Things to do in Amsterdam with Kids

Things to do in Amsterdam with kids

Maybe against all expectations, but Amsterdam is a real family-friendly city. No doubts to visit Amsterdam with kids. There are many in- and outdoor attractions for all ages throughout the city. All over the city, there are a lot of public playgrounds with slides, swings, sandboxes and jungle gyms to challenge our smallest kids.

Family Hotels in Amsterdam great for kids

Furthermore most of all the major attractions (for example the Rijksmuseum) have special activities/ tours for children. Some even have corners/ mini – museums dedicated for children. Most of the  museums in Amsterdam are free of charge for children under 13 years old. Therefore the city is great to visit with toddlers as well as with teenagers. Many places will be enjoyed by adults as well! And of course there are low budget (free) attractions, lovely places just outside the city. Places where kids always have fun like ‘Amsterdamse Bos’ (forest), ’de Zaanse Schans’, small animal farms and the beach. Throughout the city, basicly every restaurant and café is child-friendly. And in summer the number of places increases!
The best places to visit / major attractions in Amsterdam with kids:

• Small children 0-6 years
• Children 6-12 (16) years

Small children 0-6 years

Indoor

• Tun Fun – huge indoor playground
  Mr. Visserplein 7, Amsterdam
  Tel: 0031 (0) 20 6894300
• Puppet Theatre (> 2 years) – (dutch) shows on Wednesday and Sunday
  Iepenplein 40, Amsterdam
  Tel: 0031 (0) 20 6928532
• Race planet for kids (2 – 12 years) – outside the city center of Amsterdam
  Herwijk 10 Amsterdam
  Tel: 0031 (0) 20 6111120

Outdoor

• Café Groot Melkhuis; a large playground (< 12 years) in the Vondelpark
  (Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays)
  Vondelpark 2 Amsterdam
  Tel: 0031 (0) 20 6129674
• Amstelpark – large park with playground, animal farm, restaurant, mini-train, labyrinth and more
  Amstelpark 18 Amsterdam (south of Amsterdam)
  Tel: 0031 (0) 20 6441744
• Pancake boat Amsterdam (all ages) – cruising and all-you-can-eat pancakes
  Ms. Van Riemsdijkweg (Amsterdam-North)
  Tel: 0031 (0)20 6368817

Animal farms:

• De Ridammerhoeve Goat farm – Amsterdamse bos (in the forest)
  Nieuwe Meerlaan 4 Amstelveen
• Kibo Westerpark – western part of Amsterdam
  Overbrakerpad 10 Amsterdam
• Kinderboerderij de Pijp (south of Amsterdam – close to the Albert Cuyp market)
  Lizzy Ansinghstraat 82 Amsterdam

Summertime:

Around May more lovely open air places are open.

• Vondeltuin – open air café with a playground
  Vondelpark 7 Amsterdam
• Blijburg aan Zee – an artificial sandy beach and beach pavilion
  Muiderlaan 1001 Amsterdam

Real hotspots during summer are the swimming/ paddling pools throughout the city. Paddling pools can be found in the Vondelpark, Westerpark or Beatrixpark. And even in the forest, ‘het Amsterdamse bos’, a few lovely pools and places can be found where you can swim and relax with (smaller) children.

Children 6-12 (16) years

Indoor

• Madame Tussauds (> 5 years) – waxmuseum
  Dam 20 Amsterdam
  Tel: 0031 (0)20 5221010
• Amsterdam Dungeon (> 10 years)
  Rokin 78 Amsterdam
  Tel: 0031 (0)20 5308500
• Nemo (> 6 years) – science center
  Oosterdok 2 Amsterdam
  Tel: 0031 (0)20 5313233
• Glowgolf Amsterdam (> 4 years) – glow in the dark midget golf
  Prins Hendrikkade 194 Amsterdam
  Tel: 0031 (0) 20 7371809
• Lovers Powerzone – bowlen and lasergamen
  De Ruyterkade 153 Amsterdam
  Tel: 0031 (0) 20 7607600
• Ajax Experience Rembrandtsquare (all ages) –interactive experience through the world of Ajax
  Utrechtsestraat 9 Amsterdam
• Tun Fun – (< 13 years) huge indoor playground
  Mr. Visserplein 7 Amsterdam
  Tel: 0031 (0) 20 6894300
• Kinderkookkafé (Children’s cook café)
  Vondelpark 6 B Amsterdam
  Tel: 0031 (0) 20 6253257
• Puppet Theatre (2 – 8 years) – (Dutch) shows on Wednesday and Sunday
  Iepenplein 40 Amsterdam
  Tel: 0031 (0) 20 6928532

Outdoor

• Fun Forest (> 8 years) – Amsterdam forest
  Bosbaanweg 3 Amstelveen
  Tel: 0031 (0) 20 6429683
• Amstelpark – large park with playground, animal farm, restaurant, mini-train, labyrinth and more
  Amstelpark 18 Amsterdam (South of Amsterdam)
  Tel: 0031 (0) 20 6441744
• Pancake boat Amsterdam (all ages) – cruising and all-you-can-eat pancakes
  Ms. Van Riemsdijkweg (Amsterdam-North)
  Tel: 0031 (0)20 6368817

Indoor Swimming pool

Amsterdam has several indoor swimming pools throughout the city. A few examples in the city center:

• Sportcomplex ‘Het Marnix’
  Marnixplein 1 Amsterdam
  Tel: 0031 (0) 20 5246000
• Zuiderbad
  Hobbemastraat 26 Amsterdam
  Tel: 0031 (0)20 2521390
• De Mirandabad
  De Mirandalaan 9 Amsterdam
  Tel: 0031 (0)20 2524444

Summertime:

• Canoe & paddle boat rental Amsterdamse Bos (forest)
  Speelweide 5 Amstelveen
  Tel: 0031 (0)20 6457831

In summer, all the parks in the city have perfect spots to relax in Amsterdam with kids or play some football. A great way to explore Amsterdam with kids is rent a bike. During spring and summer season there are several spots where you can cool down and jump in the water. At the Amstel river for example, a mobile swimming pool (with bar) is placed in this river. Nevertheless, most teenagers would probably love to explore the city and go shopping, go to the movies or visit the Ajax Stadium for example.

There are of course numerous museums and attractions not mentioned above, but suitable for all ages like the Artis Zoo or the Anne Frank House.