Amsterdam is for kids, too

You might have heard about the Red Light District, the bars and booze, and the free trade of cannabis, but these shouldn’t stop you from visiting Amsterdam with your children. Visiting Amsterdam with kids is not a new thing. In fact, the city has so many attractions designed to make the little ones and entire families happy.

Amsterdam is for kids, too. Picture in your mind parents and children riding their bikes together, entire families enjoying a picnic or a group of rowdy kids running around the park having the time of their life. You can see all of these in Holland’s capital city. There is so much to do in Amsterdam with kids.

Touring Amsterdam with kids could produce moments that form strong bonds and lasting memories. Taking rides, playing games, seeing animals, going to the market and experiencing nature together are some of the best ways to enjoy this beautiful city.

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Amsterdam is kid-friendly. Below are some spots in the city that children will find very exciting.

 

Amsterdam canals

Amsterdam’s world-famous canals are for people of all ages. Not many people wouldn’t enjoy a boat cruise on a waterway within a colourful and truly beautiful city. Amsterdam’s water highways are so inviting and unique in the world.

Children have amazing imaginations, and for sure they’d enjoy the boat ride more than their parents. There are different cruise packages to choose from, some of which include rides for the entire family. You can find several cruise companies near the Centraal Station, and some even offer free boat rides.

You can also ask your hotel and event organisers where you can rent a boat. Children love the water, and it is most certain that a boat is one of the first things they’d ask their parents to do on the day they arrive.

The hop-on, hop-off cruise is perfect for families. It stops at several areas along the canals, allowing the children to see some of the museums and other attractions along the way, or maybe even grab a quick bite in one of the many restaurants near the waterways. Renting a pedal boat is also a great idea for families.

All guided boat rides in the city are safe and kid-friendly.

Get your skip the line tickets for a canal cruise here.

 

 

Madame Tussauds

One of the most unique and mysterious museums in Amsterdam is Madame Tussauds wax museum. Children love mystery. They love monsters and creepy creatures. They would definitely be intrigued entering a room full of wax figures that are so realistic you could swear one of them moved.

Madame Tussauds is famous all over the world for its realistic creations, modelled after modern-day celebrities and historical figures. Children will love this place for sure as they see wax images of Albert Einstein, Anne Frank and Barack Obama, amongst others..

You can find this one-of-a-kind museum on Dam Square. It is hard to miss, as millions of curious tourists visit Madame Tussauds every year. This is the perfect thing to do in Amsterdam with kids on a rainy day.

Get your tickets ahead of time here.

 

Artis Zoo

Amsterdammers and visitors love Artis Zoo. What child doesn’t love seeing and touching animals, especially watching them eat and play around in their habitat?  

Artis Zoo is the most popular zoo in Amsterdam, and certainly one of the most beautiful. It is located on the east side of the capital, and is known to be a place where children learn and have fun at the same time.

It is home to 6,000 animals and around 700 species from around the world. Many roam around freely and interact with people, which is why this zoo is so attractive to little children.

Some families and visitors might even be lucky enough to come at the perfect time to see baby animals being born at the zoo grounds.

Artis zoo is also popular for its aquarium, planetarium, botanical gardens, and two museums that people may visit at no extra charge.

Buy your tickets now and skip the line for Artis Zoo.

 

Geitenboerderij De Ridammerhoeve

Kids can’t get enough of animals. Geitenboerderij De Ridammerhoeve is a lovely farm where children can run around and play with farm animals. It’s not really a zoo, but a goat farm with many goats, chickens, pigs, cows and horses.

The animals are in their natural habitat in an authentic rural setting, in the heart of Amsterdam Forest. The farm offers so many opportunities for your child to play with the animals and to experience how it is like living on a farm. There is also a huge playground to keep the children entertained.

You can learn about organic farming with your kids, how to care for the animals, milk a goat, and even make cheese. There’s nothing like this place in the Netherlands, and it would seem that Geitenboerderij De Ridammerhoeve was built with children in mind.  

When here on a Saturday, the Farmer’s Market is perfect for families, especially coffee for dad and mum. De Ridammerhoeve also hosts kids’ birthday parties and educational class excursions.

 

Nemo Science Museum

This place has nothing to do with Disney or Nemo the clownfish, but it is equally attractive to children.

Nemo Science Museum, or simply Nemo for short, is uniquely shaped like the bow of a ship. At first glance, little kids wouldn’t guess that this is a museum. Adults can be fooled, too.

The children will have their hands full of several fun and educational things to do inside the museum. There are excursions for children and students into the realms of science and technology. They may also join interactive exhibits and displays on several interesting subjects such as the human body, engineering and genetics.

On the museum roof is a large and spacious terrace where children can run around and play. You can also spend some time on the lovely rooftop terrace for a drink or just enjoy an amazing view of the city.

Get your tickets here for Nemo Science Museum 

 

Tropenmuseum

Another unique museum in Amsterdam that was designed and conceptualised especially for children is Tropenmuseum. This is one of the most child-friendly museums in the Netherlands that educate the children about the colonial era. The learning is done in a fun and informative manner.

Children will see and know more about countries that used to be occupied by the Dutch. These countries are expertly recreated so that the children and families would feel as though they were really in Africa, Indonesia, Latin America, the Philippines, India or the Caribbean. Seeing the world under one roof – kids would definitely love the idea.

Meanwhile, Tropenmuseum Junior is a special programme for kids that hosts special events like craft workshops, theatre plays, guided tours, and more. Tropenmuseum also has a restaurant and shop for the entire family.

Get your tickets for Tropenmuseum now.

 

Body Worlds Amsterdam

This is definitely one of the most unique, if not bizarre, places you and your family (or anyone for that matter) can ever visit. What’s on display here are 20 real human specimens or plastic-laminated humans showing actual human anatomy, as prepared and preserved by Dr. Gunther von Hagens.

It may sound macabre at first but the idea behind this is to understand the science behind happiness. The specimens demonstrate the complexity, resilience, and vulnerability of the human form. The entire display aims to discover what makes humans happy.

Located on Amsterdam’s Damrak, Body Worlds is suitable for adults and children, so you don’t have to worry. The shows are interactive, giving children the chance to ask questions and learn.

There is also an adults-only exhibition in the basement that has attracted over 40 million visitors worldwide.

Buy your skip the line ticket for Body Worlds Amsterdam here.

 

The Anne Frank House

Finally, Amsterdam was the home of a courageous young girl named Anne Frank. The well-preserved Anne Frank House is the actual house where Anne and her family hid from the Nazis. It is here where Anne wrote his bestselling diary. Anne Frank was just a child when World War 2 erupted. Children who will get a chance to see this historic house will have a better appreciation of life, courage and freedom.

The Anne Frank House is one of the busiest tourist landmarks in Amsterdam. Book in advance or come early – or in the evening – to avoid the long lines.

 

 

These and many more sites should convince you to come to Amsterdam with kids. The capital city is known worldwide for its important museums, and to children, a museum is a place of wonder, discovery and mystery. Also, you will not run out of parks, restaurants and fun places to keep the little ones entertained and intrigued. Families shouldn’t hesitate to let their kids tag along when visiting the charming capital of the Netherlands.

 

 

 

Author Bio:

 

Ask The Dutch Guy is your go-to guide when it comes to The Netherlands. The goal of Ask The Dutch Guy is to showcase the beauty of The Netherlands and to inspire others to explore the country. Read more about Ask The Dutch Guy. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.