sit back down. At a walking dinner at one venue, the food comes to you in small portions while you stand and mingle. At a walking dinner through the city, you walk from one restaurant to the next yourself. The word is the same, but the evening is very different.

	Buffet	Walking dinner at one venue	Walking dinner through the city
Where	One room	One room or garden	Three restaurants in the city centre
Sitting or standing	Sitting	Mostly standing	Seated for each course, walking in between
What you see	The room	The room	The city, with a guide
Typical for	Parties, receptions	Weddings, networking drinks	Company outings, team outings, groups of friends
What the organiser arranges	Venue and catering	Venue and caterer	One booking, the rest is taken care of

If you are looking for a caterer for a standing dinner in your own venue, the first format is what you need. If you want a night out in the city with your team, it is the third.

What does a walking dinner in Delft look like?

This is the evening a team of five colleagues booked for a Tuesday in November, starting at 18:00:

• 18:00 to 18:45: starter and a drink at the first restaurant, on the Markt.
• 18:45 to 19:30: walk with the guide, past the Nieuwe Kerk and the old town hall.
• 19:30 to 20:30: main course and a drink at the second restaurant.
• 20:30 to 21:15: second walk, through the southern part of the old town and over a few of the old bridges.
• 21:15 to 22:00: dessert and a drink at the third restaurant, where the evening ends.

You choose the start time yourself, every quarter of an hour between 17:00 and 19:00, and we adjust the length of each part to your group. All three restaurants are in historic buildings in the centre, within walking distance of each other. Your guide collects the group after the starter and takes you to dessert after the second walk. The evening normally starts on the Markt, and a different starting point is possible on request.

Why does a walking dinner work so well for a team?

Because nobody is stuck next to the same colleague all evening. At an ordinary company dinner at one long table, you talk to the two people beside you for three hours, and the two ends of the table never speak to each other. At a walking dinner you get up after every course. On the street you walk next to someone else, and at the next restaurant you sit down somewhere new. After three courses you have spoken to far more people, without anyone having to come up with a game to make it happen.

The walk itself helps too. After an hour at the table, fifteen minutes of walking in the fresh air is exactly what a group needs, and conversation loosens up naturally when you walk side by side rather than sit facing each other. Meanwhile the guide keeps the conversation going: how Delft grew rich in the Golden Age, why the Nieuwe Kerk holds the tomb of William of Orange, where Vermeer lived. Nobody has to fill the silences.

For the organiser, it helps that it is a single booking. You don’t have to reserve three restaurants yourself, coordinate times or find out who has which allergy. We pass dietary requirements on to each restaurant and make sure the table is ready when the group arrives. And the evening has a natural end: everyone finishes together at dessert, where anyone who wants to can stay for another drink.

How much does a walking dinner cost?

A walking dinner in Delft costs €99 per adult and €79 per child, including 21% VAT. For that you get:

• a three-course dinner at three historic restaurants;
• a drink of your choice with each course;
• two guided walks between the courses.

Drinks beyond the one per course are not included, and neither is a tip for the guide. Tipping is never expected in the Netherlands, but it is always appreciated. For a team of twelve you therefore pay €1,188, and for 25 people €2,475.

Walking dinner or walking lunch?

The Walking Lunch follows the same format, but during the day: three courses at three restaurants, with two walks in between, in about three and a half hours. A typical lunch starts at 11:30 and ends around 15:30. It costs €79 per adult and €69 per child, including VAT. Choose the lunch if your team would rather be home in the evening, or if you are attaching the outing to a meeting or a working day. Choose the dinner if it really has to be a night out.

What do you need to arrange as the organiser?

Less than you might think. These are the things we will ask you about:

• The number of people. Online, you can book a walking dinner for 5 to 80 people. For a larger group, we arrange it on request.
• Dietary requirements and allergies. Vegetarian, gluten-free, a nut allergy: let us know at least a week in advance and we will pass it on to the restaurants.
• The start time, between 17:00 and 19:00.
• The language. The guide can lead the evening in Dutch, English, German, French, Spanish and Italian.
• An invoice. If you are booking for a company, choose “Request an invoice” at checkout.

You can book online up to seven days before the date, with instant confirmation. If you want to book at shorter notice, please get in touch. Cancellation is free up to 72 hours before the start.

Frequently asked questions

Is a walking dinner a full meal?

Yes. Together, the three courses make a complete dinner, so you don’t need to eat anything before or after. If someone has a small appetite, add a note to your booking.

How much walking is there during a walking dinner?

Two walks of about 45 minutes each, including the stops where the guide tells you about the city. The restaurants are all in the old town, so these are short stretches at a relaxed pace. Delft does have cobblestones and narrow pavements, though, and not every building is step-free. Let us know if someone has limited mobility, and we will tell you honestly what is feasible.

What if it rains?

The walks are outdoors and the evening goes ahead as planned. Between courses you are outside for about 45 minutes, so an umbrella or raincoat is enough. The rest of the evening you are indoors.

Can children come along?

Yes. A child pays €79 instead of €99. A walking dinner is also popular with families and groups of friends, not just companies.

Is it also available in other languages?

Yes. We offer the walking dinner in Dutch, English, German, French, Spanish and Italian. Choose the language when you book. If you have a mixed group, let us know and we will see what works best.

How far in advance do I need to book?

Online booking is possible up to seven days in advance. For a large group, the earlier you book, the more choice of dates and start times you have.

Book a walking dinner in Delft

The Walking Dinner in Delft costs €99 per person, including three courses, three drinks and two guided walks, for groups of 5 to 80 people. Prefer daytime? Take a look at the Walking Lunch. Looking for something else for your team? All our programmes are on our page about team building in Delft.