- Destinations
- Amsterdam
- With kids
Amsterdam with kids
A family trip in Amsterdam has it all, from playgrounds, museums and boat-dotted canals to piled-high stacks of pancakes.
Planning the perfect family trip
For families, the best weekends away start with a painless journey – and now that Eurostar are running Thalys’ services, the train from Brussels to Amsterdam speeds you there in under two hours. You’ll emerge into a city that feels like a giant playground, with its bridges and boats, fairytale canals, and quirky attractions and museums. Whatever your offspring are into, a city break in Amsterdam delivers, whether you’re scoping out street art, running wild in the park, or swinging on a skyscraper. The laidback food scene also suits kids down to the ground, with its fluffy, sugar-dusted poffertjes and bite-sized bitterballen.
Sights and museums
With so much to do and see in Amsterdam you’ll struggle to squeeze it all in, so a little advance planning pays off. You can book your attraction tickets with our partner Musement and get special rates.
The best museums for kids
For hands-on fun, few places rival NEMO Science Museum. Even its rooftop (where admission is free) is a destination in its own right, with kinetic sculptures, water play and far-reaching views. Other big museums are free for 18-and-unders, including the Van Gogh Museum: lure them into with tales of his severed ear, then stay for the Treasure Hunt. The Rijksmuseum has special family tours and quests for over-sevens, while its gardens feature a giant chess board and fountains (pack a change of clothes). The National Maritime Museum is enormous fun, with its replica cargo ship and cannons, while the Verzetsmuseum explores the Dutch Resistance via a thrilling kids’ section.
Must-see sights and attractions
Hop aboard a Blue Boat for a tour of the canals, with a pirate-themed kids’ audio-guide (in Dutch or English) and binoculars to borrow. A free ferry, meanwhile, takes you across to Amsterdam-Noord and the Eye Filmmuseum, where you can try out a green screen or cosy up in a mini-cinema. Close by is the A’DAM Lookout and its sky deck, where daredevils over 1.20 metres tall can swing over the edge. Back in the centre, the Marionette Theatre stages charming puppet operettas, while the Mouse Mansion is worth seeking out: a little shop whose model houses, boats and scenes are populated by toy mice. The deeply moving Anne Frank House is a must for older kids, but do book ahead.
Things to do in Amsterdam
After taking in a museum or two, it’s time to stretch your legs; the city has plenty of green spaces where little ones can let off steam. If you’re travelling with teenagers, hit some of its cooler hangouts, sifting through vintage in the Nine Streets or checking out the street-art scene.
Bikes, parks and playgrounds
Bike hire in Amsterdam is a must, with options to suit all ages, from cargo bikes – where kids get a free ride – to nifty family tandems. Remember, too, that Amsterdam Velo offer a 10% discount for Eurostar travellers. Where to head on your new wheels? The city’s parks, of course, starting with Vondelpark, with its ample lawns, slides and wooden fort. At nearby Rembrandtpark, goats and chickens roam the petting zoo, while intrepid over-sixes build huts and rafts in its back-to-nature playground, Het Landje. Amstelpark offers crazy golf and a city farm, along with a miniature train, while Flevopark’s heated lido is delightful on a summer’s day.
Amsterdam for older kids and teens
Selfie-snappers will go wild for WONDR, an experiential space filled with confetti showers, giant teddies and pastel-pink ball pits. Under-14s need to be accompanied by an adult, while special Kids Time sessions are aimed at under-tens. Street-art museums STRAAT and Moco should also meet with their approval, while canal-side photography museum Foam often has fashion exhibits. For cafés, boutiques and well-stocked vintage shops, wander The Nine Streets, stopping for a first-rate hot chocolate at Urban Cacao. If football’s more their scene, take a tour of the arena where Ajax play, pausing for a pitch-side photo.
Family-friendly hotels
There are places to stay for every budget, whether you’rehanging out in a hostel (BUNK has some great family rooms), or staying in a five-star like the Pulitzer, where kids are warmly welcomed. Not sure where’s best? Our guide to Where to stay and hotels in Amsterdam has more suggestions.
Four standout stays
Sports-fixated kids will rate the Olympic Hotel, set by the stadium and with bird’s-eye views from many of its rooms. Its parquet-floored ‘team rooms’ feature bunk beds, while the centre’s half an hour by metro (less if you hop on bikes). If you’d rather be in strolling distance, claim a spacious triple or four-bed room at the Nova Hotel, just around the corner from Dam Square. Inside the canal ring, meanwhile, The Albus is chic but welcoming, stowing families in its suites and connecting rooms and rustling up waffles for breakfast. Finally, there’s the Lancaster Hotel Amsterdam, just opposite the zoo in De Plantage and with well-equipped triple and quad rooms.
The best places to eat in Amsterdam
Eating out with kids is easy in Amsterdam: restaurants welcome families, and locals tend to eat early (ideal with little ones in tow). While there’s plenty that’s familiar, from pancakes to pizza, it’s worth sampling some local specialties, like crunchy, deep-fried bitterballen.
Cafés and restaurants
Don’t miss Dignita Hoftuin, the ultimate, all-day brunch spot: a glass-walled café with a kids’ corner and sunny, garden-edged terrace, where grown-ups devour dukkah-sprinkled Turkish eggs while their kids feast on fruit bowls and pancakes. Close to the Museum District, head to Café George for lunch: it’s hip but also friendly, with a crowd-pleasing kid’s menu. If you’ve spent the morning in Vondelpark, check out the hands-on Kinderkookkafe, where even little ones can cook their own lunch. Come the evening, consider cult pizza joint nNea; though its tables are booked months ahead, there are walk-in seats for early arrivals (turn up before it opens if you can).
Snacks and street eats
Few things are as quintessentially Dutch as apple pie, laced with cinnamon and topped with a dollop of whipped cream. If you don’t want to brave the queue at Winkel 43, swing by the art-deco Patisserie Holtkamp for a satisfying slice to go. For poffertjes – sugar-dusted mini-pancakes – follow your nose to Albert Cuyp market, where other street-eats run from rôtisserie chicken to Twins Olives’ herb-laced houmous wraps; perfect for a picnic in nearby Sarphatipark. In Oud-West, Larry’s Buns does a roaring trade in meat-free bao, while the nearby Foodhallen caters to all-comers, from pizza-obsessed toddlers to sushi-loving teens.
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FAQs
Yes, there is a direct train from Brussels to Amsterdam which takes you there is 1 hour and 52 minutes.
The canal district is beautiful, but you may find more space for your brood if you stay a little further out. Oud-Zuid and De Plantage are leafy, lovely areas to stay, while café-dotted De Pijp is cheaper, but also very central. If Jordaan is out of budget, consider Westerpark, whose greenery, playgrounds and cultural buzz are great for families.
Try an early-evening pizza cruise, hang out at De Hallen, or head for after-dinner ice-creams: Miuz serves up made-that-day gelato, and is open in the evening. Come winter, the city twinkles with lights after dark, especially if you’re here at Christmas, or during the Light Festival.
If the weather’s balmy, head for the city’s many parks and playgrounds, the Rijksmuseum’s gardens, or an urban beach or swimming spot (the lake at Niewe Meer is lovely). Not so sunny? Most museums are free for under-18s, including the Rijksmuseum.
Hit a big-ticket art museum (the Rijksmuseum’s great for kids), along with the joyously interactive NEMO Science Museum. Eat street food at Albert Cuyp Market, take a cruise on the canals, then hit the city’s playgrounds: Vondelpark’s always a good bet. Hire bikes, so that you can explore different neighbourhoods: for less road-aware kids, a family tandem can be a good option. Check out our Amsterdam weekend guide for more inspiration.
Check out the Light Festival (from late November to January), snack on doughnut-like oliebollen, and skate on the enormous rink that pops up on Museumplein. Most magical of all, though, are the light-strung Christmas markets.
Travelling by train is great for families, taking you straight to the centre of the city with a minimum of fuss. Even better, under-fours go free, while four to 11s get special discounted fares. To find out more, consult our family travel guide.
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