7 tips for an extraordinary holiday in Amsterdam with children

We love Holland and have visited this beautiful country more than once. From Düsseldorf, the Netherlands with our favorite city of Amsterdam can be reached quickly by train and the perfect place for an exciting weekend. We have spent many exciting weekends in Amsterdam in every season. It’s time for a blog post about one of our favorite places for a city break with kids.

Sightseeing and walking in Amsterdam with children

Amsterdam is already worth seeing as a city and for the first visit there is actually no need to pay entrance fees to visit museums. We just love to walk through the pretty canals and let the splendid patrician houses work on us. In winter Erik always had a lot of fun throwing snowballs on the glass roofs of the sightseeing boats (be careful not to imitate;))

It is always worthwhile to take a detour from the large canals to the small, transverse channels. The Jordaan & Negen Straatjes Quarter is still a real insider tip. In the former working-class district, corner shops, street cafes and specialty shops are lined up.

The sinful corners with coffee shops and the red light milieu so popular with many tourists are in the old town. A walk through the red light district can also be done well with children in daylight as long as they are still small enough and don’t ask as many questions.

There’s always something going on in the streets of Amsterdam. The performances of many international street artists and showmen don’t let boredom arise.

Discover the secret corners of Amsterdam with “Locals”.

If you would like to see more, discover a few secret corners of the city and get exciting first-hand information from locals, I can recommend a guided tour in Amsterdam. It is very exciting to get to know Amsterdam through the eyes of a local. I find it very nice, for example, to book a walk through the city immediately after arrival. So you can get rid of all your questions, get tips for current events, exciting activities and the best restaurants to plan your weekend even better.

See Amsterdam from the water with children.

A canal cruise through Amsterdam is a must if you visit Amsterdam with children. Amsterdam’s historic canal belt is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The boat trips run through the lively center of the city. On the banks of the more than 100 km long canal network you can admire the popular sights such as the Westerkerk Church, the Anne Frank House and the Hermitage Museum from a water perspective. If you are traveling with children, a private boat tour is certainly more exciting. With a little luck, the little ones can also drive and you can enjoy the view with a cold drink and listen to exciting stories.

Discover Amsterdam with your child and bowling on the bike.

Amsterdam has a very well developed bicycle network and you have to take advantage of that. Biking is also possible with a child in Amsterdam. At many rental stations you can not only rent the famous Dutch bikes, but also cargo bikes. These are these transport bikes in which your children can sit in the front of the “trailer”.

If you want to leave the city behind for a few hours, I can recommend a bike ride to the Vondelpark. On the huge lawns you can relax in the sun and enjoy some nature. In the middle of the park there is a large beer garden (Blauwe Theehuis) for a snack in between. You can also bring your own picnic items with you. Of course you will also find a very nice, large playground here.

See Amsterdam from above with children

… and swing on the highest swing in Europe. How does that sound? This is something that we haven’t tried yet, but this activity will be high on our to-do list on our next trip to Amsterdam. From the observation deck A’DAM LOOKOUT you can see the historic center of the city, the vibrant harbor, the unique Dutch polder landscape and the canals. The A’DAM LOOKOUT is located on the top of the A’DAM tower in Amsterdam North. The highest swing in Europe also hangs up here. You can swing back and forth at over 100 meters above the edge of the A’DAM tower. Certainly not for people who are afraid of heights but definitely a fun activity for older children.

Visit the Amsterdam markets with children.

A city trip to Amsterdam also includes a visit to one of the numerous markets.

The flower market is particularly exciting. Fresh flowers are delivered daily from the border areas in the area and offered on floating barges. You will also find classic souvenirs such as flower bulbs, fridge magnets and wooden shoes. The floating flower market is open every day. (Address: Singel, 1012 WP Amsterdam)

The "Noordermarkt" is the market of the "Jordaan" district. It is a mixture of antiques, flea market and ecological and organic market. The mood here is very relaxed. You can visit the "Noordermarkt" on Mondays and Saturdays. (Address: Herenstraat 39, 1015 BZ Amsterdam)

The Bazaar is the largest covered market in Europe and worth visiting in bad weather. It was once a black market. Today you will find everything from furniture and electrical appliances to fashion and cosmetics. Walking through the oriental market makes you feel like you are in the Middle East. The bazaar is open on Saturdays and Sundays. (Address: Albert Cuypstraat 182, 1073 BL Amsterdam)

Exciting museums in Amsterdam with children

There is no shortage of museums in Amsterdam. Our personal favorites are:

NEMO Science Museum near the main train station. The science museum for children looks like a whale from the outside. We had a lot of fun there on a rainy day. It is a very great, exciting and entertaining place, not just for children. Touching is expressly allowed here. Children can participate anywhere and try everything.

Rijksmuseum is dedicated to artists, crafts and history, and its architecture alone makes it an imposing building. There is an app for the children to explore the museum and solve a quiz. There are many old masters to see, such as Rembrandt or Vermeer. The museum is huge, so you certainly can’t do everything with children. The rush in front of the very famous works of art is very high. It is best to visit the museum in the morning.

Stedelijk Museum is the perfect place for lovers of modern art. And for us too. We love to philosophize about the ambiguous works of art and there is also a lot to see for children. The Stedelijk offers top works by the greatest artists in the world, including many works by Dutch artists from the 20th century.

The Anne Frank House is a museum dedicated to Anne Frank, a Jewish Holocaust victim. Every time we wanted to visit the museum, tickets were no longer available. However, the museum is on our to-do list for the next visit.

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