Delft Hitchhiking Challenge 2026

Meeting new people, seeing new places, ultimate freedom — that's hitchhiking!
Throw in a challenge, a finish line, and a bunch of like-minded adventurers; voilà: the 2026 Delft Hitchhiking Challenge!

On June 27^th 2026 we challenge you to hitchhike from Delft to Project Urkraft near Groningen 🚗. There, we will have a little ceremony for the winners 🏆, have (vegetarian/vegan) BBQ together 🍽, and stay the night in tents ⛺. The next day, (28^th) we have breakfast together and you explore what our hosts at Project Urkraft are up to (if you want). We head home in groups or alone, hitchhiking or public transport, whichever way we feel like it.

Sign-ups are NOW open until 6^th of June!

A few things worth knowing before you stick out your thumb 👍:

We have a maximum of 5 teams - first signed up, first served!
We'll sleep in tents* there (no worries if you lack equipment)
Teams of 2 people*: please each sign up separately and both put in the same team name
*If you don't have a second person for your team, tent, sleeping bag/pad, place to stay in Delft: indicate it during signup; we'll try to help you
🍽 We will organise (vegetarian/vegan) dinner at the destination
💶 Participation is 10€ pp (no profit, just food and prizes; see more below)
⛈ If the weather is bad, we will do it the weekend after (4^th & 5^th of July), so keep that free if possible
🔞 You'll have to be at least 18 years old

(This button will take you to a signup form. Form closes on 6^th of June 2026.)

More info / FAQ

What is hitchhiking? How does it work?

Hitchhiking is a form of transport, in which the traveller tries to get a ride from another traveller, usually a car or truck driver, to get to a location for free. People can hitchhike for multiple reasons: economic or ecological, but also for all the excitement and adventure it brings.

I have never done this, can I join?

Absolutely! Just make sure to read up on the basics before the day (see "Is this safe?" below). We're also happy to pair you up with someone who's been on the road before.

Why should I try this?

Hitchhiking is not only about moving without any costs involved. It is also about getting off the beaten track. When showing your thumb on the side of a road you start an adventure of your own, you meet many different people. You will learn more about the region you are travelling to, maybe you will also have stories of people with complete different backgrounds that you could not have met in your daily life. You will probably have the time to evaluate your patience skills (when waiting for a long time on the road).
This challenge additionally allows you to test your skills or develop new ones and meet like-minded people too!

How does the competition work?

On the 27th of June 2026, all teams will start in the morning in Delft. The goal is to reach a destination near Groningen by hitchhiking. The first team to reach the destination wins!
There might be some side-tasks for bonus points or prizes, but the main goal is to reach the destination as fast as possible.

Do I need a partner?

Yes and no; all teams need to consist of two people. However, if you don't have someone, we're happy to help you find someone!

How do I join?

Sign up by clicking the button above. The form will ask you for some basic information, including your nickname, email, and things you might need. Registration is complete once we confirmed your payment. First come, first served, so make sure to sign up early!

Does it cost anything?

We've arranged free accommodation. But we decided to ask for the cost for the ingredients for the dinner we'll make plus a contribution to some prizes to spice things up.
So the participation fee will be 10€ per person. We will send you payment instructions after you sign up. We will not make any profit on this, just cover the costs.
There will only be refunds if we can find a replacement for you or you cancel before the 6^th of June. After that, we will not be able to refund you, as we will have already bought the ingredients for the dinner and some prizes. We hope you understand!
If the 10€ is a problem for you, please contact us and we will find a solution together.

What if the weather is bad?

If it's just a little bit of rain - hey we're in the Netherlands and we will go ahead with it. If it looks really bad (think code orange/red) a few days before, we will move it to the weekend after (4/5^th July) — so keep that one free if possible. We will keep you informed!

Who is organising this?

Hi 👋, that'd be us: Juliette and René (see banner above).

Can I help?

Aww. We'd love that, so nice of you! You can contact us.

Is it safe?

Like any other form of travel there are risks involved. And while the risks might be somewhat higher than with other forms of transport, we think it is fairly safe in The Netherlands and when you stay in pairs. With that being said, your safety is your responsibility and you will have to sign a waiver.
We will be reachable by phone during the event to ask for help if needed. A friend of ours will be available to help with a car, if absolutely needed. However, in a real emergency, please always use the national emergency number first.
The Hitchhike wiki has a good page on this, if you want to learn more.

Where and when do we meet?

We will meet in the morning of the 27th of June in Delft. The exact location and time will be communicated to you a few days before the event. You can let us know in the form if you need a place to stay in Delft the night before, and we will try to help you with that.

Will there be showers?

Our amazing hosts Project Urkraft allow us to use their facilities, including showers. So yes, there will be showers! However, we will have to give the boiler a moment to re-heat between showers.

I have other questions!

They likely will get answered closer to the actual day. However, you can ask in our signal group (leave your phone number in the signup form and we will add you) or you can ask us via mail.