How do I reach the location?

Sporthal 1 at Sportcentrum Galgenwaard is easily accessible by both car and public transport. It’s about a 7-minute walk from the tram/bus stop. Please note: the sports hall is located behind Galgenwaard Stadium, home to FC Utrecht football club, next to the Zuidtribune, opposite the Conclusion building and the BP. The address is: Herculesplein 341, 3584 AA Utrecht.

Can I park at the location?

You can park at Q-Park Galgenwaard. If you reserve in advance, you can park on weekends for €10 per day (https://www.q-park.nl/en-gb/parking/utrecht/goedkoop-parkeren-utrecht/galgenwaard/). Free parking is available on Koningsweg and Mytylweg (Kampong sports fields). Both are about a 10-minute walk away.

Are outdoor shoes allowed in the sports hall?

No, you are not allowed to wear outdoor shoes in the sports hall. This means you must wear socks, slippers, or sneakers inside. We will also provide shoe protectors so you can keep your own shoes on.

Do I have to qualify for the Dutch Jigsaw Nationals?

No, you do not have to qualify. You can simply register from March 8, 2026, 12:00, via the Puzzled app or my.speedpuzzling.nl. Registration opens simultaneously for Dutch and international participants. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Therefore, it’s helpful to create an account before registering. Please note: the Puzzled app requires the latest update (version 1.2.0) to register. Registration is open until May 15, 2026, 23:59. Click here for a comprehensive explaination of the Puzzled app.

Who can participate in the Dutch Jigsaw Nationals?

The Dutch Jigsaw Nationals are open to Dutch people, but international participants are also welcome. By Dutch people we mean everyone with a Dutch passport and everyone who has lived in the Netherlands for more than 2 years. Registration will open on March 8th. Pairs and teams with participants of different nationalities are considered international. There is no age limit, but solo participants under 18 years of age must be able to complete a 500-piece puzzle within 1,5 hours on average.

Are the Dutch Jigsaw Nationals the same as the NK Legpuzzelen?

No, these are two different jigsaw puzzle competitions. For more information about the NK Legpuzzelen, visit www.nklegpuzzelen.nl. The Dutch Jigsaw Nationals are organised by puzzlers who know each other from the international puzzlecommunity.

Do I have to qualify for the World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship (WJPC) at the Dutch Jigsaw Nationals?

No, these are two different events, for which you can register separately. However, Speedpuzzling The Netherlands, the organizer of the Dutch Jigsaw Nationals, is associated with the World Jigsaw Puzzle Federation, which organizes the WJPC.

How do I create my team through my account?

For pairs and teams, only one of the participants needs to register. The registered participant can then invite the other participants. These participants must also have created an account beforehand. If you can’t find your teammate online or in the app, it means they don’t have an account yet, haven’t logged into their account, or have been invited by another player. Click here for a comprehensive explaination of the Puzzled app.

Can I puzzle with people without an email address?

For example, if you want to puzzle with your child and they don’t have their own email address, you’ll need to create a new email address and use it to create an account for your child. You can then invite them. Do you use Gmail? Then you can also create additional accounts using an alias (add “+alias” in your emailaddress) of which the emails will be sent to your own mailbox. Example of an alias: puzzling+child@gmail.com is an alias of puzzling@gmail.com.

Why doesn’t the app work on my phone?

The app doens’t work on some devices. These devices are recent phones known for 64-bit hardware + 32-bit Android OS: Samsung Galaxy A13 (some variants), Samsung Galaxy A23 5G (some firmware), Samsung Galaxy A02 / A02s / M02 and many older Samsung J-series devices. We are currently working on a solution. Do you have one of these devices? Than we advise you for now to sign up on my.speedpuzzling.nl.

I have a (physical) disability, can I participate?

Our location is accessible for wheelchair users. The Dutch Jigsaw Nationals are inclusive, and we would like to facilitate participants with a disability. Would you like to send an email to info@speedpuzzling.nl, so that we can discuss in advance what you need and what we can offer? This is to prevent unnecessary stress on the day of the competition.

Can I keep the puzzle?

Yes, you may keep your puzzle, whether you finished it on time or not. If you make it into the finals as a solo or pairs competitor, you may keep both your qualifications puzzle and your finals puzzle. Teams may keep both their puzzles as well.

Why is there only a speed requirement for children?

The Dutch Jigsaw Nationals are mainly focused on adults. However, in international and foreign competitions we see that a few children participate who can keep up well with the adult field of participants. We want to give these children a chance to participate. We advise parent(s)/guardian(s) to make their own assessment of whether their child can mentally handle the competition. Please note: children must be accompanied by an adult on the day.

What if you do not finish your puzzle on time?

This is written down in the rules: If a participant does not complete the puzzle within the set time, the remaining pieces are counted by a jury member. In the ranking the number of puzzled pieces will be registered. We hope everybody will have fun during the competitions, whether the puzzles are finished or not.

What is the Friendly Race?

This year, the Dutch Jigsaw Nationals features a completely new round: the Friendly Race. This gives beginning and relaxed puzzlers, as well as other interested individuals, the opportunity to compete in a competition without the pressure of regular competitions.
Participants make a 300-piece puzzle in 1 hour and 15 minutes. During the final 15 minutes, friends, family, and/or the puzzlers’ audience can help them finish the puzzle. Each participant in this round can invite one other person to help.
‘Social Puzzling’ is the focus of this round and only the winner receives a prize. The most important thing is that everyone completes the puzzle.
Note: You can participate in either the solo competition OR the Friendly Race, not both.

What does ‘min. 500’ mean in the competition overview?

In the rounds marked ‘min. 500’, you will puzzle at least 500 pieces. Let yourself be surprised!

Do I have to be present all day?

No, you only need to be there for your own rounds. Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of the race.

I do not have a Dutch passport, do I have to be able to prove that I have lived in the Netherlands for more than two years?

We use your address to check whether you live in the Netherlands. If you want to register without a Dutch passport, you must be able to prove upon request that you have lived in the Netherlands since at least June 6th 2024. For example, by showing an extract of the date of registration from the Personal Records Database (BRP). If you receive the request, you are responsible for providing the extract and the costs thereof.

I am unable to come to the location, can I participate online?

No, the Dutch Jigsaw Nationals are live. If you prefer to participate in an online competition, there are other options, such as the Euro Jigsaw Jam https://speedpuzzle.eu/eurojigsawjam/ or the Jucari competitions https://jucari.it.

How can I cancel my participation?

This is possible via info@speedpuzzling.nl. A refund of the registration fee is possible up to two weeks before the start of the competition. After that, we would still like to hear from you if you are unable to participate, so that we can warn people on a possible reserve list.

Someone in my team or my pairs-partner cannot be present after all, what can I do?

You can change the composition of your team or pair via the Puzzled app or info@speedpuzzling.nl until May 15th, 23:59. Essentially, it is not permitted to participate with less than two people in the pairs competition or three people in the team competition. You can indicate on our Discord or under our posts on social media that you are looking for a partner for pairs and/or teams. You can also tag us in an Instagram post, and if we see it, we will repost it for you. Who knows, someone who is still looking for a team or pair might read your post.

How big are the tables?

The tables are 80 cm by 120 cm. Solo participants, pairs and teams have an entire table for themselves.

Can you eat or drink something at the sports hall?

Yes, there is a restaurant in the venue, De Heksenketel, with a view of the sports hall. They sell hot and cold drinks and hot snacks such as toasted sandwiches and finger food. There is also a vending machine for soft drinks in the entrance of the venue. In the surrounding area, there are a limited number of dining options within a 10-minute walk. On the evening of June 6th, an Indonesian buffet will be served at De Heksenketel, for which you can sign up via this form until May 31st. You are not allowed to bring food and drinks into the sports hall.

Why do board members of Speedpuzzling The Netherlands participate in the Dutch Jigsaw Nationals?

All board members are puzzle enthusiasts. However, those who participate are in no way involved in choosing the puzzles used or the number of pieces. They have no more information beforehand than any other participant.

Can I, as a non-puzzler, just come by to watch?

Visitors and supporters are very welcome during the Dutch Jigsaw Nationals. Everyone is welcome in the entrance area, where the Ravensburger Plaza is located. Visitors are also very welcome in the sports hall (only with indoor shoes). However, we do ask that you remain quiet near the puzzlers so that they can puzzle undisturbed. Inside the sports hall is the Vendor’s Village, where fun puzzle-related items are for sale. At the back of the sports hall is the Discovery Area, where you can puzzle yourself or exchange Ravensburger puzzles at the exchange table (at your own risk). Additionally, there is the Goedkopelegpuzzels.nl shop where you can buy Ravensburger puzzles. One floor above the sports hall, you can watch the puzzlers from the cozy café De Hekselketel with a drink and a snack. Via the stairs to De Hekselketel, you also reach the spectator stands, which offer a view of the puzzlers.