Sjoelen

Sjoelen, also known as sjoelbak or shuffleboard, is a popular Dutch game played on a long, narrow board with a set of discs. The game's objective is to slide the discs through four small arched openings at the far end of the board. Each opening has a point value, with the outermost openings typically worth more. Players take turns sliding their discs, aiming to get as many as possible through the arches.

The game is played with a specific number of discs, usually 30. A turn consists of sliding all the discs. If a disc fails to pass through any of the arches, it is returned to the player. After the first slide, any discs that have passed through an arch are placed in the corresponding scoring area. The game continues with players taking turns until all discs have been played.

Scoring in sjoelen can vary, but a common system awards points based on which arch the discs pass through. Discs that pass through the outermost arches are worth 3 points, the next arches are worth 2 points, and the innermost arches are worth 1 point. A special bonus is awarded for getting all four discs through the same arch in a single turn, often doubling or tripling the points for that arch. The game is often played in rounds, with players aiming to reach a predetermined score or the highest score after a set number of rounds. Sjoelen is enjoyed by people of all ages and is a common pastime in Dutch homes and community centers.