Amsterdam is known as being a fantastic city break destination for friends, solo travellers, and couples, but did you know that there’s loads to do in Amsterdam with children too?
Here, we share some of our favourite family-friendly Amsterdam activities, including interactive museums, amazing outdoor spaces, and fantastic swimming pools which you can all enjoy.
1. The best museums in Amsterdam for children
Amsterdam is home to a whole number of museums which each offer unique experiences for the whole family to enjoy. If you’re travelling to Amsterdam with younger children, you simply have to visit the NEMO science museum. Located on the Eastern Docklands, and instantly recognisable due to its sloping green architecture, this museum is home to 5 floors of immersive wonders that people of all ages love to explore. The NEMO museum is completely interactive, so you can feel comfortable letting your kids run around and trying all of the different exhibits for themselves. Don’t forget to head up to the roof for amazing views of Amsterdam while you’re there too!
If your children love both art and history, look no further than the impressive Rijksmuseum. As one of Amsterdam’s most popular museums, this fantastic space offers just as much to see as you’d expect, and covers over 800 years of fascinating Dutch and global history. The Rijksmuseum’s most famous exhibits are artworks by some of the Netherland’s greats, including Rembrandt’s ‘The Night Watch’, and budding artists are sure to be mesmerised by the details in this striking painting. To keep children extra engaged as you explore rooms full of everything from sculptures and clothing to unique maritime artefacts, download the Family Quest app which will have you on the lookout for clues during your visit.
A trip to Amsterdam with older children should include a walk around the Anne Frank House. This sombre and humbling experience offers an immersive way to teach children about the horrors of World War II, and Anne Frank’s story in particular. See documents, photos, and other items from this time as you walk through the rooms, and take a look at Anne’s original diary too. Once you leave the museum, you can use its app to discover more about wartime Amsterdam as you make your way around the city.
2. Great parks in Amsterdam
When it comes to lush open spaces, Amsterdam has more than you might expect. The city’s most popular park has to be Vondelpark, which can be found in the centre of Amsterdam. As the city’s largest park, Vondelpark offers the chance for families to escape the hustle and bustle of the more touristy areas, and plenty of room for children to run free and let off some steam in a safe environment. Walk along charming footpaths, rent bikes and take advantage of the flat, wide cycle paths, or visit one of several children’s playgrounds. Vondelpark’s biggest playground can be found near to the Kattenlaan entrance, and caters for both toddlers and older children – plus it has a paddling pool during the summer too!
Amstelpark is another option that kids will love. As soon as you walk through the park’s main entrance, you’ll see a station which is home to a mini train than takes visitors around the park between April and October. Behind this is a small bridge which will lead you to a hedge maze that children can have great fun getting lost in, and following this you can simply wander around the beautiful gardens – including one dedicated to roses and another to butterflies. Amstelpark is also home to a petting zoo where children can meet farm animals, such as goats and sheep. There are also pony rides on offer, and you’ll often see chickens and rabbits elsewhere in the park too!
If you’re a family of animal lovers, you must visit the ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo. This zoo doesn’t only offer plenty of stunning open space, but has loads of amazing things to see and do. Combining nature, culture, and heritage since 1838, Amsterdam Zoo boasts the world’s only microbe museum, has an aquarium which is home to a variety of beautiful fish, and even has the opportunity to learn about space in its planetarium. On top of this, you can see everything from giraffe and zebra to speedy ostriches on the Savannah, and will be able to admire mesmerising gorillas in their dedicated house too.
3. Activities for children in Amsterdam
Once you’ve taken in Amsterdam’s culture and spent some time admiring the great outdoors, it’s time to take part in some fun activities! One of the top choices for kids, Fun Forest, can be found in Amsterdam South. Similar to GoApe, Fun Forest allows you to climb, swing, and leap through the trees across 8 different courses. The bravest climbers can choose to take on the monkey swing, bungee jump, and free jump, whereas smaller adventurers can tackle the Speedrunner course which is just for kids! With bridges, nets, ladders, and ziplines to navigate, Fun Forest is sure to be a hit with your whole family.
For indoor activities in Amsterdam that will bring out your kid’s competitive edge, head to Powerzone which offers mini-golf, laser-tag and bowling. Named as the most impressive laser-tag in Amsterdam, Powerzone’s arena gives you the chance to dash and hide through its underground theme as you try to score as many points as possible. Following this, head to the LED rainbow light bowling lanes which offer amazing views of the harbour, or challenge each other to a round of glow in the dark mini golf before having a meal in the BBQ and Grill restaurant. The opportunities are truly endless during a visit to Powerzone!
If your children love to swim they’ll be spoilt for choice in Amsterdam. During the summer, there are a number of wonderful outdoor pools to visit which offer the chance to relax in the sun and cool down while having fun in the water. These include the Noorderparkbad in Amsterdam North, the Sloterparkbad which can be found next to the Sloterplas (a wonderful outdoor recreation area that is also worth a visit), and the Flevoparkbad in Amsterdam East. Throughout the winter months, you can enjoy one of the city’s indoor swimming pools instead. The Het Marnix is one of the top options due to its central location and modern facilities, but you might also like to check out the charming Zuiderbad. Located close to the Rijksmuseum, this indoor pool opened in 1912 and offers a wonderfully unique atmosphere.
With so many amazing things to do in Amsterdam with children, surely it’s time to plan your family holiday to this diverse and exciting city! Book your Hull to Rotterdam crossing and start thinking about your perfect Amsterdam itinerary today.
