Things to do in Amsterdam With Kids

By Dom Bewley
amsterdam with kids

The children are our future; that much is clear. But what about the present? Until our robot overlords inevitably subdue the human race, the little ones might as well have some fun! And, if you're vacationing in Amsterdam, you might be wondering about the things to do with the kids. Well, wonder no more. Read on, and discover our picks for the best things to do in Amsterdam with your kids!

Including:

  • 5D Experiences
  • Canal pedaling
  • Chocolate wonderland
  • Interactive science
  • Zoos
  • and more!

 

5D Fun

We know how it is sometimes. You visit a new city in a new country and bring a checklist of all the city's landmarks to see. However, your little one might not be so into that, wanting instead to be dazzled by the sights and sounds on the TV or videogame instead.

Thankfully, you can now combine the sightseeing experience with a breakneck, 5D experience at THIS IS HOLLAND! This hour-long thrill ride will have you soaring over iconic sights such as its tulip fields and windmills. You'll feel mist and wind crash against you as you fly through four shows, all based on the country's past, present, and future. Mist and wind will ensure you see and feel the Netherlands like never before. Perfect for kids who spend too much time watching things and not enough time going out and experiencing them!

 

Ride on water

One thing that your little one will likely love in Amsterdam is the abundance of water and boats. You're never more than a few minutes' walk from a canal, bridge crossing, or even the large river that separates the city's 'North' Neighborhood from the rest. But what's better than walking along a canal? Sailing across it! Well, not sailing, but pedaling in a boat.

Yes, it's no surprise that the world's most cycle-centric city has a pedal-centric form of sea vessel. The good news is that pedal boats are great for both kids and adults alike, as everyone can feel like they're making the journey happen. It's a more fun and engaging method of sightseeing compared to walking, so it'll keep even the fussiest little ones from growing tired of the constant wandering. And hey, you could even give them the wheel too, if you trust their navigation!

 

Choco frenzy

Most kids love chocolate; there's just no two ways about it. While many of us grow out of the dreaded sweet tooth, for kids, it's the only thing they want on the menu morning, noon, and night. So, why not take them to the Dutch equivalent of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, minus all the troubling treats.

At Tony's Chocoloney Superstore, you'll not only learn how they ensure their operation is 100% fairtrade, from field to shop, but you'll also be able to sample many of the famed chocolatier's delicious treats. And hey, you're probably not one to pass up some good moral lessons for your kid, while ensuring their hunger is satisfied in the process!

 

The White Whale

Little people are fascinated by many things. Inquisitive minds are beautiful things but let's be honest, you don't have all the answers. For every other question your child inevitably throws your way about science, life, or any number of subjects, you're likely to draw a blank.

Well, draw blanks no more! Head down to NEMO Science Museum and let your little ones get hands-on with some fantastic interactive exhibits. Kids of all ages will find tons of fun here, with plenty of levers, buttons, and other gizmos that let them learn through touch. You can even head to the roof for some delightful gardens, water features, and free exhibits to explore. Delightful, and easily one of the best things to do in Amsterdam with your kids!

 

Walk with the animals

Another curiosity for many children is the animal kingdom. With so many species adorning the land, air, and sea, it's easy for kids to get carried away thinking about them.

So, why not let them get up close and personal with some delightfully exotic critters at ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo? Explore the facilities' awe-inspiring aquarium, take them to meet a family of elephants, giraffes, and monkeys, and even learn about the tiny critters they cannot even see without a microscope. Then, when they've seen all the animals they want, there's a fantastic play area on-site that they'll enjoy exploring. You just have to hope you can drag them away when it's time to leave!

 

Park ya buns

Another one of Amsterdam's outstanding features is its green spaces. There is a myriad of large parks dotted about across the city. Each has its own unique activities that are perfect for kids, so let's take a look at our picks.

Our first pick is Westerpark, one of the city's largest parks that's a short walk from Central Station. There, you'll find plenty of space to set up a picnic, plenty of restaurants nearby for nibbles or lunches, and even a VR arena at Westerunie, where 6 people can be transported into another world and shoot some zombies! Perfect for bigger little ones who love video games.

Alternatively, Amstelpark in South Amsterdam has lots of kid-related activities. You'll find a petting zoo, rides, mini-golf, and even a summer train they can ride around the park's gardens! With a great mix of greenery, activities, and affordability, visiting Amsterdam parks is one of the best things to do with kids.

 

Pancake plan

And finally, let's end our list with some more delicious sweet treats. Pancakes are one of the Netherlands' biggest exports, and surely one that your little one has gobbled up at some point in their life. And, as the saying goes, 'when in Rome, eat pancakes because they're delicious.' Well, it's something along those lines, at least.

Take your little ones to Pancakes Amsterdam, where they do things a little differently. While they could just make classic Dutch pancakes the traditional Dutch way, they incorporated pancake styles from all over the world to serve a wide variety of treats. Take them for a free tasting, and let them pick whichever they desire. Then, sit back, and feel smug about how great of a parent you really are.

And those are our picks of the best things to do in Amsterdam with kids! Looking for a little alone time with your partner while the babysitter's watching the kids? Check out our guide to Amsterdam's best couples activities!

Dom Bewley
Go City Travel Expert

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Amsterdam bridge and canal houses surrounded by fall-colored trees
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Amsterdam in November

If you're looking for a great time to visit the Netherlands off-season while still having the chance to experience the best that the city has to offer, then a trip to Amsterdam in November could be ideal. Combining the best of both worlds of off-season quietness and the beginnings of the holiday season buzz, November has something to offer for just about all types of traveller. Visiting Amsterdam in November Average Temperature: 39 - 48°F • Average Rainfall: 7 days/month • Average Sunshine: 2 hours/day With fall coming to a close, Amsterdam prepares to welcome a brief wave of holiday-season tourists. How busy the city may be will therefore largely depend on when in November you plan to visit the Dutch capital. A trip early in the month will allow you to still benefit from the low-season tourism rate of fall, and the more straightforward access to attractions and lower accommodation fees that come with it. Toward the end of the month, while the city still isn’t likely to be too busy, you’re bound to come across more tourists than earlier in the month. With many Dutch festive celebrations starting as early as mid-November, many international visitors and Dutch residents alike flock to the city to enjoy the holiday season. The tail end of fall brings with it fairly cool, wet and gloomy weather for Amsterdam. With temperatures falling between the high-30s and high-40s, you’ll typically want to wrap up warm if you plan on spending a lot of time exploring the city’s charming squares. Be sure to pack an umbrella or waterproof clothing, too, as you’re likely to encounter at least one day of rain per week. Things to Do in November With the not-so-cheery weather in fall, you wouldn’t be blamed for wanting to orient your trip to primarily around indoor activities. Fortunately, while Amsterdam may be famous for its iconic architecture, bridges and canals, it’s also known for its rich bounty of culture and history. With that, one of the best things to do in Amsterdam any time of the year is to explore its wealth of world-class museums and art galleries. For a variety of both, head to the Rijksmuseum, home to a vast collection of over 8,000 pieces chronicling the history of both the Netherlands and Dutch art. To retrace the steps of history, you’ll want to make your way to the likes of the Amsterdam Museum and the Maritime Museum, each offering key insights into the respective histories of Amsterdam as a whole and the nautical pursuits of the Netherlands. Also popular is the Anne Frank House, where a biographical museum now stands in memory of the Jewish wartime diarist. If you have an eye for art, then topping your list should be the Van Gogh Museum, which houses an impressive collection of over 1,400 of the renowned Dutch painter's works. Right next door is the MOCO Museum, where you'll get your fix of modern and contemporary art, with exhibitions dedicated to artists such as Banksy, Damien Hirst and Jeff Koons. If you’re an avid cyclist or just feel like taking a more active approach to your trip, there are few better places for it than Amsterdam. With more bikes than people, there are few better ways to see the Dutch capital than on your own two wheels. There’s a plethora of bike rental stores scattered throughout the city offering reasonable day rates of around €10/day. If you happen to be visiting toward the latter half of the month and don’t mind getting a little chilly, then you may find Ice*Amsterdam a wonderful way to spend some time. Taking over the Museumplein, this event centers around a huge ice-skating rink and offers everything from festive market stalls to winter bars where you can warm up with a hearty cup of hot chocolate milk. Events in November PAN Amsterdam For a week in mid-November, the RAI Amsterdam convention center hosts PAN Amsterdam, the Netherlands’ leading art, design and antiques fair. Bringing together over 40,000 visitors each year, the fair serves as a platform for designers and art lovers alike to share insights and inspirations in every discipline from photography and contemporary art to antique furniture and interior design. IamExpat Fair Somewhat of a more niche event, the IamExpat Fair takes place in The Hague, just a short train ride away from Amsterdam. This one-day event offers a forum for long-stay internationals to come together and learn about life in the Netherlands. The event consists of presentations, workshops and information stalls offering insights into the likes of professional life, education, housing and banking for those who otherwise may find themselves lost amid all the new systems of their host country. Expats can make connections with one another and find the right organizations to help them get settled. Visitors with an interest in relocating to the Netherlands may find some value from the information and insight on offer. International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) Each November, much of Amsterdam’s city center transforms into a veritable paradise for film and documentary lovers. Since 1988, the IDFA has evolved to become the world’s largest documentary festival, and offers a vast program of events including guest lectures and workshops. At the core of the festival is its huge range of documentary films offering unique perspectives on every imaginable aspect of life around the world. Typically running for a little over a week, festival screenings take place throughout the city, including outdoor screenings beneath the night sky. Many of these movies are in English or offer English subtitles, making them accessible to as large an audience as possible. Sinterklaas’ Arrival Should you be visiting Amsterdam any time from mid-November, you’d be hard pushed not to notice the festive celebrations beginning to unfold. On the first weekend after November 11, the Netherlands welcomes the arrival of Sinterklaas on his iconic steam boat. In the lead-up to the day of Sinterklaas on December 5, most major cities throughout the Netherlands will host parades in which Sinterklaas and his helpers, known as Pieten (Peters) greet the onlooking families by throwing festive candies and treats out to the crowds. Throughout this period, you’ll also find festive treats lining the shelves of most stores and bakeries. Among the most common Sinterklaas treats are pepernoten and kruidnoten (tiny gingerbread cookies), large solid chocolate letters, schuimpjes (foam-like sugary candies), speculaas cookies and various marzipan-based cakes. Amsterdam Light Festival Running alongside the holiday season, the Amsterdam Light Festival illuminates the Dutch capital with an impressive light displays by designers, artists and architects from around the world. Taking place throughout December and January, the festival typically showcases around 30 unique art installations, bringing an even more magical touch to an already festive city. One of the most popular activities of the Light Festival is to take a canal cruise in the evening. These boat tours offer a chance for visitors and locals alike to see the city from a different perspective, offering unique insights into the history of prominent neighborhoods while also exploring the artworks lining the banks of the canals.
Robert Heaney
Rijksmuseum exterior
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amsterdam public transport
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Getting Around Amsterdam - Public transport

Often dubbed one of the greatest of the world’s small cities, Amsterdam is not a particularly monstrous city. Indeed, with a footprint of just a little over three square miles, the city center could quite easily be covered in a day on foot alone. And yet, the city is often recognized for having some of the best transport infrastructure in Europe. From the emblematic canals delightfully splitting up the Dutch capital’s neighborhoods to its famous tram system covering just about all of the city, there’s a capable range of options for getting around Amsterdam to help you explore the city on your own terms. Public Transport Bus Amsterdam boasts an extensive network of buses servicing both the city center and the surrounding neighborhoods. Operated by three companies – GVB, Connexxion and EBS – Amsterdam’s buses offer a reliable means of getting across the city fast, with many routes servicing stops close to key social hubs and attractions. The city also operates twelve night bus routes to help you get around while exploring the city’s famous nightlife scene. Each of these routes helps to connect the city center with the surrounding suburbs, and buses typically depart every 30 minutes between midnight and 7AM. Tram Second only to bicycles, trams are perhaps the most recognizable mode of transport in Amsterdam. Connecting Amsterdam Central Station to the city’s many key areas and further neighborhoods, Lines 1, 2, 5, 9, 13 and 17 are typically your best bet for getting around the city. Depending on the day and time, the frequency of trams will vary, typically arriving every 5 – 10 minutes. Metro The Amsterdam Metro system offers an alternative means of traversing the central spine of the city and accessing the outer suburbs. Operating across five lines and servicing a total of 39 stops, the Metro offers the fastest and most efficient means of crossing through the city, passing through all major business and office districts alongside many train stations. Operating Times The three modes of public transport that make up the transport infrastructure of Amsterdam all operate on roughly the same schedule and ticketing service. The majority of services begin operations at 6AM and will typically continue until 12:30AM the following morning. Tickets & Passes Tickets and passes are wholly dependent on how long you intend to stay in Amsterdam and how often you plan to use public transport. For casual use, single and return tickets are available on all services on demand. You can also purchase passes which allow for unlimited travel for periods of 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours, offering slightly discounted rates as long as you get plenty of use from them. If you plan on staying in the Netherlands for more than three days, then your best bet would be to purchase and top-up an OV-chipkaart from any major transport hub. This pass is heavily used by locals and can simply be scanned whenever you hop on your transport of choice. On the Water Amsterdam’s canals are more than just an iconic photo op. Originally serving as means of water management, defense and facilitating trade, the labyrinth of canals accounts for 25% of the city’s surface area. Most of the traffic on the canals now consists of pleasure sailing, both private and commercial. If you’re looking for a unique means of getting around the city, there’s a plethora of boat tours available at your convenience to get you from A to B with a little local insight thrown into the mix. Alternatively, it’s also fairly simple to rent a boat for yourself, whether it be a manual pedal-boat, a small capacity electric boat or a full-sized barge for you and your friends. Cycling You may have heard it said that Amsterdam is home to more bicycles than people, and that’s no simple exaggeration. With roughly 1.1 bikes to each resident, it’s plain to see that the locals readily uphold the age-old image of the Dutch cycling nation. With over half of Amsterdam’s 800,000 residents relying on their bicycles as their daily mode of transport, it should come as no surprise that the city caters heavily to their preferences. In fact, with over 470 miles of cycle lanes making up the Amsterdam Bicycle Network, cycling can often be the easiest means of getting around. To capitalize on this trend, there is now a huge selection of bike rental stores dotted throughout the city. You should expect to pay somewhere in the range of €10/day for rentals. If you intend to stay in the Netherlands for more than a month, then purchasing a second-hand bike is a much more cost-effective option, with many going for between €50 and €200. Avoid buying bicycles on the street from unverified vendors, as these are likely to have been stolen and can land you in a lot of trouble. Cycling Safety Be sure to exercise some basic cycling safety and etiquette if you choose to ride in Amsterdam. Stick to roads and dedicated cycle lanes. Keep to the right-hand side and leave space for other cyclists. Make sure you have working front and rear lights when riding at night. Observe other cyclists’ body language to anticipate their actions and signal your own. If you intend to use your phone for directions, make sure to use a legal handlebar mount. Cyclists should overtake each other on the left, but can overtake other vehicles on the right. Only ring your bell when necessary. Always stow your bike in dedicated spaces and ensure you use a reliable lock. Taxi While road traffic is fairly minimal in Amsterdam, that can be quite the boon for those who need to get themselves across the city fast. Whether you’re looking for airport transfers or need to make it to an event quickly, taxis can be your best friend. Most taxis are regulated by the municipality to charge pre-set rates, so you should never have to face a surprise fee for your journey. Like in most cities, you'll find taxi ranks at the airport and most major transport hubs. Taxis can also be ordered at your convenience by calling up your chosen taxi firm, or you can make a booking via the TCA app. Alternatively, the likes of Uber and Bolt also operate in Amsterdam.
Anne Delorean

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