Some cities grow on you slowly and steadily. And some are love at first sight. Amsterdam, for me, falls in the latter category. Most travelers think of Amsterdam as a destination for adults, but I think there are many things to do in Amsterdam with kids as well. We spent 2 days in Amsterdam on a family trip in fall. Art, history, parks, activities for kids, fine dining, cafe culture, creative vibe….so many reasons to love this city, so many things to do in Amsterdam for families.
And, if you have more time to spend in the Netherlands, do consider one of the several day trips from Amsterdam. You could also visit Rotterdam, the second-largest city after Amsterdam. There are many interesting things to do in Rotterdam.
And check out the Best souvenirs in Amsterdam to take some home!
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Amsterdam is more a town than a metropolis. It has more bikes than people – roughly 850,000 bikes as against 835,000 people. Home to people from 180 nationalities, there is a reason why this cosmopolitan city welcomes more than 17 million visitors each year.
Amsterdam for families: 7 reasons to go on a family trip
Here is why I think this urbane destination is great for discerning families looking for a quick getaway –
1. City entwined with water
No, I am not talking about Venice!
Amsterdam’s Canal Ring has grown to be a unique urban landscape. Whether you take a cruise through the UNESCO World Heritage canal district or just admire them and the elegant houses lined up on foot, this is an experience like no other. We had visited the city in autumn: here are tips for choosing the best time to visit Amsterdam.
Browse through some of the best canal tours in the city:
2. Walk everywhere
Stay in the city center and walk around to the parks, restaurants, museums. Most of the top attractions are accessible on foot. And if you like to cycle and can follow rules, rent a bike. For families with young kids though, sightseeing in the city on cycles can be tricky. It is better to explore the countryside via a cycling tour.
3. Treat for art lovers
The Dutch gave the world famous painters as Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Gogh.
For an art lover, no place in the world as Amsterdam. Rijksmuseum – a vast treasure trove – is a must-visit. And for the serious Van Gogh lover, there is the Van Gogh museum. For those inclined to contemporary art, there is the Stedelijk Museum. All 3 museums are within easy walking distance, so the serious art lover doesn’t have to choose! There are plenty of other museums to go to, check out this post on the best museums in Amsterdam.
Spiegelkwartier, an area immersed in Dutch art and antique trade for over 80 years, is a great place to visit for the art connoisseur. More than 70 specialized dealers offer a wide variety.
4. Food coma
The cosmopolitan nature of the city translates to good food, from gourmet fine dining to street carts, and everything in between. Try the local dutch treats – stroopwafels, kroketten.
Great steak joints, lounges with international appeal, breweries with craft beer taps, good oriental food restaurants – the city has it all. Get away from Centrum into some of the local neighborhoods, where immigrant eateries serve everything from Israeli mezze to Georgian dumplings.
5. Things to do in Amsterdam with kids
Older kids would love cycling or walking food tour of the city. A boat tour may be more convenient for younger ones.
NEMO Science Center would keep kids ages 5-12 enthralled for a few hours. It is very informative and educational. You could pre-book your fast track access to Nemo Science Museum here.
Kids would also like Tropenmuseum – it has exhibitions to display art, objects, photographs, music, and film, giving an insight into the daily lives of the people from non-western cultures. TunFun is huge 4000 m2 indoor playground for children from ages 0 to 12.
6. Green with envy
So you have walked along the canals, been to a few museums, had a lovely dinner. All you want to do now is to relax outside in the sun. What I liked about Amsterdam is that there are parks everywhere. Vondelpark, the most famous park, is a must in Amsterdam for families. If you have more time on hand and are visiting in the spring season, a day trip to Keukenhof Gardens is not to be missed.
You can pre-book your entry ticket to Keukenhof Gardens with a bus ride here.
7. Did someone say cheese?
The Netherlands produces a variety of tempting cheeses, but the most typical and best known are the hard or semi-hard cheeses. Gouda is amongst the best-loved cheese here. Truffles, cumin, red pepper, pesto, so many tastes, and flavors. The Dutch have a visible passion for good cheese. Try a cheese tasting tour in Amsterdam, you won’t be disappointed. And bring back loads for the trip home! Cheese is definitely one of the best souvenirs in Amsterdam to take home.
Amsterdam 2-day Itinerary
If you have just a day or 2 days in Amsterdam, stay in the city center like we did. Most of the top attractions and the century-old canals are in the heart of the city and it is easy to walk everywhere.
Day 1 of Amsterdam Itinerary
Start with a good breakfast or brunch
I recommend The Pancake Bakery to load up on a carb-heavy delicious breakfast to begin your day – savory or sweet pancakes with an astonishing variety of toppings.
We passed the Anne Frank Huis on our way to breakfast but couldn’t manage to visit it during our 2 days in Amsterdam. Morning queues looked reasonable so you could stop by, if interested. I am told that the lines are the longest between 11 am – 3 pm.
Rent cycles at Vondelpark or take in a canal tour
Stop at Vondelpark, rent cycles and burn off some of those calories consumed for breakfast. You could also opt for a city canal tour and listen to the history of this unique city.
Visit an art museum
Chances are high that you won’t be able to take in more than one art museum while visiting Amsterdam with kids. In most travel forums, you see the question: Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh. Here is my opinion – Van Gogh museum only if you a series lover of his work. Else Rijksmuseum has a better collection from a varied set of artists and would be my recommendation. If you are interested in street art, you should consider a visit to the Straat Museum.
Take the audio guide and the Hall of Fame tour for a 1.5 hr visit at Rijksmuseum. You can even spend half a day here, the collection here is vast and interesting. Pre-book your Rijksmuseum Entrance Ticket here.
Browse through some great options for museum and city tours:
Try a different cuisine
For a city that is home to people from 180 nationalities, it is reasonable to have restaurants serving a variety of cuisines. It was interesting to note a large number of Indonesian restaurants.
Day 2 of Amsterdam Itinerary
Cycle/walk around the city
We chose to take the Sunday morning food walk to enjoy some of the local stuff at small cafes and restaurants. Read more about our Amsterdam Food Tour here.
If a food tour doesn’t excite you, take a Cycling or Segway tour around the city. There are so many cycling routes in Amsterdam to try. Walking around a local neighborhood – like Jordan or De Pijp – to enjoy the sunny day is another appealing option.
Great with kids
My daughter had a fun time at the NEMO Science Center. A delight for any kid from 4 – 14, this museum across 4 levels is something I recommend for all families. We also had a delightful time at the Dam Square.
Browse through some city tours in Amsterdam:
Food and stay recommendations
We stayed at the very stylish W Amsterdam in the heart of the city. No better place to be walking distance from all the main attractions. But there are many family-friendly hotels in Amsterdam.
For a 2 day stay, I recommend staying inn the city centre. Look up Amsterdam City Centre properties here:
There are good cafes in every corner – de koffiesalon for great coffee and Ijscuypje for ice cream are my recommendations. We enjoyed dinner at Mana Mana – an Israeli restaurant in the De Pijp area.
For more information and travel planning on Amsterdam, do visit this local website. And if you are considering moving to Amsterdam, there is wealth of information on costs, healthcare, work-life balance, cultural diversity, and housing challenges.
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Which is your favorite experience in Amsterdam? Share with us in the comments below.
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couldn’t agree more! I’m an Amsterdam local and it makes me sad when people only see the party side of this city – it is also fantastic for families, especially in the summer time!
Yes!! So many parks and museums and cafes to be enjoyed. My daughter loved the NEMO museum and the Dam square area. I couldn’t get enough of wandering around at a leisurely pace.
I was once and the sheer beauty of this city is very pleasant.
I second that. I loved walking around the city centre and neighbourhoods.
I think a lot of people associate crazy party life with Amsterdam. It is really nice to read about the city’s different side. Thanks for sharing!
True that, Liz. It is a city filled with interesting museums, cafes, historic canals, good food and friendly people.
I got a chance to visit Amsterdam for a couple of days long time ago and I liked it. Now, after reading your post, I like it even more. I’m sure my son will enjoy riding the bicycle for the city tour and also doing the canal tour.
There are some museums that your son might also enjoy. And he is sure to love stroop waffles 🙂
Amsterdam is such a fun place with so much to see and do. Great tips for traveling with a family. I’m going back in March and can’t wait to have some stroop waffles and street fries 🙂
You have a fun time, Lillian.
Loved the photos and all the points!
I’ve always been curious about the Netherlands in general, but had never thought about the food… a reason more to go 😉
Amsterdam also has a super cafe culture and creative vibes. Next time I go, I want to explore the countryside outside Amsterdam.
I think it’s perfect for a city break. I’ve only set foot in Amsterdam on a layover to US. Had some waffles for breakfast and that’s about it ahaha.
Ana, you must take out time for it then, for a proper visit.
I know. I would love like a cheese tasting tour :D. I always grab something from the duty free when I have AMS as a stop.
I’ve been to Amsterdam several times and love it. It’s one of the few places I’ve visited on holiday and thought “I could live here”. Time for another trip I think.
I would be ready for a trip again in a heartbeat!
Your photos are so pretty! I really need to go to Amsterdam, cannot believe I have not been yet!
It makes for a perfect city break for anyone, you will love it.