For those who 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 purple lights and people espresso outlets, with so many issues to do in Amsterdam with youngsters, as my information to Amsterdam with children goes to indicate.
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You’ve received all of the points of interest of a serious metropolis, linked by picturesque canals ignored 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 nicely – and take a look at my pictures when you want any extra tempting. Listed below are my high ideas for Amsterdam with children
Amsterdam: Getting there/round
Eurostar has a direct prepare service from the UK, taking round 4 hours from London to Amsterdam, with out having to alter for customs at Brussels.
For those who’re within the north of England, DFDS ferries cross every day from Newcastle – it’s an in a single day crossing which is right when you’re visiting Amsterdam with children: curl up in a cabin at evening 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 prepare journey from Amsterdam.
There are a string of low-cost and nationwide airways flying to Schipol Airport each day, round a one-hour flight from London.
Trains run 24 hours a day from Schipol to Centraal station with single use tickets obtainable from machines. Search for those with the blue high – these with a yellow high are just for travellers with passes, one of many classes I realized alongside the way in which!
These tickets aren’t coated by the I Amsterdam card however trams and buses within the centre are, so it’s very simple to get round, plus you may as well use contactless for grownup tickets and youngsters aged 12+ who pay grownup fares. The prepare community additionally makes it very straightforward to discover additional afield, when you’re planning any day journeys from Amsterdam with children.
There’s at present 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 like once you’re travelling with youthful children particularly – house to unfold out after their bedtime and we had been a straightforward distance from the town centre.
However Amsterdam specialises in all types of quirky inns, from five-star glamour to transformed canal homes in addition to canal houseboats to hire when you’re on the lookout for options to self-catering.
I’m an enormous fan of Plum Information, which has a variety of lodging that’s been individually vetted, and which you’ll be able to filter when you’re travelling with infants or children, together with some nice locations to remain in Amsterdam with children.
For those who want the thought of inns in Amsterdam, take a look at the choices from Reserving.com.
For those who’re on the lookout for someplace to retailer your baggage earlier than checking in or after you allow 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 loads to entertain youngsters of all ages – together with a toddler, as I found. For those who’re unsure the place to start out, listed here are my high issues to do in Amsterdam with children 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 youngsters 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 price 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 points of interest
One other favorite with youthful children – though there’s loads for quite a lot of ages – is NEMO Science Middle. A number of likelihood to get palms on with the interactive displays, there are some dwell exhibits and the roof backyard additionally has among the best views of the town
You may 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. Excellent for teenagers of all ages.
Or there’s an enormous quantity of enjoyable for everybody within the household at two of Amsterdam’s latest points of interest, that are (handily) proper subsequent to one another. The Wondr Expertise is dwelling to Europe’s largest ball pit, in addition to a sea of teddy bears, a pool filled 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 implausible for Barbie followers of all ages – and it’s solely in Amsterdam. Relive a number of childhood goals and a few iconic Barbie moments from throughout six many years, together with the possibility to go down the Dream Home Slide.
Each points of interest 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 pictures at each points of interest – to not point out some unique merchandise at Barbie: The Dream Expertise, which additionally has a children’ menu in its cafe.
There are another huge title household points of interest in Amsterdam too, together with Madame Tussauds and the Amsterdam Dungeon. Or in case your children love the bizarre, how about Ripley’s Imagine It or Not?
Get extra concepts of the most effective issues to do in Amsterdam with children 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
For those who’re unsure which to decide on, some are included within the I Amsterdam card, or listed here are my 5 high ideas for visiting the Van Gogh museum with youthful children. Or STRAAT is devoted to road artwork for another expertise to enchantment to teenagers, together with trendy 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 may 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 when you’re visiting with older youngsters, you’ll be able to’t miss the Anne Frank Home – an extremely transferring expertise. Be sure you ebook your tickets on-line nicely upfront.
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 children.
Don’t depart with out attempting the pancakes – locals love Pancakes! within the Jordaan as a lot as as vacationers, with bizarre mixtures 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 scorching 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 standard world cuisines, from pizza to hamburgers…
Amsterdam with children: Plan your go to
The I Amsterdam card is usually a nice cash saver, particularly when you’ll be taking trams across the metropolis – take a look at my overview to resolve if it’s price it.
There are additionally a number of Amsterdam information books for teenagers 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 data, the town’s vacationer data web site is at iamsterdam.com/en and when 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 publish comprises paid content material and affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee. All opinions stay my very own.
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