Let’s face it: Amsterdam actually has its charm in each and every season thanks to its 17th century beautiful olive-green canals. This ring of canals was also added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2010. This in combination with the beautiful facades, the special shops, cosy streets and the many cultural possibilities makes this city one of the destinations you must have visited once.
The capital of the Netherlands is not only a popular destination as a city trip for tourists but also for families it is the place to be to explore. It is also ideal as a holiday because it is close to home, which means you can save your children a long trip to or from the capital. Moreover, there are plenty of sights to see and things to do without spending a lot of money.
The Netherlands is a real cycling country and you can easily discover Amsterdam’s sights by bike. It’s really fun to rent a bike and explore Amsterdam on your own with the kids on the back! Furthermore, you can find many child-friendly hotspots to stay. We already have some of our favourite activities ready for you to do with the family!
Free entrance for the kids!
Do you decide to visit the sights and famous museums with the kids? Many museums – including the Rijksmuseum – give children up to the age of 12 free entrance. It’s certainly worth the effort of letting your children soak up some culture without having to pay dearly for it! Fun fact: in the Rijksmuseum you will find two magnificently decorated and very rare doll’s houses from the Golden Age and you can also take a special children’s tour.
A place ‘forbidden to touch nothing’ is a paradise for children.
The centre for science and technology NEMO is the largest science museum in the Netherlands with five floors full of exhibits with the motto ‘forbidden to touch nothing’. Children can experience science for themselves, even for toddlers there are a lot of exhibits to work with independently. The ideal indoor activity for families during a visit to Amsterdam! The NEMO museum is located near Amsterdam Central Station and you can go up on the roof for free! Tickets for children up to the age of 4 are free, from the age of 4 you pay €17.50 for a ticket. If you visit several museums during your stay in Amsterdam you can also choose to purchase a Museumkaart: with this card you have free entrance to more than 400 museums in the Netherlands.
Posing next to Icons
Madame Tussauds offers you the opportunity to pose next to icons, celebrities and superheroes. You will also find the wax likenesses of the popular girl band K3. Do you and your children dream of admiring your favourite celebrities up close? If so, a visit to Madame Tussauds Amsterdam is the place to be! Tickets can be ordered online here.
Pedal boating through the canals
Amsterdam is a fantastic city for cycling and has even more bikes than residents. Planning an original bike ride? In that case we would definitely recommend the pedal boats of Amsterdam! Pedal boats have been the city’s best canalside attraction for a long time. Taste the atmosphere of the old canals with your children in a playful way and rent a pedal boat.
A canal cruise especially for Freshwater pirates!
The only canal cruise in Amsterdam especially for children that takes you on an adventure through the canals. Join a tough Amsterdam mouse who is afraid of anything or anyone and have your child transformed into a real Freshwater pirate!
An educational treasure hunt for children
There are some fun treasure hunts in town, fun for children and parents guaranteed! During the treasure hunt you’ll learn about the history of Amsterdam in a playful way and you’ll pass some well-known sights. An inventive way to let your children explore an unknown city!
