t De Machine, an interactive logistics exhibit, at NEMO Science Museum
Many cities claim to be family-friendly, but Amsterdam really does offer a huge mix of attractions and activities that won’t fail to keep the kids entertained. It’s not just museums too, there are parks and urban beaches, as well as plenty of opportunities for cycling and fun on the water.
t De Machine, an interactive logistics exhibit, at NEMO Science Museum
Child-friendly museums are the perfect place to head if the weather turns sour. At The Little Orphanage, young visitors can experience the life of a 17th-century orphan, including milking a cow. Interactive exhibits at NEMO Science Museum are both educational and entertaining. Kids can protect Earth from meteorites, blow bubbles big enough to stand in and don their lab coats to perform experiments. Tropenmuseum Junior transports visitors to Morocco, where they explore a medina and try their hand at mosaics. Miffy, the small, white rabbit, comes to life at Nijntje Museum in Utrecht. – here little ones can listen to storytellers and play.
Amsterdam is a green city and spaces like the Vondelpark, Westerpark and Oosterpark have free activity areas that are perfect when children need to burn off excess energy. In Noord, kids will love Pllek – an urban beach where films are screened in the summer. Beyond the city, at the open-air Zuiderzee Museum, old-style barges transport families back to the early 20th century, where re-enactors in traditional costume demonstrate local crafts.
With little traffic, cycling is a great way to explore the city. Younger children can ride in front of parents in a child-friendly bakfiets bike trailer. Numerous companies rent tandems and other bikes for all ages, and families can escape to parks like Vondelpark and Amsterdamse Bos to find miles of traffic-free cycle paths. Cycling isn’t restricted to the streets – pedal-powered “canal bikes”, seating four or more are a super way to explore Amsterdam’s canals.
Insider tip
Apart from inside museums, the best places to find toilets are train stations, cafés and department stores. Be prepared to pay 50 cents or to buy a drink.
Amsterdam for Families
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Eat The Pancake Boat Cruise with pancakes. P11 ⌂ Ms. van Riemsdijkweg ∑ pannenkoekenboot.nl ¡¡¡ Kinderkookkafé Kids are the chefs here. A8 ⌂ Vondelpark 6B ∑ kinderkookkafe.nl ¡¡¡ NEMO Rooftop Café An open-air terrace. J4 ⌂ Oosterdok 2 ∑ nemosciencemuseum.nl ¡¡¡ |