Overlook the brown cafes and pink mild district, a metropolis break in Amsterdam with children is ideal for households โ and that features seeing Amsterdam with toddlers. At the least as soon as I reached the purpose have been I used to be (pretty) sure my daughter wouldnโt attempt to fall right into a canal.
incorporates affiliate hyperlinks*
In the event youโre additionally planning to see Amsterdam with a 2-year-old, itโs not even a tough journey: there are additionally some low cost โ and fast โ flight routes, together with low-cost airways, a direct prepare from London with the Eurostar route, or a ferry to Hook of Holland or Rotterdam
So Iโve discovered among the greatest issues to do in Amsterdam for toddlersโฆ though you possibly can not climb over the I Amsterdam signal, which was eliminated in 2018.ย
Take a canal cruise
An effective way to see Amsterdam with children and expertise the canals with out strolling, itโs one thing that appeals no matter age you’re.
However for those whoโre on the lookout for child-friendly Amsterdam concepts, thereโs nonetheless a string of corporations to select from, together with a hop-on, hop-off canal boat, a 75-minute highlights cruiseย and a pancake cruise on the Pannenkoekenboot.
Pancakes are all the time going to function on a listing of issues to do in Amsterdam with a toddler in spite of everything!
The Vondelpark
Townโs most well-known park is a beautiful inexperienced oasis, good if you end up visiting in summer time and wish a shady retreat for youths to run off a little bit of vitality (or cool off from town streets).
In addition to ambling alongside the lake and down the paths, there are issues to do within the Vondelpark itself โ essentially the most kid-friendly of which is the large playground missed by the Het Groot Melkhuis cafรฉ.
For one more quirky exercise, chek outย the Kinderkookkafe, the place the youngsters put on the aprons and create their very own meals. Adults might help for those whoโre visiting with toddlers or preschoolers, but it surelyโs additionally an important possibility with barely older children.
Sadly Ontdekhoek has now closed, a former favorite of anybody in Amsterdam with younger children, โDiscovery Nookโ had over 30 totally different experiments and actions for age 4+, designed to be carried out with out dad and mom being concerned.
Journey a motorcycle
One of many most secure locations to cycle, half town (perhaps extra!) appears to get round on bikes โ if you’re on foot, itโs value making an attempt to work out the system pretty rapidly, so that you โ or your toddler โ isnโt wandering out in entrance of fast-moving bikes.
In the event youโre in Amsterdam with children who canโt trip, renting a bakfiets โ a motorcycle with little trailer on the entrance โ is a good way to discover, though donโt neglect to lock them up for those who do cease.
Nemo Science Museum
Amsterdamโs Science Museum is geared toward youngsters aged six to 16, though there are as many exhibitions and experiments to entertain pre-schoolers (and fogeys) as faculty age children โ so for those whoโre questioning what to do in Amsterdam with a toddler, this could positively be on the checklist.
It was one of many largest hits of our journey, with so many issues to get fingers on with, together with making big bubbles, experiments with sound, reveals on the human physique but in addition reveals to look at plus areas geared toward teenagers and rather a lot lot extra.
The sloping roof even turns into a seashore in summer time, with unbelievable views out over Amsterdam. Purchase a skip-the-line ticket on-line upfront right here
Try my evaluate of our go to on this publish too
Amsterdam artwork galleries with children
One factor Amsterdam is known for is its unbelievable artwork galleries โ and for those whoโve assumed these must be off the checklist for those whoโre on the lookout for issues to do in Amsterdam with a toddler, suppose once more.
Many of the metropolisโs main museums have youngstersโs excursions, or different methods to make it child-friendly. In fact, for those who can time a go to to tie in with youthful toddlersโ naps, you get barely longer to wander round and absorb the artwork your self too.
The Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum has a guided excursions, a digital sport in addition to suggestions for households together with a 1km stroll via. Some are higher for various age teams but it surelyโs an important place to begin.
The Van Gogh Museum
The Van Gogh museum has choices galore too, together with a treasure hunt, household guided tour, household guides, and even a travelling case with totally different actions for youths โ though once more, many are geared toward age six plus. In the event youโre forking out, you possibly can even get a non-public family-friendly tour of the Van Gogh Museum or choose up one of many skip-the-line tickets and go at your personal tempo.
Try my suggestions for visiting the Van Gogh museum with a toddler the place I created a toddler-friendly treasure hunt utilizing the museumโs map and highlights โ good for brief consideration spans.
The Rembrandthuis
In the event youโve set your coronary heart on seeing the Rembrandthuis, it has a particular audioguide for youths (geared toward six up) whereas itโs free for below sixes to enter for those whoโre planning a brief go to. Purchase tickets with free cancellation right here.
HโArtwork Amsterdam
HโArtwork Amsterdam (previously a part of the Hermitage museum) has youngstersโs routes via its exhibitions, in addition to treasure hunts, in order thatโs nonetheless a risk once youโre planning issues to do in Amsterdam with toddlers.
Thereโs even an immersive Van Gogh and Rembrandt expertise, with under-fives going free if you wish to deliver the artwork to life in Amsterdam for toddlers
Nationwide Maritime Museum
With the Dutch as soon as within the forefront of exploring the globe, studying extra concerning the seafarers of the Golden Age goes to seize even the brief consideration span of a toddler โ who doesnโt fancy imagining themselves on deck in search of out new worlds?
One of many highlights is the life-size duplicate of the Dutch East India Firm ship Amsterdam, which you’ll be able to go searching to be taught extra about life aboard, together with colonial historical past.
Itโs included in entry to the Nationwide Maritime Museum subsequent door, with loads of hands-on choices, a Doris the Diver exhibit aimed age 2+, to not point out an interactive life-size board sport and an exhibition on whales, in addition to a 60-minute audio information which is useful to select the higlights. A lot for all ages, for those whoโre visiting Amsterdam with children who’re older too.
Wereldmuseum
This Museum of World Cultures is concentrated on folks from across the globe , so itโs nice for capturing youthful childrenโ consideration, in addition to introducing them to another cultures and what connects us all.
The previous Tropenmuseum mixed with two different Dutch museums to turn out to be the Wereldmuseum in 2023, and the Wereldmuseum Junior is without doubt one of the extra uncommon Amsterdam youngstersโs sights to maintain in your checklist too.
The main target is about getting fingers on: seeing, touching, experiencing and collaborating with a purpose to get even the youngest guests enthusiastic about conserving an open thoughts concerning the world, how weโre all linked and matters together with local weather change.
Itโs additionally locations like this which make me say an emphatic sure to anybody asking, is Amsterdam good for households?
Purchase tickets with free cancellation, together with entry to the Wereldmuseum Junior
Artis Royal Zoo
You’ll be able toโt beat a day taking a look at animals for those whoโre a toddler โ and this zoo, in one of many greener leafy components of central Amsterdam has greater than 900 totally different species of animals.
Together with an aquarium and a petting space, you possibly can spot the whole lot from giraffes to gorillas, to not point out elephants, lions, lemurs, penguins and extra.ย
There are actions and talks all through the day, and you’ll take a guided tour, however half the enjoyable is ambling round at your personal tempo watching the animals. Whichever you select, thereโs loads to entertain anybody visiting Amsterdam with child or toddler right here.
You may as well head in to the planetarium as a part of your go to. The aquarium, which can also be usually included within the ticket value, is at present closed and because of reopen in spring 2026. Get skip-the-queue tickets, with free cancellation as much as 24 hours beforehand for those who purchase on-line.
Try my evaluate of our go to to Artis Royal Zoo with a toddler
Uncover Amsterdam Noord
Hop on the free ferry which runs to Amsterdam Noord, one of many metropolisโs largest artistic hubs.
As soon as an industrial space, wander round and also youโll uncover road artwork galore โ good for those whoโre on the lookout for issues to do with children in Amsterdam that can go well with toddlers and older siblings, as even littler ones will love the intense colors.
Itโs one other great spot to cycle, or for those whoโve received a youthful toddler in a buggy, to stroll as they watch the world go by.
Go to the KattenKabinet
Amsterdam specialises in some very quirky museums, and for those whoโve received a small animal lover within the household, the KattenKabinet โ or Cat Museum โ is a enjoyable possibility.
Devoted to all issues cat, thereโs artwork that includes a string of cats, together with works by Picasso, Rembrandt and Toulouse-Lautrec, but in addition varied different cat-themed objects from posters and drawings to photographs and sculptures, together with historic Egyptian cat statues.
Better of all, there are a number of real-life cats who dwell there. You probably have toddlers who wish to seize, itโs value realizing that they donโt all the time wish to be petted or stroked, so itโs value setting any expectations (and conserving a brief rein on enthusiastic small cat lovers).
ย
Amsterdam with toddlersโฆ issues to postpone till theyโre older
And when my daughterโs older? Thereโs an extended checklist of issues to do in Amsterdam for youths when youโve left the toddler years behind too, to not point out an entire string of nice day journeys from Amsterdam with children.
A go to to The Anne Frank Homeย is certainly for older youngsters, however nothingย brings latest historical past fairly as vividly to life as this desperately transferring place.
Or on a lighter notice, there are quirky museums and sights galore in Amsterdam โ dive in to immersive artworks at Nxt Museum, the STRAAT Avenue Artwork Museum
For extra tips about one of the best issues to do in Amsterdam with children, take a look at my household information to town, one of the best day journeys from Amsterdam, in addition to my evaluate of the I Amsterdam cardโฆ
*First printed 2014, up to date 2024*
PIN FOR LATER: THINGS TO DO IN AMSTERDAM WITH TODDLERS
Principal picture/Rijksmuseum/Nationwide Maritime museum photographs courtesy Depositphotos, all others copyright MummyTravels
LIKED THIS? SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL NEWSLETTER