In case you don’t immediately consider Amsterdam for a child-friendly metropolis break, assume once more. As a result of – and it hardly wants saying – there’s much more to the town than pink lights and people espresso retailers, with so many issues to do in Amsterdam with youngsters, as my information to Amsterdam with youngsters goes to point out.
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You’ve obtained all of the sights of a significant metropolis, linked by picturesque canals neglected by gabled homes, plus loads of inexperienced house in between. And together with the well-known artwork museums, zoo and science centre, the pleasant Dutch are very welcoming to households. Simply don’t step out in entrance of the bikes.
With flights, ferries and Eurostar to get you there, it’s straightforward to find for a weekend break as effectively – and take a look at my photographs in the event you want any extra tempting. Listed below are my prime suggestions for Amsterdam with youngsters
Amsterdam: Getting there/round
Eurostar has a direct practice service from the UK, taking round 4 hours from London to Amsterdam, with out having to vary for customs at Brussels.
In case you’re within the north of England, DFDS ferries cross every day from Newcastle – it’s an in a single day crossing which is right in the event you’re visiting Amsterdam with youngsters: curl up in a cabin at night time and get up raring to discover. Alternatively, you may get a ferry with P&O from Hull to Rotterdam, which is then solely a brief practice journey from Amsterdam.
There are a string of low-cost and nationwide airways flying to Schipol Airport day-after-day, round a one-hour flight from London.
Trains run 24 hours a day from Schipol to Centraal station with single use tickets out there from machines. Search for those with the blue prime – these with a yellow prime are just for travellers with passes, one of many classes I discovered alongside the best way!
These tickets aren’t coated by the I Amsterdam card however trams and buses within the centre are, so it’s very easy to get round, plus you may as well use contactless for grownup tickets and youngsters aged 12+ who pay grownup fares. The practice community additionally makes it very straightforward to discover additional afield, in the event you’re planning any day journeys from Amsterdam with youngsters.
There may be presently no visa wanted for UK or EU residents.
The place to remain in Amsterdam
On our final go to, we stayed in AirBNB, which I really like while you’re travelling with youthful youngsters specifically – house to unfold out after their bedtime and we have been a simple distance from the town centre.
However Amsterdam specialises in all types of quirky motels, from five-star glamour to transformed canal homes in addition to canal houseboats to lease in the event you’re searching for alternate options to self-catering.
I’m a giant fan of Plum Information, which has a spread of lodging that’s been individually vetted, and which you’ll be able to filter in the event you’re travelling with infants or youngsters, together with some nice locations to remain in Amsterdam with youngsters.
In case you favor the thought of motels in Amsterdam, take a look at the choices from Reserving.com.
In case you’re searching for someplace to retailer your baggage earlier than checking in or after you permit your lodging, Stasher and Baggage Hero have a string of safe baggage storage factors across the metropolis
What to do in Amsterdam with youngsters
There’s lots to entertain youngsters of all ages – together with a toddler, as I found. In case you’re unsure the place to start out, listed below are my prime issues to do in Amsterdam with youngsters to provide you some extra concepts.
Canal cruise
I like to recommend beginning with a canal cruise to get your bearings and see a few of the structure.
There are a number of child-friendly choices together with the principle 75-minute Metropolis Canal cruise or the children cruise with its wannabe pirate commentary, or hop on and off as you please with the Amsterdam Canal Bus.
Get open air
Amsterdam additionally has some beautiful inexperienced house to interrupt up the museums or to flee the summer time warmth – the Vondelpark is value a wander at any time although.
Or head to the Westerpark in Amsterdam West which additionally has a splash pool for sunny days, in addition to loads of inexperienced house. The Hortus Botanicus, or Botanical Gardens, are additionally included within the I Amsterdam card for a barely completely different option to get open air.
Household sights
One other favorite with youthful youngsters – though there’s lots for a wide range of ages – is NEMO Science Heart. A number of probability to get arms on with the interactive displays, there are some reside reveals and the roof backyard additionally has among the finest views of the town
You’ll be able to simply spend a day at Artis Zoo too – in addition to the animals, there’s a planetarium, aquarium and even a piece on a few of the microorganisms which share our world. Good for youths of all ages.
Or there’s an enormous quantity of enjoyable for everybody within the household at two of Amsterdam’s latest sights, that are (handily) proper subsequent to one another. The Wondr Expertise is house to Europe’s largest ball pit, in addition to a sea of teddy bears, a pool stuffed with marshmallows, confetti showers, a magical kaleidoscope and extra, together with a SpongeBob themed zone.
Or the 12 interactive themed zones of the Barbie: The Dream Expertise are unbelievable for Barbie followers of all ages – and it’s solely in Amsterdam. Relive a couple of childhood desires and a few iconic Barbie moments from throughout six a long time, together with the prospect to go down the Dream Home Slide.
Each sights are one metro cease from the town’s Central Station, or a trip on the free ferry, and you may come away with skilled high quality photographs at each sights – to not point out some unique merchandise at Barbie: The Dream Expertise, which additionally has a youngsters’ menu in its cafe.
There are another large title household sights in Amsterdam too, together with Madame Tussauds and the Amsterdam Dungeon. Or in case your youngsters love the extraordinary, how about Ripley’s Consider It or Not?
Get extra concepts of the perfect issues to do in Amsterdam with youngsters right here
Museums
Amsterdam is rightly well-known for its artwork galleries , particularly the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh museum and Stedelijk museum. All have some actions for youthful youngsters and sit virtually next-door to one another
In case you’re unsure which to decide on, some are included within the I Amsterdam card, or listed below are my 5 prime suggestions for visiting the Van Gogh museum with youthful youngsters. Or STRAAT is devoted to road artwork for an alternate expertise to enchantment to teenagers, together with fashionable artwork at Moco Museum.
Town additionally has a formidable variety of very quirky museums – some extra child-friendly than others. The Kattenkabinet is filled with cat-related artwork and extra, when you may study canal life on the Houseboat Museum or uncover extra concerning the human physique on the interactive Museum Vrolik. You’ll be able to even board a ship on the Nationwide Maritime Museum.
Sadly, the quirky Tassenmuseum, which targeted on baggage and purses and was an interesting mixture of tradition, historical past and magnificence is unfortunately now closed.
And in the event you’re visiting with older youngsters, you may’t miss the Anne Frank Home – an extremely shifting expertise. Ensure you ebook your tickets on-line effectively prematurely.
What to eat in Amsterdam
Conventional Dutch meals focuses on filling you up greater than high quality eating, though that’s no unhealthy factor with youngsters.
Don’t depart with out making an attempt the pancakes – locals love Pancakes! within the Jordaan as a lot as as vacationers, with extraordinary combos like bacon, banana and chilli pepper together with much less unique ‘pannekoek’ toppings.
There’s loads of road meals for on the go: strive chips with mayonnaise, or ‘vlaamse frites’, in addition to herring (though pre-schoolers are unlikely to be lining up for the uncooked fish in a bun of ‘broodje haring’).
And stroopwafel are greatest eaten after balancing them above a sizzling drink to soften the caramel. Though I hardly ever say no to stroopwafel at any time!
You’ll additionally discover loads of Indonesian meals, a legacy of Amsterdam’s colonial previous, together with all the same old international cuisines, from pizza to hamburgers…
Amsterdam with youngsters: Plan your go to
The I Amsterdam card could be a nice cash saver, particularly in the event you’ll be taking trams across the metropolis – take a look at my evaluate to resolve if it’s value it.
There are additionally a number of Amsterdam information books for youths together with my very own private advice of Lonely Planet’s varied guides to the town, together with a Pocket information and full-size information ebook.
For extra info, the town’s vacationer info website is at iamsterdam.com/en and in the event you’re planning to enterprise additional afield, there are extra concepts for day journeys from Amsterdam.
*First revealed 2015, final up to date 2025*
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Disclosure: This submit accommodates paid content material and affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee. All opinions stay my very own.
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