Things to do in Amsterdam with kids

If you have decided to travel to Amsterdam with your children, rest assured that they will not be bored: the city offers plenty of well-organised spaces dedicated to children, with plenty of attractions and entertainment, making the Dutch capital undoubtedly one of the best cities in the world for families.

With the exception of the Red Light District, all of Amsterdam’s districts are child- and teenager-friendly, thanks to the many green spaces, the small amusement parks in the districts, the accessible museums, which are fun and educational even for the youngest, and the numerous attractions such as canals and windmills.

From the moment they arrive at Schiphol Airport, the different needs of families are catered for, thanks to the presence of specially created spaces to spend the pre-flight wait or the wait for their luggage to be collected, with a Baby Lounge area for the little ones and a Kids’ Forest area for children from 3 to 9 years old.

There are also several museums and attractions in Amsterdam where children will feel involved in a variety of activities, and their curiosity will accompany them on this journey. Here are the main ones.

Nemo, the Science Museum

Nemo is a science centre also known by its official name New Metropolis, whose structure was designed by the great Renzo Piano. The great thing is that there is nothing inside that cannot be touched, children learn a lot and have fun at the same time. The little ones are made to participate thanks to interactive games and experiments that allow them to easily learn the basic concepts of various sciences.

Van Gogh Museum

In the Van Gogh Museum, treasure hunts are organised where children are the protagonists, and recognising the great painter’s works of art will allow them to win small prizes.

Madame Tussauds

The world’s most famous wax museum chain is also present in Amsterdam: it is an absolute must for children, who will have a great time confronting famous people, taking a picture together with a reproduction of them that is perfectly faithful to the original.

Parks

Amsterdam is a very green city full of parks, which are a perfect opportunity for children to have fun in the open air.

• Artis Zoo: This is the city’s zoo. Children can have fun learning about new animals and admiring the different specimens in amazement.
• Vondelpark: this park is easily accessible from the centre and suitable for children of all ages. Here you will also find a lot of fun including swimming pools, sand structures, wooden tracks and even an area where the little ones can try their hand at cooking.
• Efteling: this is one of the oldest playgrounds in the world and can be reached in just over an hour from Amsterdam. There are plenty of attractions here and different shows are put on every day. Children will certainly not have time to get bored here.

Amsterdam by bike and boat

Once in the city, it’s great to get around Amsterdam by bike. You can rent bikes in different areas and offices can be found almost everywhere, so that your children can take a ride.

Another alternative perspective that the little ones will appreciate is the Amsterdam canal cruise, which will give them the chance to discover the most unusual corners of the Dutch capital while sitting comfortably and enjoying a calm and peaceful cruise.

Amsterdam with children in winter

Among the winter entertainments you cannot miss the Museumplein with its ice-skating rink, the large underground play area of TunFun and the Central Bibliotheek Amsterdam where you can find an entire floor dedicated to children.