Why you Should take your Kids
to Amsterdam
Believe it or not Amsterdam is a top destination for families. According to UNICEF dutch kids are the happiest in the world, but your kids don't have to be born there to enjoy it for themselves. It was our boys first holiday abroad and only a 1 hour flight from London Stansted. It is a city packed with exciting, crazy and fascinating attractions.
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Museums
For a small city Amsterdam has a great variety of museums with one of the most popular being Anne Frank House which is where she lived in hiding with her family during WW2. This exhibition introduces the story of the Holocaust from a child's point of view. Nemo-
not quite 'Finding Nemo' but a wonderfully designed science museum which features many 'hands on' activities and experiments to help visitors explore and understand the world around them.
Art enthusiasts can download the Family Quest app for free to solve clues at the Rijksmuseum or alternatively head to Scheepvaartmuseum where wanna-be mini pirates can role play on the East India Ship and shoot cannons from the top deck!
The city also has its own Madame Tussauds Wax Museum featuring many Dutch celebrities through different categories such as history, music, sport and much more. It is located in the city centre on Dam square near the Royal Palace of Amsterdam.
For the future mini football stars out there visit the Ajax football stadium. Take a tour which lasts around 75 minutes, have your photos taken in the players seats and dressing rooms plus let the kids have a kick around on the pitch! For 5 -12 year old's a free sports memorabilia bottle is included in the tour price. The tour price is €16 per adult and €10 per child.
This place is so cool! It is literally mini golf in the dark with hundreds of glowing sculptures. Even the golf balls glow. Minigolf has never been so fun and is perfect for a rainy day. The Mini Golf also has its own restaurant Noahs Arq, for you to relax and have a drink and a bite to eat before or after your game. Check out the Trip Advisor page here for the reviews and location -
Parks and Playgrounds
Amsterdam has many outdoor parks, playgrounds and outdoor spaces for your children to explore and let of some steam. Vondelpark is the city's version of Central Park. It attracts thousands of tourists and residents everyday. The park is home to a selection of cafes and restaurants for you to relax and watch the world go by whilst the kids play on the playground or skate park. Through the summer months the park holds many outdoor music, dance and cabaret performances in the open-air theatre.
South of Amsterdam is Amstelpark filled with beautiful flower gardens, a large playground and a petting zoo. There is also a small train that loops around the park from April - October.
Dutch Icecream
Be sure to try the delicious ice cream! My boys faces lit up when they saw the many different flavours they could choose from as well as macaroons, cheesecake and desserts that looked way too good to eat!
Travelling around the city
Amsterdam is a very easy to navigate with children but for the ultimate way to enjoy the city jump aboard a canal or river boat, rent out one of the many bikes which are dotted around or take a ride on the one of the double decker blue & white trams which children find extra exciting!
Whatever you plan to do, there is plenty to enjoy here and you are guaranteed to make many memories!
Have you visited Amsterdam with your family? What did you do on your trip? Let me know in the comments box below! I'd love to hear from you!
