Although Amsterdam is world-famous for its coffeeshops, the Red Light District, and romantic canal tours, there’s another side for families.
You have to step, for a moment, into a child’s mind—imagine a city full of bicycles, where boats navigate the streets instead of cars, and around the corner, you might stumble upon a gigantic windmill. And that’s not all—you’ll also find museums that feel more like amusement parks than traditional museums.
If you’re planning a trip to the capital of the Netherlands with the whole family, we’ve put together some places and activities to ensure the little ones have a great time:
NEMO
We’ve mentioned this impressive ship-shaped building several times, designed by Renzo Piano. It’s an interactive science and technology museum where the whole family can touch and experiment with the hands-on exhibits spread across its five floors.
Plus, its terrace offers fantastic views of the city.
It’s closed on Mondays, admission costs €15, and children under 4 enter for free.
Micropia
Micropia is the world’s first museum dedicated to the invisible world of microorganisms. At the museum, you can learn about the latest biotechnological advances and even get a scan of your own body to marvel at microbes under the microscopes.
The Artis Royal Zoo is located next to the museum, and it’s possible to get discounts at both venues by purchasing a combined ticket.
Open every day, admission costs €14 for adults and €12 for children aged 3 to 9.
This is Holland
This attraction gives you an overview of how the Netherlands was created: through the construction of mounds, dikes, windmills, and polders, they reclaimed land from the sea, shaping this extraordinary country below sea level.
All of this while enjoying four entertaining shows and a 5D flight simulation over the country’s must-see sights: the windmills of Kinderdijk, Amsterdam’s canals, the flower fields, the Delta Works, and the port of Rotterdam…
Open every day, admission costs €22 for adults and €18 for children aged 4 to 12.
A’dam VR game park
In the basement of the A’DAM Tower is the A’DAM VR Game Park, where you can enjoy the most exclusive virtual reality games, including thrilling 4D simulations, exciting zombie shooting games, and escape rooms.
With over 600 m², A’DAM VR Game Park is the largest virtual reality gaming park in the Netherlands.
Fun Forest
If the little ones need to burn off some energy, head to Amsterdamse Bos, the Amsterdam Forest, to swing among the trees. Swinging, climbing, zip-lining—in short, enjoying the forest from above. There are 8 courses suitable for all heights and levels of bravery.
Tony’s Chocolonely
The shop of the famous brand Tony’s Chocolonely is located in the Beurs van Berlage building, in the heart of the city, and is perfect for delighting the kids. In addition to choosing from dozens of delicious flavors with fun wrappers, you can design and order your own chocolate and watch how it’s made. And best of all, it’s fair-trade chocolate.
Vondelpark, Rembrandtpark and Westerpark
We can’t forget about the parks. The most famous, Vondelpark, is also the largest, covering 45 hectares. It has areas for walking or cycling and features numerous playgrounds.
At Rembrandtpark, in addition to playgrounds, there’s a small farm where you can feed the animals. There’s also Het Landje, a playground where children aged 6 to 14 can build huts or sail in small boats.
Westerpark is very family-friendly, featuring charming cafés, restaurants, bars, and ice cream shops. There are also two playgrounds, and on Sundays, there’s always an event or market with live music.
We hope you’ve found our article helpful and keep these spots in mind for your next visit. And if you’re curious to learn more about the city’s parks, you’ll definitely enjoy this article on the best parks in Amsterdam.
