Most families traveling with kids are on a bit of a budget, I know we are! And let’s be honest… who doesn’t love free things to do? There are loads of things to do for free in Haarlem, but you need to know where to look. So if you’ve visiting Haarlem with kids, let us help you a bit and tell you what fun free things you can do in our lovely hometown.

Petting zoos & animals

A petting zoo (also called petting farm, children’s farm or ‘kinderboerderij’) is the perfect place for kids to see and touch animals. Petting zoos in The Netherlands are generally free to visit. Read on to discover our favorite petting zoos in Haarlem.

Kinderboerderij de Houthoeve

The largest petting zoo in Haarlem is Kinderboerderij De Houthoeve in the Haarlemmerhout Park. This petting zoo, with a deer park, is within easy walking distance of Haarlem’s city center and a fun and free family activity for families with younger kids. De Houthoeve has a small but nice play area for kids. At De Houthoeve you’ll find horses, donkeys, goats, sheep, deer, llamas, chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs. There’s a cute little restaurant called Theehuis de Haarlemmerhout about 1-minute walk from the petting zoo, where you can enjoy a nice pancake or sandwich. De Haarlemmerhout Park itself is nice and green and a great place for a picnic.

Location: Hertenkamplaan 3, 2012 CV Haarlem

Kinderboerderij Schoterhoeve

Kinderboerderij De Schoterhoeve opened its doors in 1953, making it the oldest petting zoo in Haarlem. It’s located in the Noorder Sportpark in Haarlem Noord and a bit smaller than De Houthoeve. This petting zoo has a small playground and there are pigs, sheep, goats, rabbits, guinea pigs and different species of birds. During the weekend you can combine both the Schoterhoeve and Artisklas in one visit, they’re very close by.

Location: Sportweg 1, 2024 CN Haarlem

Miniature Zoo Artisklas Haarlem

Artisklas Haarlem is the smallest official zoo in The Netherlands and is run completely by volunteers. Please note that it’s only open during the weekend! Check their website for the opening hours. It’s located at the edge of the Schoterbos, next to the Noorder Sportpark. It’s very small scale, but the animals are well taken care of and the volunteers take the time to tell you all about them. The zoo consists of four small cabins and some outdoor housing for the animals. You’ll find various species of reptiles, but also some interesting mammals, such as a polar fox, mink, mongoose, skunk, porcupine and a raccoon.

Location: Arthur van Schendelpad 1, 2024 CP Haarlem

Kinderboerderij ‘t Molentje (Heemstede)

Our favorite petting zoo isn’t in Haarlem itself, but in Heemstede which is about 15 minutes away by car or 30 minutes by bus. It’s quite easy to reach by public transport. Kinderboerderij ‘t Molentje is located on the edge of a nice forest called Groenendaalse Bos and near a large playground Speeltuin Groenendaal. The playground isn’t free, but quite cheap and of course the petting zoo and forest are. ’t Molentje is the oldest Dutch municipal petting zoo, with a rich history dating back to 1951. This is a large petting zoo with over 200 animals of about 40 different species.

Location: Burgemeester van Rappardlaan, 2104 WP Heemstede

Geitenboerderij Ridammerhoeve (Amsterdamse Bos)

About 20 minutes by car or an hour by bus from Haarlem Central Station you’ll find goat farm Ridammerhoeve, located in the middle of the Amsterdam Forest. Entry to the farm and the nice playground is free. Besides goats you’ll also find sheep, chickens, pigs, cows and horses at this organic farm. There are lots of areas where kids can see and pet the goats and when there are baby goats, you can buy a bottle of milk for a small fee and feed them. At the farm store you can buy various organic cheeses, meats, vegetables and herbs and there’s also a small restaurant that sells delicious organic cakes and sandwiches. The Amsterdamse Bos is a very nice area to visit, with various options for playing, swimming or renting canoes or paddle boats.

Location: Nieuwe Meerlaan 4, 1182 DB Amstelveen

Museums & history

Visiting a museum in The Netherlands can easily set you back €10-20 per person. Fortunately there are a few museums in Haarlem that are free to visit or that offer free entry for kids up to 18.

If you’re staying in The Netherlands for longer than a few days and plan to visit at least 5 of the larger museums, it might be worth it to invest in a Museumkaart, which gives you free entry to over 400 Dutch museums.

Archeologisch Museum Haarlem

The archeology museum is one of our son’s favorites. This small but interesting museum is located in the cellar of the old meat hall (Vleeshal) at Haarlem’s central square, Grote Markt. The low displays of  Archeologisch Museum Haarlem are the perfect height for kids and kids love the small digging pit where they, as proper archaeologists, can dig up pieces of pottery and bones. Kids can also discover how hard it is to piece together a vase from lots of small pieces and find out how archeologists learn what people used to eat by sorting through a sorting tray representing a cess pit. Entrance to the museum is free, but opening hours are limited so do check their website before going.

Location: Grote Markt 18k, 2011 RD Haarlem

Vishal

De Vishal (translation ‘fish hall’) is an exhibition space for contemporary and modern visual arts and design. Don’t confuse this location with ‘De Hallen’ of simply ‘Hal’, which is part of the Frans Hals Museum. Originally the Vishal was Haarlem’s fish market for saltwater fish, which is why it’s located at the north side of the church which offers the most shade. On the other side of the church you’ll find the Riviervismarkt (literally river fish market) , where fresh water fish from the Spaarne and Haarlemmermeer was sold. The Vishal association, consisting of 150 professional artists, organizes about 10 different and surprising exhibitions per year. They aim to make art accessible for everyone by offering free entry.

Location: Grote Markt 20, 2011 RD Haarlem

Corrie ten Boom Huis

The Corrie ten Boom House is Haarlem’s equivalent to the Anne Frank House, it’s an ‘open home’ museum that tells the Ten Boom family history. Part of the house is decorated as it was in the time the family lived there and the upper floor is a museum with family pictures and WWII objects. During the Second World War the Ten Boom family hid many Jews and members of the Dutch resistance in a specially remodelled part of their house. It was the Ten Boom’s way to live out their Christian faith. One year before the end of the war Corrie Ten Boom, her sister Betsie and their father Casper were betrayed by a Dutch collaborator and send to the Ravensbrück concentration camp in Germany. Only Corrie survived. She wrote many books, including the bestseller The Hiding Place (‘De Schuilplaats’), which was later made into a film. The Corrie ten Boomhuis can only be visited with a tour. Entrance is free, but donations are very much appreciated.

Location: Barteljorisstraat 19, 2011 RA Haarlem

Frans Hals Museum

One museum with two locations that each have their own character. The Frans Hals Museum has an internationally renowned collection of 17th-century art from Haarlem, such as the artist Frans Hals whose name the museum proudly carries. You’ll also find works by a lot of his contemporaries in this museum’s extraordinary collection. But, surprisingly the museum also has a large collection of cutting-edge art by leading contemporary artists from the 20th and 21st century. Very interesting is the museum’s mission to be transhistoric by offering both historic and contemporary art, and a combination of both. Works by Frans Hals can only be found at location Hof. One museum, two locations, one ticket. After you’ve visited one location, your tickets is valid for a week so you can take your time and visit the other location when you feel like it. Which makes this really good value for money. Also, the Frans Hals Museum is free for under 19.

Location Hof: Groot Heiligland 62, 2011 ES Haarlem
Location Hal: Grote Markt 16, 2011 RD Haarlem

Haarlemse Hofjes

Hofjes are a proper Dutch phenomenon and can be found not only in Haarlem, but also in Amsterdam, Leiden and other Dutch cities. The oldest ‘hofje’ (Hofje van Bakenes) of The Netherlands is located in Haarlem and dates back to 1395. They’re community kitchen gardens surrounded by small almshouses, an early form of care for the elderly (women only). As opposed to the older ‘begijnhofjes’ or beguinages, the ‘hofjes’ were charitable institutions, privately funded by wealthy benefactors. Not only was this earliest form of social housing a service to the city, but also to their family as the hofjes were linked to the family name. Some hofjes were also established from the estate of wealthy Haarlemmers after they passed away, such as the Teylershofje funded by Pieter Teyler. In the 17th century there were 40 hofjes in Haarlem, nowadays there are 22 left.

The hofjes are an important part of Haarlem’s history. The ‘hofjeswandeling’ (hofjes walk) is a great way to discover these idyllic courtyard gardens and ‘hidden’ hofjes and learn more about the city’s history and layout. You can walk the route on your own, with the online route description.

Starting point: Haarlem Central Station

Juttersmuseum (Zandvoort)

The Juttersmu-ZEE-um as it’s officially called displays beachcombers’ finds. Almost anything you can think of, you can find here. It looks like a collection of junk, but each item tells a story! Take a look at all the showcased items, listen to the stories of real beachcombers, watch the information films in the small cinema and take a look at the five sea aquariums to see what sea life you can discover. Of course, in the old days people combed the beach in search of stuff they could use. Nowadays it’s more a hobby and a lifestyle. The museum is run by volunteers and has limited opening hours (Wednesday 13:30 – 16:00, Saturday and Sunday 12:00 – 16:00). Entry is free, donations are appreciated.

Location: Strandweg 2, 2042 JA Zandvoort

Parks and playgrounds

There are a number of parks and playgrounds in Haarlem. Keep in mind that most of the playgrounds that are run by a ‘speeltuinvereniging’ (playground association) aren’t free to visit and often have limited opening hours. Entrance fee is usually very modest though, €0,50 or €1,- per child. But there are also some great free playgrounds and you’ll find small playing areas scattered around the neighborhoods.

Nature playground Paddenpoel

Playground Paddenpoel is part of the Haarlemmer Kweektuin. It’s a free natural playground, where everything is either nature of from nature. Wooden climbing structures, a water pump, lot of gras and green, water and small bridges. Because there’s a lot of water that’s unfenced, it’s not a playground suitable for young kids to play unsupervised. This playground was crowdfunded and realized with the help of a lot of volunteers, sponsors and materials provided by local businesses. In the Kweektuin you’ll also find a gnome path and a cafe called Kweekcafé.

Locatie: Kleverlaan 9, 2023 JC Haarlem

Speeltuin Floragaarde

Playground Floragaarde is a playground in Haarlem’s Leidsebuurt (Haarlem West). There’s an area specifically for young kids where they can safely play and discover. For older kids there are some climbing structures and a basketbal field and skate area. For the parents there are some benches and picnic tables. Next to the playground is the Huisdierencentrum Haarlem.

Location: Van Oosten de Bruijnstraat 62, 2014 VS Haarlem

Molenplas

In the most southern tip of Haarlem, Schalkwijk Zuid, in the Molenwijk neighborhood you’ll find the Molenplas. A small local park, with some climbing structures and outdoor fitness equipment. And, best of all, a nice natural swimming area. Open for swimming from the beginning of May. There’s a small sandy area where the littles can swim (watch out, steps can be slippery!) and generally, the water quality is better than at the Veerplas. There’s a restaurant called Molenplas next to this recreation area and there’s also a public toilet. Of course, you can easily bring your own food and have a picnic.

Location: Waertmolenpad 1, 2036 ES Haarlem

City Park Haarlemmerhout

When the weather is nice you’ll find lots of Haarlemmers enjoying themselves in the Haarlemmerhout (or ‘De Hout’ as it’s often called locally). You’ll see them sunbathing, having a picnic or running and playing. The Haarlemmerhout is a large city park at the southern edge of the city center. It’s nice and green, with lots of grass and plenty of large trees that provide shade. In fact, it’s the oldest city park in The Netherlands. In the Golden Age, it was a popular recreation area for the wealthy from Haarlem and Amsterdam. Many of Haarlem’s largest outdoor events are held in this park. The Haarlemmerhout is an easy 10-minute walk away from the Grote Markt. Petting zoo De Houthoeve is located in the Haarlemmerhout, as well as a deer park and Theehuis de Haarlemmerhout, a small but nice restaurant.

Speelbos Meermond (Heemstede)

Not your typical playground with a swing and a sandpit, but an amazing place to spend a day running, climbing and discovering. This play area is quite large and there’s a lot to see and do, like playing hide and seek, climbing and sliding, building huts, everything is possible with a bit of imagination. Especially if your kids love to climb, they’ll have so much fun here. There is water in some areas, so with small kids you need to pay extra attention. Speelbos Meermond is open from sunup to sundown and free to visit. There are no facilities at this play area, so bring toilet paper and your own lunch and snacks.

Location: Cruquiusweg 49, 2102 LS Heemstede

Nationaal Park Zuid-Kennemerland

Nationaal Park Zuid-Kennemerland is one of 20 National Parks in The Netherlands. We love spending the day in this green oasis, surrounded by nature. The national park covers an area of about 3.800 hectares and includes the North Sea beach. There are a number of entrances to this area. At each of the entrances you’ll find both walking paths and bike paths. We prefer the Koevlak entrance, where the visitors center is located. Opposite the visitors center there’s a nice natural playground for kids. A little further along the path you’ll find a play forest and a lovely dune lake called ’t Wed, where you can swim in the summertime. From Haarlem you can either rent a bike and ride to the dunes (it takes about 20 minutes to reach the Koevlak entrance) or you can take a bus. If you want to go by car, there’s a large paid parking area right near the entrance.

Location Koevlak entrance: Zeeweg 12, 2051 EC Overveen

Beach at Bloemendaal or Zandvoort

Who doesn’t like a trip to the beach? Kids generally love to play with sand and water. The beach in Zandvoort can be easily reached by public transport from Haarlem. Take the train from Haarlem Central Station to Zandvoort, or go by bus. Of course, you can also rent a bike. The Zandvoort beach is about 9km away from the city center and the last part is a nice ride through the dune area. A lot of the beach pavilions close for the winter season, but beach pavilion Thalassa (number 18) is open year-round. There’s a fun and colorful play structure for kids right next door. This eco-friendly restaurant on the beach offers amazing fresh fish and other tasty dishes for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Location Thalassa: Boulevard Barnaart 18, 2041 KB Zandvoort

Other activities

Farmer’s markets

There are a number of weekly markets in Haarlem. A great place to get some fresh fruits and veggies, but also cheese, fish, clothes, fabrics, snacks, those lovely Dutch stroopwafels and lots of other things. The largest market is at the Grote Markt on Saturday, and there are a number of local markets during the week. They usually start at 9:00 and last until about 16:00.

Monday: Grote Markt / Botermarkt
Tuesday: Californieplein (Schalkwijk)
Thursday: Floresstraat (Haarlem Noord)
Friday: Zomerkade near Nagtzaambrug (Haarlem Oost)
Saturday: Grote Markt / Botermarkt

Every Saturday there’s an organic farmer’s market at the Botermarkt and every first Saturday of the month from 10:00-15:00 there’s an eco market at de Kweektuin in Haarlem Noord.

Free festivals in Haarlem

In the warmer months of the year, Haarlem has a number of free festivals.

Koningsdag / King’s Day – April 27

While King’s Day in Haarlem is a bit less crazy than in Amsterdam, it’s still quite festive. Traditionally on this day, the city center turns into a massive flea market. It starts early, so if you’re looking for some good bargains, be on time! The atmosphere is festive and happy… and orange.

Bevrijdingspop / Liberation Day – May 5

The Liberation Day festival in Haarlem is the oldest in The Netherlands. On the evening of May 4th the Dutch commemorate the casualties of wars worldwide with 2 minutes of silence at 20:00 and a tribute on Dam Square in Amsterdam. On May 5th, The Netherland’s official liberation day from the Second World War, we celebrate our freedom. This is done with a massive free music festival that takes place in the Haarlemmerhout Park. Definitely worth going! For kids there’s a kids area (which is usually crazy busy) and you’ll see lots of kids running around during the day. Bring some ear protection for the littles, it can be quite loud. Please note that you can’t bring your own food and drinks. 2 packets of drinks are allowed for kids up til 5, as well as babyfood and formula, but no glass bottles. There’s plenty of food trucks to choose from.

Kleverparkfestival – early June

The Kleverpark festival is a fun family festival in the Kleverpark neighborhood (close to Haarlem Central Station). There are lots of fun kids activities, live music, food trucks and a market with local products. The festival is free to visit, but in order to participate in the activities for kids you need to buy a stamp card and you’ll receive a stamp at each activity.

Houtfestival – end of June

Starting with the Houtnacht on Saturday and the Houtfestival following on Sunday, you’re in for a festive weekend. On four different stages in the Haarlemmerhout you’ll find performances by local and international artists. Not only music, but also dance, theatre, film and art. There are two special areas reserved for kids, with lots of activities such as arts and crafts, but also theatre and music. There’s also a market area and food trucks.

Parksessies – early July

Parksessies is a 4-day art, music and theatre festival that lasts from Wednesday til Saturday. The main stage is in the Haarlemmerhout, but there are also performances and exhibitions in several other locations, such as the Jopenkerk, Provincietuin, Patronaat and Vishal. It mostly takes place in the late afternoon and evening. Not very interesting for young kids, but older kids that are interested in culture and performance will enjoy it.

Proefpark Haarlem

The last weekend of the summer holiday it’s time for Proefpark Haarlem in the Kenaupark. It’s a food truck festival that also offers numerous activities for kids and live music. Usually the weather is pretty sunny this time of year and this green park is the perfect location for a relaxed picnic. Of course, the food isn’t free but there’s no entry fee so you can also just bring your own food and drinks and enjoy the atmosphere and the activities.

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Naturalis Biodiversity Center definitely deserves its spot in the top 10 best children’s museums in The Netherlands. Located in Leiden, this Dutch natural history museum is only a short train ride away from Amsterdam and well worth the visit. The museum has been closed a very long time for renovations, but in September 2019 it was finally reopened. Better than ever! Spread out over almost 6000m2 you’ll find Naturalis’ massive collection of 42 million plants, animals, rocks and fossils. Special mention of course for the dinosaurs! Let us tell you all about why a visit to Naturalis should be on your list of things to do in The Netherlands.

Naturalis, the Dutch national research institute for biodiversity, has one of the largest natural history collections worldwide. Cataloging every find, researchers from all over the world are able to work with this collection. Each of the 120 researchers and all the support staff at Naturalis have a passion for nature and the new building reflects this perfectly. Now, why is this a great place to visit with kids?

An interactive experience for all ages

What we really like about Naturalis is that it’s a museum for all ages. We’ve been there twice now and the visitors are a great mix of both young and old. Anyone with an interest and passion for nature will love this museum. You can check out the museum by just reading and watching the exhibits, see the researchers in action in the Live Science section in the basement or take a more hands-on approach and examine the curiosity cabinet in the Ice Age gallery or experience an earthquake at the Earth gallery.

Live Science

The first time we went to Naturalis, we skipped the Live Science section because there was so much else to see. So we made sure we didn’t miss it the second time. The Live Science area is located in the basement of Naturalis and can be visited for free, without a museum ticket. At set times the Naturalis scientists give presentations, but the best part is seeing the researchers at work. When we were there we saw a taxidermist preparing a bird and we went to the area where they clean and prepare the dinosaur bones. One of the guys working there spent over half an hour explaining all kinds of dinosaur stuff to us. So cool! He was very knowledgeable and his enthusiasm for his field of work was very inspirational.

The galleries at Naturalis

The museum has seven theme galleries: Life, Ice Age, Earth, Early humans, Dinosaur Era, Seduction and Death. Each of the galleries has its own look an feel, and all are very well done and impressive. As we could have expected, the Dinosaur gallery is our son’s favorite by far.

Life gallery

The sensational entrance gallery is called ‘Life’. This is where you discover the diversity and celebration of life. Light, video and sound are combined with a large selection of Naturalis’ wildlife collection to let you experience nature in all of its beauty. It’s a very impressive part of the museum. From a massive African elephant to a tiny mouse and even smaller butterflies, birds and insects. A wide range of aquatic and terrestrial species highlight how all animals and plants have their unique place in nature.

Ice Age gallery

Check out the ‘Big Five’ that lived in The Netherlands in prehistoric times: the woolly mammoth, the woolly rhinoceros, the steppe bison, the cave lion, and the cave hyena. There’s a scale model of a barren prehistoric landscape that fills most of the room, surrounded by hundreds of fossils from that time. Can you imagine these animals lived over 30.000 years ago? Using the binoculars, you can watch the animals that lived on these prehistoric plains as if they’re really there. We love the curiosity cabinet, that lets you explore the fossils up close. Can you guess what animal that bone, skin or molar is from? How did these animals live in the ice age?

Earth gallery

Learn all about natural phenomena that have to do with our planet Earth, and its activity within. What do Hawaii, Japan, Brazil, and Iceland have in common? Each has amazing landscapes, untouched by man and shaped by Earth’s activity below the surface. Naturalis makes you appreciate the raw beauty and amazing natural forces of our planet, by illustrating the effects of plate tectonics, such as earthquakes and erupting volcanoes. Experience an earthquake in Japan, visit a stone quarry in Brazil and check out the spot where Iceland is split in two, all while following the experiences of ‘fellow-travelers’ you meet along the way.

Early Humans gallery

The true origin of humankind is still a matter of debate. In the Early Humans gallery Naturalis tells the story of Dutch researcher and doctor Eugene Dubois, who was determined to find the missing link in human evolution. At the end of the 19th century he joined the Dutch army as a physician and accepted a post in the Dutch East Indies so he could continue his search there. At Naturalis you’ll find the Homo erectus fossils, a skull cap, a femur and a molar, discovered by Dubois on the Indonesian Island of Java. What really caught our attention was the reconstruction of the lifelike prehistoric woman that’s displayed. Is this what our ancestors looked like?

Dinosaurs Era gallery

In this gallery, you’ll find one of Naturalis’ major finds, the famous T-Rex called Trix. Naturalis researchers discovered this amazingly well preserved and complete skeleton on the North American prairie of Montana. The dinosaur gallery is 12 meters high and the huge dinosaur skeletons, combined with projections and sounds are incredible. It really makes the dinosaurs come alive! The dinosaur gallery obviously is our son’s favorite. Besides the T.Rex skeleton the museum also has various other well-preserved dinosaurs, such as the Brachiosaurus, Diplodocus and Triceratops.

Seduction gallery

Procreation can be a sensitive topic, but Naturalis manages to present it in a playful way. This gallery, presented as a warehouse of love, stimulates all your senses with a huge collection of objects, trivia, illustrations and games. What do you know about the mating ritual of ruffs, the attraction of female giraffe urine or the fidelity of an African penguin? Is immaculate conception really possible and which animal lays the smallest eggs? In a colorful gallery Naturalis showcases a great mix of fun and facts related to courtship, coupling and offspring.

Death gallery

As death is a part of life, Naturalis believes a museum about all aspects of life on Earth should also have a gallery about death. The gallery is built around the idea of the circle of life, death leads to rebirth. It’s presented as a ‘maze of death’ to illustrate we don’t know when or how our time comes, only that life is finite. It’s an impressive display, dark with numerous spotlighted objects that show the many faces of death. To be honest it was a bit too much for our 6-year old. If your child is very sensitive, you may want to skip this section.

The sustainable Naturalis building

The architecture of the new Naturalis building is inspired by nature, with lots of natural shapes and the use of natural materials. Honeycombs, leave patterns and cat’s eyes are only a few shapes that can be found inside this building made of natural stone, oak wood, glass and steel. Natural aging of these materials will only give the building more character over time. Of course, in this day and age such a museum has to be sustainable. Naturalis has its own geothermal heat pump system, sustainable ventilation, 100% LED lighting, solar panels, green roofs and an energy-friendly climate control system.

Food and drink at Naturalis

There is so much to see and do at Naturalis that at some point you really need a break. There’s a well-stocked restaurant on the ground floor and a coffee corner on the 5th floor. You’re free to bring your own food if you prefer, and eat it in the café on the 9th floor.

Naturalis: our verdict

Is Naturalis suitable for kids? Is it worth a visit? Is Naturalis a fun place to visit with kids? Will we visit again? The answer to all of these is YES. We love this museum! As homeschoolers having such a great resource nearby is fantastic. We saw kids of all ages at the museum, from toddlers to teens. It really is a museum everyone can enjoy and there’s a lot to see and do. I do think kids 5+ will get the most out of it, but younger kids won’t be bored.

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An African safari in The Netherlands, is that possible? Yes, it is! Beekse Bergen Safari Park is a unique wildlife park in the south of the Netherlands. Definitely not a zoo in the traditional sense of the word, but an awesome wildlife experience. Spread out over approximately 300 acres (120 hectares) Beekse Bergen gives you the opportunity to see wild animals such as giraffes, buffalos and cheetahs from your own car, without a fence between you and the animals. How cool is that!

Safari Park Beekse Bergen is located between Hilvarenbeek and Tilburg, approximately 1,5 hours from Amsterdam. We recently visited the safari park with our 5-year old and had a fantastic time. Beekse Bergen offers safaris by car, bus or boat. And there’s even an option to organize a game drive and go off-road with one of the park’s rangers in an open land cruiser (additional fee, arrange in advance).

Come early so you have enough time for all the different types of safaris and still have some time left to play and eat!

Beekse Bergen in a nutshell

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• opened in 1968
• approximately 300 acres
• 150 species of animals
• over a million visitors per year
• active in education, conservation and research
• located near Hilvarenbeek

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Short history of Beekse Bergen

Lion Park Beekse Bergen was opened in 1968, a cooperation of municipalities Hilvarenbeek and Tilburg. Car safaris, where visitors could observe lions in semi-freedom from their car, were a novelty in The Netherlands. It became a big success and in the next years a lot more species were added and the park was extended. In 1982 Beekse Bergen added a walking safari and from 1984 visitors could see bird of prey demonstrations. In the following years the park became less popular and closure threatened. In 1987 Beekse Bergen was sold to leisure concern Libema, which also operates AquaZoo Leeuwarden, Dierenrijk Nuenen en ZooParc Overloon. A number of new species were added, as well as the bus and boat safaris and both the walking and car safaris were improved.

Safari options at Beekse Bergen

At Beekse Bergen you can go on safari in your own car, or take a bus, walking or boat safari and discover the 150 species of animals that live in the park. All safaris are included in the entrance fee. Let’s talk a bit more about the different safaris that are on offer.

Car safari

It’s important to follow the park’s rules as some of the animals are dangerous. In 2018 a French family with a small child decided to get out of their car to get a better look of the cheetahs and were very nearly attacked and in 2012 a 10-year old boy was bitten. The rules are there for reason and it’s important your kids are aware (and can’t open doors and windows).

Bus safari

Boat safari

Make sure to take notice of the times the boat runs and be on time as it can get quite busy. There are signs at the dock and you can also see the times in the Beekse Bergen app. Unfortunately, the app mentioned a departure at 17:00 from Kongo restaurant but it turned out that was a mistake. So we saved the boat safari til the end and ended up having to walk all the way back in the end. The only advantage was that the park was almost empty by that time!

Walking safari

Animals at Beekse Bergen

Did you know an elephant drinks between 70 and 160 liters of water per day, that a crocodile can live to be 100 years old in the wild, that a male gorilla can weight up to 440 lbs (200kg) and that there are only about 300 wild addax alive?

Shows and demonstrations

Birds of prey

Feeding demos

At set times there are feeding demonstrations along the walking safari route. The animals’ caretakers show you how the animals are fed and tell you lots of interesting facts. See how the tigers, chimpanzees, elephants and many other animals get their food and learn all about their feeding habits.

Playgrounds and restaurants at Beekse Bergen

Safari resort, holiday park or campground

If you want to fully embrace the experience you can opt to stay at the safari resort. Wake up the sound of lions in the morning and see the giraffes roam from your private terrace. You’ll also find a holiday park right next to the park as well as a campground.

Conclusion

All in all we really enjoyed our visit to Beekse Bergen and would recommend it. Of course for our son the highlight was getting chosen as a volunteer for the bird of prey demo, but he also really enjoyed the excitement of the car safari. We feel this was a really nice way to combine education and play in a fun family day trip.

Tip: Fairytale amusement park Efteling is only about 20kms away from Beekse Bergen. Staying one or more nights in the south of the Netherlands (near Tilburg or even Breda or Den Bosch) will enable you to see a different part of Holland and combine the two parks.

The post Beekse Bergen – on safari in The Netherlands appeared first on FlipFlopGlobetrotters.com.

Are you planning to visit Amsterdam with kids? With the proper preparations, a family trip to Amsterdam can be a lot of fun! Amsterdam, the capital of The Netherlands, has a bit of a reputation (to put it mildly). Some things on the standard ‘must do in Amsterdam’ list aren’t very appropriate for kids, but is Amsterdam suitable for families? Yes, it definitely is! Let’s take a look at the top things to do in Amsterdam for families.

Why visit Amsterdam? As with most larger cities, there are a lot of things for children to do in Amsterdam. There are some fantastic children’s museums in Amsterdam, you’ll find plenty of petting farms, a city zoo, playgrounds and great child-friendly restaurants and family-friendly hotels.

Getting hungry from all that sightseeing and family fun in Amsterdam? Don’t forget to read our post about the best child-friendly restaurants in Amsterdam!

What to see in Amsterdam

There is so much to see in Amsterdam, it’s quite obvious it will never fit into a top 10 list. I could make dozens of top 10 lists for Amsterdam: top 10 things to do in Amsterdam as a couple, top 10 things to do in Amsterdam for solo travelers, top 10 restaurants in Amsterdam, top 10 museums in Amsterdam… and many more. But let’s start with the ‘standard’ top 10 of things to do in Amsterdam, the one with the Amsterdam top sights, to get that out of the way. And then continue on to all the great stuff to do with kids in Amsterdam.

Top 10 things to do in Amsterdam

1. Take a canal cruise or rent a boat
2. Do a bike tour or rent a bike
3. Visit Anne Frank house
4. Explore the local markets
5. Relax in the Vondelpark
6. Go to Museumplein to soak up some art
7. Check out the Flower Market
8. Walk around Dam Square & the Royal Palace
9. Take a food tour & sample some real Dutch food
10. Explore picturesque & trendy shopping area The Nine streets

Of course, some would argue that you can’t get a feel for the ‘real’ Amsterdam without tasting the ‘naughty’ side of it. That some of the best things to do in Amsterdam are visiting the Red Light district and going to a coffeeshop (not for a cup of coffee, obviously). I don’t agree. Sure, they could have a spot on your list of Amsterdam sites to see & things to try, but they don’t earn a spot in my top 10. We’re traveling with our little boy and there are simply too many other (really) fun things to see in Amsterdam.

Fun things to do in Amsterdam with kids

So, now you’ve seen the ‘regular’ top 10, but where to go in Amsterdam with kids? Amsterdam is very family-friendly, provided you know where to go. A big city can be overwhelming, even a city as compact as Amsterdam. Obviously, things to do in Amsterdam with family are different from what you would do if you were traveling solo or with a group of friends. Also, the best things to do in Amsterdam for kids depends on your children’s age. The Anne Frank House, for instance, is one of the top things to do in Amsterdam, but it’s not a place I would visit with young kids. Fortunately, there are plenty of things for kids to do in Amsterdam and many places to visit in Amsterdam with kids.

Little legs tire easily, so endless wandering around a city is a thing of the past, at least when your kids are still young. For a successful city trip, you need to know where to go and how to get there the quickest way possible. Combine the best places to see in Amsterdam with enough fun things for kids in Amsterdam.

Top 10 things to do with kids in Amsterdam

1. Go out for pancakes
2. Pancake canal cruise Amsterdam
3. Discover Amsterdam by bike or rent a boat in Amsterdam
4. Artis Amsterdam Zoo
5. Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam
6. Children’s cooking cafe (Kinderkookcafé)
7. Climb the towers of Amsterdam
8. Pick your own organic fruit in Amsterdam
9. Go see a movie
10. Visit a live performance at the puppet theatre

Go out for pancakes

Eating pancakes should definitely be on your list of what to do in Amsterdam with children. Even though we eat them relatively often, going out for pancakes is still one of our son’s favorites. Mind you, we’re not talking about the thick and small pancakes Americans love for breakfast. These are large thin pancakes and the Dutch eat them for breakfast, lunch and even dinner. If you don’t like the traditional pancakes with bacon or apple, there are also lots of toppings to choose from. You can even get a pizza pancake! Trendy Amsterdam has discovered pancakes too, so some places are über chic and not really fit for kids. Lots of places serve ok-ish pancakes, but the best pancakes in Amsterdam can be found in only a few places. So where should you go? Pancakes! at Westermarkt (Prinsengracht 277), Pannekoekenboerderij Meerzicht (Koenenkade 56, Amsterdamse Bos) or tiny and cozy Pannenkoekenhuis Upstairs (Grimburgwal 2, up narrow steep stairs so not easy with a pram or stroller) are some great choices.

Pancake canal cruise Amsterdam

What’s more fun than eating pancakes? Eating pancakes on a boat! Eat your favorite Dutch food while cruising the Amsterdam canals (and did you know there are also pancake cruises in Rotterdam and Nijmegen?). The pancake boat Amsterdam is always a big hit with kids of all ages. The Pannenkoekenboot offers various cruise options, varying from 75 minutes to 2,5-hour canal cruises with all-you-can-eat pancakes. This really is the best canal tour in Amsterdam. You can get pancakes with apple, bacon or just plain and top them yourself with all your favorites, such as cheese, sausage, peach, pineapple, sugar, raisins or syrup. You can book your tickets for the pancake cruise online.

Discover Amsterdam by bike or rent a boat in Amsterdam

A fun and real Dutch, way to discover Amsterdam is by bike. If your kids are still young you can rent a bike with a kids bike seat or if you travel with more than one child you can also rent a bakfiets (cargo bike). Of course in kid-friendly Amsterdam, kids bikes are also for rent if your kids are bit older and know how to ride themselves. If you’re not comfortable having them ride on their own, a tandem bike is a fun choice! Amsterdam, as most of The Netherlands, is very flat and there are bike paths all around the city. IAmsterdam offers 6 downloadable cycle route maps.

A canal cruise is fun, but did you know that you can also rent your own boat in Amsterdam? Self-drive boat rental in Amsterdam is very popular with families. Take your time discovering the city from the water. Boaty and Boats4rent offer the cheapest boat rental in Amsterdam. You can rent a 6 person electric motorboat for as little as €79 for 3 hours. There are a great number of lovely terraces in Amsterdam where you can anchor your boat. Or simply do a bit of shopping at Albert Heijn supermarket and bring your own lunch and snacks.

Artis Amsterdam Zoo

One of the more popular Amsterdam children’s attractions is Artis Zoo. Artis Royal Zoo or as it’s officially called, Natura Artis Magistra (which means ‘nature is the teacher of the arts’ in Latin), is the oldest zoo in the Netherlands. It dates back to 1838. It’s a real city zoo and therefore relatively small compared to other animal parks in the Netherlands. Artis has a great collection of animals, an amazing reptile house and a butterfly pavilion. In this park animals, nature, education and heritage are united. Many of the buildings have monument status and although Artis is continuously changing and improving, it still has a slightly old-fashioned feel that’s part of the charm. A relatively new addition, Artis-Micropia the world’s first museum of microbes, is definitely worth a visit. You can buy a combination ticket to visit both Artis and Micropia, or you can visit them separately. To get to Artis Zoo, take tram 14 (get off at the stop called ARTIS) or take the metro to Waterlooplein. From there it’s a 10-minute walk.

With kids waiting in line is no fun at all, so check out these Skip The Line Tickets for Artis Amsterdam Royal Zoo >> and Skip The Line Admission tickets for Micropia >>

Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam

Near Artis Zoo, you will find the Hortus Botanicus, the botanical garden Amsterdam. Maybe not an obvious choice for your list of kid-friendly things to do in Amsterdam, but one with a lot of history. Founded in 1638 and nearly four centuries old, the Amsterdam botanical garden is one of the oldest in the world. It’s a lush, green haven in a busy city. The majority of the lovely greenhouses and buildings are national monuments. The collection of the hortus botanicus botanical garden Amsterdam contains over 5.000 plants. With both inside and outside gardens and a lovely cafe, this is a great educational place to spend a few hours.

Children’s cooking cafe (Kinderkookcafé)

Every first Sunday of the month kids aged 8-12 can cook a 3-course meal for themselves and their guests at the Kindercookcafé in the Vondelpark. Of course, they’ll get some help from adult chefs. The kids make the food, set the table, serve the food and drinks and clean up afterward. A fantastic experience for both kids and their families and friends. For younger kids (age 1-6) the Help-Jezelf-Bar (help yourself bar) is open everyday from 10:00. Kids can bake and decorate their own cookies, decorate cupcakes or make their own pizza. The bar is the perfect height for kids and has colorful pictures that show the various choices and which ingredients and tools you need. For adults the Help-Jezelf-Bar serves coffee, tea, juice, sandwiches and soup. Read more about the Kinderkookcafé.

Climb the towers of Amsterdam

Kids and their families can climb the towers of Amsterdam. See Amsterdam from a whole new point of view, from the top of the Westertoren, the Zuiderkerkstoren or the Oudekerkstoren. Age restrictions apply, kids need to be 6+. Between April and October there are multiple guided tours per day from Monday til Saturday. There’s a maximum of ten people per tour. You can reserve your tickets online.

Update: The Westertoren is currently undergoing renovations which are likely to last quite a while. The Zuiderkerkstoren and the Oudekerkstoren are open for visits.

Pick your own organic fruit in Amsterdam

At the Fruituin van West (the fruit garden of West) you can pick your own fruit. The Fruittuin van West is a 16-acre (6,5 hectare) organic dynamic fruit farm in Amsterdam West (Tom Schreursweg 48). Next to the large orchard, where you can run and play, pick fruit and observe what’s going on around you, there’s also an organic supermarket and a lovely cafe. If you’re early, you can collect fresh chicken eggs! The Fruittuin van West is open to the public Tuesday to Sunday between 10:30 and 18:00. At different times of the year different fruits are available for picking. You can see which fruits you can pick at the website of the Fruittuin van West.

Go see a movie

Not a very ‘Dutch’ experience, but watching a movie can be a great way to keep kids happy during a tiring city trip. Relax and recharge. Most movies in The Netherlands are English with Dutch subtitles, for some kids’ movies there are separate screenings in Dutch and English. There are four Pathé movie theaters in Amsterdam: Pathé de Munt, Pathé Tuschinski, Pathé Arena and Pathé City. All of them, except Pathé City, have an early bird tariff (till 12:00, seven days per week) and reduced-price kids tickets. The Tuschinki cinema is housed in a beautiful art deco building and screen 1 especially is quite spectacular. Besides the large Pathé movie theaters, Amsterdam has several smaller movie cinemas and independent movie houses (‘filmhuizen’) that show films that are less mainstream and more cult.

Visit a live performance at the puppet theatre

Near the Nieuwmarkt square in the Nieuwe Jonkerstraat you will find the Amsterdam Marionette Theatre (AMT). At the AMT you can enjoy the European tradition of the classical marionette theatre. This particular theatre was founded in 1985. There’s a live marionette show during the weekend and school holidays. With classical music and beautiful handmade puppets and decors, it’s quite an experience and suitable for both kids and adults. The language spoken is Dutch, but the language generally isn’t a barrier because it’s very visual and musical.

In the east of Amsterdam, at Iepenplein 40, there’s another puppet theater called Poppentheater Koos Kneus. Here Punch and Judy shows are performed every Sunday. There are two shows, for kids 2-4 and kids 4-8 years old. The performances last about 30-40 minutes. Kids get to dress up and there’s even a professional face painter. Lots of fun for young kids. Performances are in Dutch but not language-heavy.

Bonus activity: Windmill Rembrandt van Sloten

The Rembrandt Molen van Sloten is the only working windmill in Amsterdam that’s open to the public daily. The Sloten Windmill is a functioning draining mill situated on the outskirts of Amsterdam (Akersluis 10, Amsterdam). A great way to escape the busy city center, wander around for a bit and discover another side of Amsterdam. Built in 1847, this windmill has a lot of history! Volunteer guides explain the workings of the mill during a guided tour.

Check the website Kidsproof Amsterdam for an up-to-date calendar of all kids activities in Amsterdam.

Best children’s museums in Amsterdam

With over 50 museums and art galleries, Amsterdam is a fantastic place for a dose of culture, even for kids. Top museums in Amsterdam are of course the major art museums, such as the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum and the Rembrandt Museum Amsterdam. But there are many more quirky specialty museums included in the Amsterdam museum guide. Among some of the best museums in Amsterdam (and the weirdest and fun) are the Cheese Museum (Kaas Museum), Hemp Museum, Houseboat Museum (Woonboot Museum), Tulip Museum (Tulp Museum), Cat Museum (Kattenkabinet), Street Art Museum and Bike Museum. There really is something for everyone in Amsterdam!

Most of the museums in The Netherlands have a program for kids. For example, there’s the Van Gogh for kids and the Rijksmuseum for kids. Sometimes museums just offer a treasure hunt, but often there are special guided tours for families, kids’ audio guides, assignments and games and workshops for children. Keep in mind that outside of the larger cities, museums in The Netherlands often aren’t bilingual. A lot of the larger museums to visit in Amsterdam, such as the Rijksmuseum and Stedelijk Museum offer free entry to kids up to 18 years old.

Museumcard / museumjaarkaart

If you’re staying a bit longer and are planning to visit multiple museums during your visit to The Netherlands, it can be worth it to buy a Museumcard. This gives you free access to over 400 museums in The Netherlands for a year. There are a number of museums where you can buy the card at the ticket counter. There you will receive a temporary card that’s valid for 31 days and a maximum of five visits. In order for your museumcard to be valid for a year, you have to register your card online and you need an address for them to send the definitive card. It’s also possible to have it sent to your home address abroad.

Top 10 best museums for kids in Amsterdam

1. Nemo Science Museum Amsterdam
2. National Maritime Museum Amsterdam
3. Tropenmuseum Amsterdam and Tropenmuseum Junior
4. Micropia – microorganism museum Amsterdam
5. EYE Film Museum Amsterdam
6. Rijksmuseum Amsterdam
7. Amsterdam Museum / Het Kleine Weeshuis
8. JHM Kindermuseum
9. Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder (Our Lord in the Attic Museum)

Nemo Science Museum Amsterdam

The Nemo Museum in Amsterdam started as the Museum of Labor back in 1923 and has quite an interesting history. In 1997 it became New Metropolis (Nemo), a popular children’s museum in Amsterdam. Nemo Museum made a restart in 2000 and changed its name to Science Center Nemo, developing a strong emphasis on science and technology. Nemo is easily the most famous museum in Amsterdam for kids. This Amsterdam children’s science museum is extremely hands-on and interactive. Touch, play and learn, a really fun museum for kids. Learn about chain reactions in the daily live demos, discover the principles of physics in the Fenomena exhibition, unravel the mystery of everyday technology, study the building blocks of the cosmos in Elementa on Nemo’s third floor, find out about the human body in the Humania exhibition and play with energy on Nemo’s roof. You’ll need a good few hours here to really do this museum justice and it’s well worth a visit. Visiting Nemo should definitely be on your list of things to do in Amsterdam with children!

Get your fast-track access ticket for NEMO Science Museum >>

National Maritime Museum Amsterdam

The Scheepvaartmuseum Amsterdam is a great museum to visit with kids. The east wing is the most traditional part of the museum, with impressive paintings, ship decorations, navigational instruments, atlases and yacht models. Our son loved the ship models! The west wing is quite interactive, with an exhibition about whaling and whales through the ages, an interactive game about life onboard a ship and a section where extraordinary people from the Dutch Golden Age share their stories. By far the most fascinating for our son was the north wing though, especially the royal barge and the impressive replica of the East Indiaman Amsterdam moored outside. We didn’t get to do the VR tour Dare to Discover as it’s for kids aged 8+ but it’s supposed to be very impressive. This magnificent museum is housed in the Arsenal (’s Lands Zeemagazijn), a historical building that dates back to 1656 when Amsterdam was the world’s largest port. The Maritime Museum has been housed there since 1973. Nemo Amsterdam and the Maritime Museum are within easy walking distance of Amsterdam Central Station and quite close to each other.

Tropenmuseum Amsterdam

The Tropenmuseum Amsterdam (lit. tropical museum Amsterdam) is a museum about people and culture and housed in one of the most beautiful historic museum buildings in The Netherlands. It’s part of the National Museum of World Cultures, together with the Museum Volkenkunde (Ethnology Museum) Leiden and the Afrika Museum in Berg en Dal. Non-western world cultures form the basis for many temporary and permanent exhibitions, about various topics such as colonialism and trade, slavery, religion, body art, music and fashion. Especially great for kids is the interactive exhibition ZieZo Marokko in Tropenmuseum Junior, only open on weekends and during school holidays. At the ZieZo Marokko exhibit kids travel through Marokko and discover everything about this country from places to visit to things to eat. Kids can do a junior tour (age 6-13) or you can do a family tour with the whole family.

Micropia Amsterdam

Micropia microorganism museum Amsterdam is the first museum in the world dedicated to microorganisms. It’s an initiative of Natura Artis Magistra or Artis Zoo. You can buy a combination ticket for the Zoo and Micropia, or visit either separately. Artis has always had a mission to let people discover and experience nature. This is now even possible on a microlevel, the nature of microorganisms. Complex science made accessible to a large audience. The museum is very educational and interactive. Microbes are everywhere and after a visit to this museum you’ll see the world through completely different eyes! Recommended age for a visit is 8+.

EYE Film Museum Amsterdam

The EYE film museum or EYE Film Institute Netherlands as it’s officially called is an excellent museum to visit with kids of all ages. It’s located on the northern bank of the IJ harbor in Amsterdam. From Amsterdam Central Station it’s only a short walk and a free ferry ride away. Explore the history of film and animation. Visit the film playground Panorama on the ground floor where you can see old film devices and can watch movie clips, or play with interactive installations such as Flipbook and the Green Screen. Kids age 7 and up can do the puzzle tour or the Eye Walk video tour, and during school holidays there are workshops for kids. Eye also has four cinemas where they regularly screen children’s films. Entrance to the magnificent building, the restaurant and the permanent exhibition is free, for the temporary exhibitions and films you have to buy tickets.

Rijksmuseum Amsterdam

As a proper art museum, the Rijksmuseum might not be your first choice to visit with kids. It does however deserve a spot on this list. Why not combine your own pleasure with fun for your kids? In 2013, the Rijksmuseum reopened after 10 years of renovations. The new and improved building with its amazing display of art is definitely worth a visit. The Rijksmuseums restaurant even has a Michelin star. For kids age 7+ the Rijksmuseum offers a digital family game. This game is played with two people and takes about an hour. Each armed with your own audio device, you’ll attempt to solve eight Rijksmuseum mysteries. The audio game is available in Dutch, English, German and French. Admission for children 18 and under is free. For the digital family game you pay €2,50 per device. The Rijksmuseum is open 365 days a year between 9:00 and 17:00.

Amsterdam Museum / The Little Orphanage

The Amsterdam Museum is a great for anyone that wants to learn more about the Dutch capital city. Amsterdam is a 1000-year old trading city with plenty of history. Discover the story of Amsterdam at this wonderful and interesting museum. Check out the permanent Amsterdam DNA exhibition which overs an interactive overview of Amsterdam’s history. The Amsterdam DNA tour is available in Dutch, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and even Chinese, Japanese and Russian. The Little Orphanage (Het Kleine Weeshuis), part of the Amsterdam Museum, is a great area to visit with kids age 4-12. It teaches kids about life in a 17th-century Dutch orphanage. The building that houses the Amsterdam museum was the City Orphanage of Amsterdam for 400 years. Both the building and its history come alive at this display. The tour of the Little Orphanage is available in Dutch and English. The Amsterdam Museum is free for kids 0-17 years old.

JHM Kindermuseum

A museum inside a museum. The JHM Children’s museum is a 3-story house located within the Jewish Historical Museum in Amsterdam. It’s the home of a Jewish family from Amsterdam, the Hollanders. Each room of the house shows a different part of Jewish life. Learn about the Torah and Jewish tradition in the study, about Jewish food and what kosher means in the kitchen and about Jewish music in the music room. A fun character, Max the Matzo, shows visitors around and provides additional information where necessary. In a fun and interactive way kids can discover a lot about Jewish life and Jewish tradition. A visit to the JHM Children’s Museum is enjoyable and educational for the whole family, regardless of their own religion. The Jewish Historical Museum is part of the Jewish Cultural Quarter in Amsterdam.

Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder

During the 16th century Reformation in the Netherlands, Catholicism was banned and people were prohibited to worship. This resulted in several clandestine churches in Amsterdam, one of which is Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder (Our Lord in the Attic), established in 1663. When freedom of religion was introduced in the late 19th century the church was turned into a museum. The Our Lord in the Attic museum is the second oldest museum in Amsterdam, after the Rijksmuseum. It gives a unique insight into a 17th-century canal-side merchant house from the Dutch Golden Age. Downstairs you can see the living rooms, kitchen and bedsteads of the wealthy merchant Jan Hartman and his family, furnished in Dutch 17th-century style. The top stories of the house were converted into a hidden church, which up until this day is wonderfully preserved. There’s a free audio tour for older kids and a lovely treasure hunt (with Nan the ladybird as a little helper) for younger kids. The treasure hunt is €1.

Best Amsterdam playgrounds and parks

Natuurspeeltuin Amsterdam Noord

Meteorenweg 272 – check website

Come play, discover and enjoy this lovely natural playground in the north of Amsterdam. This playground was newly opened mid 2018 and it’s a big hit. There’s a small stream, lots of water and natural materials to climb in and over. In the summer months when it’s warm the water is a great place to cool off. You can play here year-round.

Natuurspeeltuin De Natureluur

President Allendelaan 4 – check website

De Natureluur is a nature playground in the Sloterpark, in Amsterdam Nieuw-West. There’s plenty to see and play at this playground and nature area. There are various tracks and structures to clamber and climb, there’s a water area with ditches and trenches, a butterfly garden, lots of animals and insects and areas with edible plants and herbs. Close to the playground there’s a petting zoo and a marsh garden. The playground is freely accessible.

Playground Het Woeste Westen

Overbrakerpad 3 – check website

Playground Het Woeste Westen (lit. Wild West) is a natural play area where kids can freely play in nature. A number of ditches divide the terrain in islands with different themes. There’s a meadow island, a water island, an adventure island and a forest area. There’s a climbing trail in the trees and lots of branches to build huts. The playground is freely accessible. During the hours the playground manager is present (check the website) it’s possible to buy some drinks and snacks.

Groot Melkhuis (Vondelpark)

Vondelpark 2 – check website

This Vondelpark playground is very well known in Amsterdam and has been around for decades. Many Amsterdam parents used to play here themselves when they were young and now take their kids. Groot Melkhuis is a self-service restaurant with a terrace on the water and a large playground. For kids under 3 there’s a sandpit and a slide, older kids can play on any of the other play structures. The playground is only accessible when the restaurant is open, daily from 10:00 to 18:00.

Speeltuin Herenmarkt

Herenmarkt 22

This cute little playground is located behind the Haarlemmerstraat, only 10 minutes walking from Amsterdam Central Station. Perfect to let your kids run around and play for a bit while sightseeing around Amsterdam. There’s a sandpit, swings, a climbing structure with a slide and a football field. In the area you’ll find enough stores to buy some food and snacks.

Natuurspeeltuin Plan West

Van Speijkstraat 65a

This city playground is a hidden gem and a bit hard to find. At Van Speijkstraat 65 you’ll see a little gate and behind it you’ll find this large nature playground in the courtyard. There’s water to play with, a large rock to climb and kids can slide down the hill through a tunnel slide. There are lots of benches for you to relax while the kids play. It’s a great place to a nice picnic. Nature playground Plan West is open Tuesday – Friday from12:00 to 18:00 and Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 to 17:00.

Speeltuin Amstelpark

Amstelpark 18 – check website

The Amstelpark in Amsterdam was created in 1972 for the international horticultural expo Floriade. A lot of it is still visible in the landscaping today. The free playground Speeltuin Amstelpark is open year-round. There are many slides, swings and climbing structures for kids to play with as well as numerous paid attractions, such as little boats, excavators, mini cars, kiddy rides and a little train. Next to the playground there’s a city farm/petting zoo and a mini-golf course for the whole family.

Top free things to do in Amsterdam with kids

Amsterdam can be crazy expensive, but there are also a lot of things to do for free in Amsterdam! Check out our suggestions below for some more budget-friendly activities for kids in Amsterdam.

Play giant chess

Our son loves giant chess. The most well-known spot to play is at the Max Euweplein, which is the square next to the Leidseplein, named after the country’s most famous chess player. A less known one however, is the chess game of the same size just in front of the entrance to the Tropenmuseum. It’s never busy there. A great place to visit if you don’t want an audience or don’t want to wait. Easy to combine with a visit to the Tropenmuseum which offers free entry for kids 0-3 and discounted entry tickets for kids 4-18.

Visit the Mouse Mansion

Eerste Tuindwarsstraat 1hs / Public Library – check website

In case you aren’t familiar with them, the Mouse Mansion is a series of books about two little mouse kids called Julia and Sam. At the Mouse Mansion workshop & toyshop in the Jordaan you can see the decors of the books and how they are built, as well as find lots of Mouse Mansion goodies and books in numerous languages. It’s kids heaven and well worth a visit. You can also see a Mouse Mansion display at the Amsterdam Public Library near Amsterdam Central Station.

Go to the roof of Nemo Science Museum

Entrance to the Nemo Museum itself isn’t free, but you can visit Nemo’s rooftop free of charge. It offers a nice view of the area and has an outdoor exhibition called Energetica. Energetica allows kids to discover the forces of sun, wind and water and learn about sustainable energy. Nemo’s rooftop also has access to the restaurant.

Free museums Amsterdam

Not all kids like museums, but our little boy loves them. Some of the museums in Amsterdam are free to visit for kids. The Rijksmuseum and Stedelijk Museum are free for kids up to 18 years old, the Amsterdam Museum and the Royal Palace for youth up to 17 years old. Check this list to see more museums that have free entry for kids. Not very well known is that the gardens of the Rijksmuseum are free to visit. There are sculptures on display and there’s a playground for kids.

Find a petting zoo

There are about 20 petting zoos or children’s farms (kinderboerderijen) within Amsterdam’s city limits. It’s fun for kids to interact with the animals and to learn about their behavior. Petting farm De Dierencapel is a small petting zoo on Bickerseiland (Bickersgracht 207) near Amsterdam’s city center. Two other children’s farms that can be easily reached by tram from the city center are Kinderboerderij De Pijp (Lizzy Ansinghstraat 82) and city farm Zimmerhoeve (Schimmelstraat 44). Check this map with all petting zoos in Amsterdam created by the City of Amsterdam.

Go on a free Diamond Experience Tour

Known worldwide as the ‘city of diamonds’, diamonds and Amsterdam have been linked for many centuries. During a 40-minute free tour at Gassan Diamonds you’ll learn all about the history of diamonds and see the diamond grinders at work. An insider’s view that’s truly a unique experience. Tours are available 7 days a week between 9:00 and 17:00 and offered in over 27 languages. To make sure a tour guide in your language is available, you can book your free diamond tour online.

Best family hotels in Amsterdam

Wherever you go, when you travel with your family you’ll be looking for family-friendly accommodation. When your kids are young, this can quite simply mean a clean hotel with enough room to place a travel bassinet or a toddler travel bed. Or, if you’re traveling super lightweight maybe you just need an extra bed or mattress so you can use your inflatable bed rails. When your kids are a bit older you may want to stay near a park or playground, or in a hotel with a swimming pool. So obviously the best place to stay in Amsterdam with family depends on your wishes. If you’re traveling as a couple, there are a number of fancy boutique hotels in Amsterdam. We’ve looked into the best child-friendly hotels in Amsterdam and made a list for you as a starting point for you to find the best accommodation for your family in Amsterdam. If you’re looking for budget options, widen your search radius. Amsterdam is an expensive city. Hotels and apartments a bit further out of the city center tend to be a bit more affordable.

Hotels with family rooms in Amsterdam

There are a great number of family-friendly hotels in Amsterdam. Accommodation in Amsterdam is expensive though. If you’re a family of 3, you might want to consider bringing your own child’s travel bed and finding a hotel that allows kids for free so you can simply get a double room.

If that’s not an option for your family, these kid-friendly hotels in Amsterdam are worth checking out. Each offers family rooms at a reasonable price.

Volkshotel Amsterdam

NH City Centre Amsterdam

Amsterdam Marriott Hotel

MEININGER Hotel Amsterdam Amstel

Nova Hotel Amsterdam

Family hostels in Amsterdam

Hostels are another option for places to stay in Amsterdam with kids. Most hostels in Amsterdam cater to the massive amount of young backpackers and solo travelers visiting the city, but there are two family hostels that are worth looking into. It might not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about family accommodation in Amsterdam, but staying at a hostel with kids is perfectly doable.

Stayokay Amsterdam Vondelpark

A&O Amsterdam Zuidoost

Houseboats in Amsterdam

A houseboat may not come to mind immediately when you’re considering where to stay in Amsterdam with kids. But if you’re looking for unique but family-friendly accommodation in Amsterdam, renting a houseboat is a great option. Staying on a houseboat in Amsterdam instead of a hotel or hostel is definitely a cool experience that you and your kids will remember forever! There are a lot of houseboats in Amsterdam for rent but availability is limited so you want to book well in advance. These are some examples of boats and houseboats that are for rent for short-term accommodation.

Houseboat Tante Piet Amsterdam

Asile Flottant houseboat Amsterdam

Private Houseboat Amsterdam

How to get to Amsterdam

Most travelers visiting Amsterdam arrive by plane. Budget airlines such as Easyjet and Ryan Air often offer cheap flights to Amsterdam from various European destinations, if you book long enough in advance. The nearest airport to Amsterdam is Schiphol Airport. Taxis are expensive in The Netherlands. If you drive on the meter with a regular taxi the short trip from Schiphol to Amsterdam (27km) can easily set you back €70, especially when there’s a lot of traffic. If you really want to travel by car, arrange a driver before arrival, which saves a lot of money but will still cost you about €40-50. Do keep in mind that only licensed taxi drivers are allowed at the airport.

A far easier and cheaper way to reach Amsterdam from Schiphol Airport is by train. The train from Schiphol to Amsterdam only takes about 15 minutes and will set you back approximately €4,50 per person with cheaper kids tickets at €2,50. Tip: booking your ticket online is cheaper than using a ticket machine at the train station! You can consult the website of the Dutch Railway (Nederlandse Spoorwegen or simply NS) for more information.

Amsterdam is very easy to reach by train from most destinations in the Netherlands. There’s a good railway network in The Netherlands connecting the larger cities. Some of the more remote areas can only be reached by bus. There are several train stations in Amsterdam, that are all connected to the main railway station Amsterdam Central Station (‘Amsterdam Centraal’). The other railway stations in the outer parts of Amsterdam are: Amsterdam Lelylaan, Amsterdam Rai, Amsterdam Zuid, Amsterdam Amstel, Amsterdam Bijlmer Arena, Amsterdam Sloterdijk, Amsterdam Muiderpoort, Amsterdam Science Park, Duivendrecht and Diemen.

Getting around in Amsterdam

What are our top tips for traveling around Amsterdam? Take public transport, rent a bike or walk! Amsterdam is quite a compact city compared to a lot of other European capitals and a lot can be done on foot. The city of Amsterdam also has an excellent public transport system consisting of trains, subway, trams and buses, making it easy and not too expensive to travel around. Taxi’s in The Netherlands are quite expensive, so best avoid them if you’re on a budget.

Of course, to get around as the Dutch themselves do you can rent a bike. Bike seats for kids are available at all bike rental shops or you can rent a cargo bike (‘bakfiets’). Renting a bike in Amsterdam is a great way to see the city and its surroundings. Biking from Amsterdam to the beach in Zandvoort only takes about an hour. It’s also possible to take your bike on the train (see the Dutch Railway website for more info) if you want to discover some more of the surrounding countryside.

Best time to visit Amsterdam

The Netherlands has a temperate maritime climate and can be visited year-round. There are four seasons in The Netherlands: winter (January – March), spring (April – June), summer (July – September) and fall (October – December). In the summer months, the average temperature is about 66 degrees Fahrenheit (19 degrees Celsius) and in the winter months, temperatures are around 35 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius) or a few degrees below freezing. The Netherlands gets quite a lot of rain, especially in the fall.

Temperature-wise the best season to visit Amsterdam is the summer, but July and August are high season. Accommodation in Amsterdam is very hard to come by in those months. Prices are much higher than usual and availability is low, unless you book very long in advance. By far the best time to go to Amsterdam is in the spring, especially if you want to visit the tulip fields or Keukenhof gardens which are at their best from mid-April to mid-May.

If you’re not set on seeing the tulip fields, September is also a great choice. End of August or early September the schools start again and there’s still a really good chance of some nice and sunny weather. Although the winter isn’t the best time to visit the Netherlands, Christmas time is magical wherever you go and New Year’s Eve in Amsterdam is an absolutely crazy event you don’t want to miss. “It was one of the most bizarre experiences we’ve had, and also one of the most extraordinary and unforgettable!” is what our friends over at Diapers on a Plane said about celebrating NYE in Amsterdam with their kids.

Best things to do in Amsterdam in april

• End of March / early April: opening of the Alkmaar Cheese Market, a great day trip from Amsterdam
• Early April: annual flower parade (Bloemencorso). Check out 20 huge floats and 30 beautifully decorated cars pass by on the 42km route between Noordwijk and Haarlem (check bloemencorso-bollenstreek.nl for exact dates)
• End of March – end of April: Visit the famous Holland Tulip Festival (or Tulip Festival Amsterdam) and see the 820.000 tulips in bloom all around the city.
• Mid of April – end of April: best time to see tulips in Holland. A visit to Keukenhof gardens is a highlight for many families. Or rent a car for a day and explore the Flevopolder, where you can find Holland’s longest tulip field route.
• April 27: King’s Day (Koningsdag). The celebration of the king’s birthday (King’s Day) in Amsterdam is a major event. The whole city comes alive and everything is colored orange. Please note that the city center is hard to access by public transport on this day and it can get really crowded. All parts of Holland celebrate King’s Day.

Amsterdam in May

• May 4: Remembrance Day (Dodenherdenking). Every year on May 4th at 8pm The Netherlands hold 2 minutes of silence to commemorate Dutch soldiers and civilians that have died since the start of the Second World War. Prior to this there is a commemorative service at the National Monument on Dam Square in Amsterdam. https://www.4en5mei.nl/english/commemorating
• May 5th: Bevrijdingsdag (Liberation Day). The Netherlands celebrate the end of the Second World War (World War II). There are free liberation day festivals (bevrijdingsfestival) in 14 large cities in The Netherlands (Amsterdam, Den Bosch, The Hague, Assen, Almere, Leeuwaren, Wageningen, Groningen, Haarlem, Roermond, Zwolle, Utrecht, Vlissingen and Rotterdam). https://www.bevrijdingsfestivals.nl
• Ascension Day: Hemeltjelief Festival. Family festival with music and theatre performances at NDSM plein. Visitors under 12 get in for free. http://www.hemeltjelieffestival.nl

The post Complete guide for visiting Amsterdam with kids appeared first on FlipFlopGlobetrotters.com.

Also read:
Family friendly restaurants in Haarlem
Haarlem city trip with kids 1-day itinerary
Visiting the Teylers Museum with a toddler
Favorite things to do in The Netherlands with kids

Petting zoos in Haarlem

Holland has around 550-600 petting zoos (kinderboerderijen). The literal translation of the Dutch word ‘kinderboerderij’ is children’s farm. A lot of them started in the 1950’s when The Netherlands started to become more and more urbanized. Their purpose was to give both adults and kids in the cities the possibility to interact with farm animals and to teach them where our food comes from. Most of the petting farms in Holland can therefore be found in the urbanized provinces of North and South Holland (Noord-Holland and Zuid-Holland). Animals you can typically find at Dutch petting zoo’s are goats, pigs, horses, donkeys, cows, sheep, chickens, turkeys, rabbits, guinea pigs and other small rodents.

In random order, these are our favorite places in and around Haarlem where kids can play with animals.

Kinderboerderij Houthoeve

Holland has a lot of petting farms or petting zoos (‘kinderboerderij’ in Dutch). Most kids love animals, so it’s a great idea for a nice family activity. The biggest one in Haarlem is Kinderboerderij De Houthoeve, located in the Haarlemmerhout park. It also has a small playground. Entrance is free, check their website for opening hours. Wednesdays til Sundays you can combine your visit to the petting zoo with eating a great pancake at a cozy little restaurant called Nurks in de Hout, located less than a minute walk from the petting zoo’s entrance. Keep in mind that it doesn’t open until 14:00. Across the road from the park you will find La Place Dreefzicht which is a self-service restaurant that’s open every day from 8:00 til 21:00. There are several bus stops near the Haarlemmerhout. Check 9292.nl/en for bus schedules. The address is Hertenkamplaan 3, Haarlem.

Kinderboerderij ’t Molentje

Another great petting zoo is Kinderboerderij ’t Molentje in Heemstede. It’s right next to a great forest area called Groenendaalse Bos and a large playground Speeltuin Groenendaal. The entrance to the petting zoo is free, it’s open every day from 10:00 til 16:30. For the playground you pay €2,50 per person, including a drink or ice cream. Make sure to check the playground’s website for opening hours. There are several options to get there by bus from Haarlem, it takes about 30 minutes. Check 9292.nl/en for bus schedules. The address of the petting zoo is Groenendaal 1, Heemstede.

Geitenboerderij Ridammerhoeve

In the middle of the Amsterdam Forest (Amsterdamse Bos) you will find the organic goat farm Ridammerhoeve. Besides goats, the farm is also home to lambs, chickens, pigs, cows and horses. It’s a fantastic place to visit with kids. Most of the stables are accessible and for a small fee you can buy a bottle of milk to feed the little goats, quite an experience! There’s a small playground and the restaurant serves delicious homemade organic food. At the attached store you can buy various different kinds of organic cheeses, meats, vegetables, and herbs. We recently visited there ourselves for the first time and I’m sure it won’t be the last. The address is Nieuwe Meerlaan 4, Amstelveen.

Boerderij Zorgvrij

Boerderij Zorgvrij is a livestock farm with an educational purpose. During the winter months the cows are inside and can be fed. Very often there are calves, but also they have goats, pigs, chickens and rabbits. The farm offers numerous activities for kids and has an interesting educational program for schools. At the farm you can also find the information center for recreation area Spaarnwoude, which offers maps with bicycle and walking routes. There’s a large playground and numerous gardens and forested areas where kids can play. At the site there’s also a pancake restaurant called ‘Onder de Platanen’. Entrance to Zorgvrij is free. You can find Boerderij Zorgvrij dat Genieweg 50, Velsen-Zuid

Garden center De Oosteinde

While not a proper petting zoo, this garden center located in Vijfhuizen has a small animal enclosure that offers kids the chance to see goats, sheep, rabbits and chickens. It’s worth mentioning because besides the petting zoo it also has a nice outside terrace and a playground. The playground is free of charge and has a bouncey castle up in the summer, a trampoline (our little boys favorite!), a wooden structure with a slide, some swings (one is suitable for very small kids as well!) and a small sandpit. The garden center is very easy to reach by car. The play area is only accessible via the garden center. The address is Schipholweg 1088, Vijfhuizen.

Museums in Haarlem

Haarlem doesn’t have any ‘real’ children’s museums, such as Nemo Science Center in Amsterdam or the Miffy Museum in Utrecht. However, there are a number of museums in Haarlem that are nice to visit with kids. They aren’t as interactive as museums that are designed specifically for kids, but most of them do offer a treasure hunt to let kids interact and discover the museum’s collection in a playful way. If your kids like museums (our son LOVES museums), these ones are worth a visit.

Archeology Museum Haarlem

Our son’s favorite by far is the Archeologisch Museum Haarlem. It’s a small museum which makes it perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, but it’s interesting for slightly older kids as well. The Archeology Museum is located, quite appropriately, underground. The old cellars of De Vleeshal (‘meat hall’), on Haarlem’s central square the Grote Markt, are the perfect location for this charming little museum. All the displays are the perfect height for kids and there is a small digging pit for little archeologists to be. At the determination table kids can figure out what people used to eat by going through waste found in a cesspit, just like real archeologists.

Teylers Museum

The Teylers Museum calls itself the ‘museum of wonder’ and this is very true. This 18th-century museum definitely houses all kinds of weird and wonderful. From a cave bear skeleton to a massive collection of fossils, and from fluorescent rocks to old scientific instruments and impressive paintings. The building is very old and part of it is the original museum interior of 1784. It’s a proper museum, so not very suitable for really young kids (we first visited Teylers Museum when our son was 3,5), but from age 4-5 the treasure hunt is fun to do and every Sunday they offer great creative workshops for kids.

Frans Hals Museum

The Frans Hals Museum is the oldest art museum in The Netherlands, with a collection that’s over 400 years old. Not a museum for grabby little hands, but a nice place to visit with kids age 4+. The collection is a great combination of the historic Dutch masters and modern art. The museum has two locations, the former old men’s home at Groot Heiligland called ‘het Hof’ and De Hallen at the Grote Markt. Discover all the fun details of the paintings and art objects by doing the treasure hunt.

ABC Architecture Center

The Architectuur- en Bouwhistorisch Centrum (ABC) Haarlem the center of Haarlem, close to the Frans Hals Museum, is not that interesting to visit with young kids. But… they do have over 60.000 lego bricks for kids to build and play with! Who doesn’t love playing with lego? At ABC there are enough to keep kids occupied for a while.  For older kids (and parents!) who are interested in architecture and urban development, this is a good place to learn more about various aspects of Dutch architecture. ABC is open all afternoons except Sunday.

Museum Haarlem

If you want to learn more about the history of Haarlem, Museum Haarlem is the place to go. Start with a short introduction film (in Dutch or English) which tells you about important events in Dutch history and the people that were important in Haarlem’s history. Such as plane builder Anthony Fokker, Kenau Simonsdochter Hasselaer (who played an important role in the defense of Haarlem during the Eighty Years War with Spain) and Laurens Janszoon Coster (the purported inventor of the printing press). Then go on to discover lots of objects, paintings and photos that tell you all about Haarlem’s history. For each exhibition, the museum creates a sheet with questions and assignments for kids.  Don’t miss  the ‘weeshuiskamer’ (orphanage room) and discover what it was like when the Haarlem Museum’s building was an orphanage, not even that long ago. There’s a chest with dress up clothes for even more pretend play.

Pieter Vermeulen Museum

A bit outside of Haarlem, at Driehuis, you’ll find the Pieter Vermeulen Museum. It’s a small museum, specifically for kids, which has about 3 or 4 different exhibitions during the year. It’s only open on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday afternoons (more often during school holidays). We’ve been twice and learned about waste & recycling and about the various aspects of water. The exhibitions are in Dutch, so if you don’t speak Dutch make sure to use Google translate app (tip: there’s an option to scan a written text your phone’s camera and immediately translate it to English). We do recommend you to do the assignment sheet, because otherwise you’ll be done is less than 30-minutes.

Playgrounds in Haarlem

Haarlem has a lot of playgrounds (playground = speeltuin in Dutch). Quite a few of them are run by playground associations and operated by volunteers. On the one hand this is fantastic, on the other hand this reliance on volunteers means the playgrounds have limited opening hours and aren’t completely free to visit. Usually you pay a small entry fee of €0,50-€1 per child. Make sure the playground is open before visiting! Search online for ‘speeltuin  Haarlem’ and you’ll find them all.

Playground Paradijsje

Het Paradijsje used to be our favorite playground when our son was young. Perfect place to spend an hour or two with your little one (up to age 5). It’s a city playground and unless you know it’s there it can be a bit hard to find.

Playground Glasblazers

Playground de Glasblazers was recently renovated and great for both young and older kids. It’s not a large playground, but there’s enough space to climb, jump and play.

Playground Groenendaal

Open year-round (not when the weather is really bad!) Playground Groenendaal is a commercial outdoor playground. At €3 per person (including a drink or ice cream) the entrance fee is very reasonable. It’s not in Haarlem itself, but in neighboring town Heemstede. This playground is located right next to the Groenendaalse Bos, in the middle of a forest. We love combining an hour or two of exploring in the forest with some playtime at this playground. This playground is also very close to Kinderboerderij ‘t Molentje.

Play forest Meermond

Also in Heemstede, this free play forest is a great alternative for families on a budget. It’s best for kids 4 and older with some great climbing structures, a slide and surrounding forested area to explore. Our son loves it there. There are no restaurants and toilets close by. The entrance of the play area is at Cruquiusweg 49, Heemstede.

Indoor and outdoor swimming  in Haarlem

There are a two indoor swimming pools in Haarlem, zwembad Boerhaavebad and zwembad De Planeet. Both have limited options for recreational swimming, so do check the website before visiting. Water Park Aqua Mundo in Center Parcs Zandvoort is more expensive but you can easily spend a few hours there and it’s a great alternative that’s open every day. Haarlem also has an outdoor pool called De Houtvaart (open every day from end of April to end of August). For open water swimming the Molenplas (Waertmolenpad 1) in de southern Schalkwijk area of Haarlem is great. There are some play structures as well as a restaurant. An alternative in nearby Hoofddorp is the Haarlemmermeerse Bos (IJweg 961, Hoofddorp). Haarlem is very close to the beach too. Zandvoort is only 15 minutes away by train or about 45-60 minutes by bike. During the summer holiday in July and August it can be very crowded on the beach on hot days.

The post Fun things to do in Haarlem with kids appeared first on FlipFlopGlobetrotters.com.

More posts about The Netherlands:
Fun things to do in Haarlem with kids
Complete guide for visiting Amsterdam with kids
Top 10 children’s museums in the Netherlands
A review of the Children’s Book Museum in The Hague
Sprookjeswonderland, a great day trip from Amsterdam

Things to do in Amsterdam with kids

The Dutch capital city has a bit of a reputation, but there’s also plenty to do with kids in Amsterdam. In fact, Amsterdam is a great city to visit with kids. There are some fantastic children’s museums in Amsterdam, such as the Nemo Science Museum and the Maritime Museum. There are also multiple cinemas, a zoo, canal cruises and lovely parks and playgrounds. Our fellow travel bloggers suggest the following things to do in Amsterdam with kids.

Canal Cruise – Amsterdam

Rondvaart – Amsterdam

A Canal Cruise is one of Amsterdam’s most famous activities. The city has more than one hundred kilometers of canals and over a thousand bridges! This is a great activity to do with kids because they can just sit, rest and appreciate the amazing views to the city. Does this sound boring to your kids? There are plenty of options in the city, specifically tailored for kids! Everything from a cruise that allows them to eat as many pancakes as they desire (plus, a ball pool under the deck ), the Pannenkoekenboot, to a boat for pizza lovers. If they are into more adventurous endeavours, there are cruises in the city offering pirate adventures! Alternatively, you can also use the canal cruises as a means of transportation in the city if you opt for the hop-on-hop-off boat tour!

Recommended by Maria & Rui from Two Find a Way

National Maritime Museum – Amsterdam

Scheepvaartmuseum – Amsterdam

The National Maritime Museum is a museum all about how the sea has impacted the Dutch life, from past to present. It also includes a huge replica of a ship from the Dutch East India Company that you can board! It’s such a fun activity for both kids and curious adults because you can walk around the various levels of the ship learning about life on the ship and checking out  the interactive exhibits. One exhibit teaches you about how pulleys work: you try lifting cargo boxes using different sets of pulleys to learn why one set is easier than the other. A second exhibit has you sniffing mystery boxes to guess what was being sold aboard the vessel. You can easily spend a few hours here exploring the ship and the museum itself.

Recommended by Kay from Paws and Pines

Public Library – Amsterdam

Openbare Bibliotheek – Amsterdam

A place both our kids and us are fond of, in Amsterdam, is the Openbare Bibliotheek, the library. Located in the city center, the library is a lovely space especially for younger kids. The building is vast and airy and the children section is on the ground floor. Here, in a vast and clean space you have a rows of children books (some in English), couches to read and rest, a tipi tent for playing and a ‘lookout’ to catch a bird’s eye view over the library.

As well as books, the library has something pretty special. In a glass case, you will find an incredible 2 meter high wooden house for… mice! The house incredible: it has rooms, stairs, hallways, shops and toy mice to live in it: it is fairy tale magic at its best and one of the highlights of our family visit to Amsterdam.

Recommended by Marta from Learning Escapes

Anne Frank House – Amsterdam

Anne Frank Huis – Amsterdam

One of the pivotal moments in my childhood was when we read the Diary of Anne Frank in eighth grade. The story of a girl our age, who had the same kinds of hopes and dreams we had but who was able to express herself and her fears, moved everyone in our class. Finally seeing the Anne Frank house as an adult was a very rewarding experience, but I couldn’t help but be a bit jealous of the young girls I saw touring it with their families and how powerful the visit must have been for them. While I do think that this is a great place for older kids and teenagers, everyone of all ages should take the time to visit. The house has been maintained and appears as it did when Anne lived there with her family while in hiding from the Nazis. Learning more details about Anne’s life there only made the story of her final days more powerful. There was no one on my tour who left without crying at some point.

There are many reasons to visit this city. Amsterdam is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has amazing culture and arts, and a unique city layout. However, everyone who comes should take a moment to learn about the city’s history during World War II, when it wasn’t the free-wheeling and fun city it is today.

Recommended by Stephanie from History Fangirl

Kings Day Bredeweg Festival – Amsterdam

Bredewegfestival Koningsdag – Amsterdam

Each year in April, the Bredewegfestival in the Netherlands turns Amsterdam’s Oost district into a paradise for kids. It’s a side festival of the actual King’s Day, which is always celebrated on the 27th April. The Bredewegfestival combines storytelling with music and lots of family fun, such as rides, face painters, performance artists or craft workshops. It’s a colourful get-together in the streets of Amsterdam Oost, which is for free and full of amazing things that will make the kids’ eyes shine. Imagine how it would be to watch a kids opera in the street, to have a fresh craft beer while your kids get their faces painted. Sounds good? Well, then leave the rest of the King’s Day festivities and come here for some good family fun.

Recommended by Clemens from Travellers Archive

Things to do in Rotterdam with kids

The Netherlands second largest city, after Amsterdam, is Rotterdam. Rotterdam is Holland’s largest sea port. Rotterdam’s city center was largely destroyed during the Rotterdam Blitz, the controversial aerial bombing by the German invaders at the beginning of WWII in 1940. A few historical buildings remain. They stand side by side with perfect examples of the early 20th century modernist architecture of the Nieuwe Bouwen school and hyper modern skyscrapers. This makes for some interesting sightseeing. There are also a lot of fun things to do with kids in Rotterdam. Miniworld Rotterdam, Blijdorp Zoo, Plaswijck Park, nature playground the Speeldernis, playground De Stormpolder, the Tax and Customs Museum (Belasting en Douane Museum) and Villa Zebra are only a few. Villa Zebra is a very interesting children’s museum in Rotterdam that offers interactive exhibitions with modern art for kids. Recommended by our fellow travel bloggers are the pancake boat and the Maritime Museum.

Pancake Cruise – Rotterdam

Pannenkoekenboot – Rotterdam

The Pancake boat in Rotterdam is the perfect activity for families. I mean, who doesn’t love pancakes! The Pancake boat takes it to a whole other level though as you can enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet with pancakes and all kinds of toppings. At the same time, you get to experience Rotterdam from its best side – from the water. So, when your kids are full and happy with pancakes, you can enjoy the views and of course eat some delicious pancakes too! The cruise lasts for 75 minutes and cost 18,50 Euros per adult, or 26.50 for a family cruise. You can book tickets online, and check timetables as well.

Recommended by Alex from Swedish Nomad

Maritime Museum – Rotterdam

Maritiem Museum – Rotterdam

The Maritime Museum in Rotterdam is the perfect place to take kids of all ages. It’s conveniently located right in the center of the city on the port Leuvehaven, which is currently home to water taxis, houseboats, pleasure skiffs, and the Maritime Museum’s collection of old ships. With a ticket to the museum you’re able to board and explore a few of these ships, which kids will love crawling all over. Inside the Museum, the top floor is designed just for kids, with a discovery room about maritime life. And there’s a terrace where kids can play… and by play we mean perform manual labor! The kids we saw were enjoying themselves tremendously loading various objects on wheeled carts and moving them about (with hard hats of course!). The activities available are sure to tire out even the most rambunctious kids. We had a lot of fun at the Maritime Museum with our friends and their four-year-old son, and certainly recommend it as one of the best museums for kids in Rotterdam. Oh yeah, and if you need to refuel with local food and beer after your visit, head across the Nieuwe Maas River to the incredible Fenix Food Factory.

Recommended by Sarah and Justin from Travel Breathe Repeat

Things to do in Haarlem with kids

Haarlem is often called ‘small Amsterdam’. It has the same type of architecture, lovely canal houses and historical buildings, but isn’t as overrun by tourists. A day trip to Haarlem, capital of the province Noord-Holland, is perfect when you’re staying in Amsterdam. Amsterdam – Haarlem is only about 15 minutes by train. But why not leave touristy Amsterdam behind and stay in less busy Haarlem? Haarlem is FlipFlopGlobetrotters hometown, so we know all the nooks and crannies of this fun city!

Our favorite things to do with kids Haarlem? Playgrounds ‘het Paradijsje’, de Eenhoorn or newly opened nature playground De Paddenpoel, the Archeology Museum, the Teylers Museum, a visit to the impressive St. Bavo Church, walking around the old city center or visiting one of the many petting zoos or family friendly restaurants. Nearby Haarlem in Bennebroek is the Linneaushof, Europe’s largest playground. The beach in Zandvoort (about 15 minutes by train) and the Molenplas are great to go for a swim in the summer. City beach De Oerkap is also worth a mention. It’s a nice place to have some lunch or dinner while your kids play in the sand.

Teylers Museum – Haarlem

The Teylers Museum has a bit of an odd collection and you’ll discover new things every time you visit. It’s the oldest museum in The Netherlands and not a very large museum (dating back to 1784), but every surface is filled with weird and wonderful things. From fossils to coins and from historic scientific instruments to beautiful old paintings. The building itself is worth a visit, with its authentic 18th-century museum interior. The museum offers a treasure hunt that’s good fun to do.

Archeology Museum – Haarlem

Archeologisch Museum – Haarlem

[youtube link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKZAynoLgHg” width=”560″ height=”315″]

This is one of our favorites. It’s a small museum and perfect for kids. Our son calls it the ‘under the ground museum’ as it’s located underground in the cellars of De Hallen. Of course, the underground location is very appropriate for an archeology museum. The displays are all kids’ height, so they can easily see and there’s a reconstruction of an archeological dig site. A video explains a bit more about archeology in Haarlem. There’s a small digging pit where kids can dig for pieces of pottery, bones and a determination table where kids can discover what people used to eat by going through a cesspool’s content. Just like real archeologists.

The beach – Zandvoort

Strand – Zandvoort

The beach at Zandvoort and Bloemendaal is a great place to visit in any season. There are a few beach pavilions that are open year round and we always enjoy the large play structure at Thalassa. From Haarlem you can take a train (10 minutes) to Zandvoort station or just ride your bike (about 30 minutes). It’s a very scenic bike ride through the dune area. Both the beach and the dunes are lovely to visit with kids. Ample space to run, play and discover.

Petting farm De Houthoeve – Haarlem

Kinderboederij De Houthoeve – Haarlem

Near Haarlem’s city center there’s a large petting zoo called De Houthoeve. It’s literally a 5-10 minute walk from Haarlem’s main shopping street, in Haarlemmerhout park. Here you’ll find all of the usual Dutch petting zoo animals, such as goats, pigs, rabbits and chickens. They even have a llama. Kids always love running after the goats to pet them! There’s also a small playground.

Things to do in Zaandam with kids

A stone’s throw away from Amsterdam, and easily accessible by public transport, you’ll find a city called Zaandam. The Zaanse Schans is its main attraction and a great place to visit with kids as you can read below. Other fun things to do with kids in Zaandam are Darteldome indoor playground, the tiny Czar Peter House, the Hembrug Museum and the Zaans Museum, which is also located at the Zaanse Schans. The Verkade Experience is part of the Zaans Museum, it shows you the famous early 20th century chocolate and cookie factory Verkade. The Hembrug Museum opened recently, it tells the story of the weapons and munition factory that was located in this area.

Zaanse Schans – Zaandam

Zaanse Schans is a residential area where they’ve brought the 18th and 19th century to life. It’s located in Zaandam, near Zaandijk, about a 1-hour bus ride from Amsterdam. Zaanse Schans is a fun place for the whole family with both museums, restaurants, beautiful views and fun workshops. This is a place where you can easily spend a whole day just strolling around having family fun. There are fun things for the whole family with several activities. Here you can explore windmills, visit the cheese factory and sample some delicious cheese, visit the old school candy shop or just attend one of the many workshops that Zaanse Schans offer its visitors.

Recommended by Christine of Christine Abroad

Things to do in The Hague with kids

Like Amsterdam, The Hague has plenty to offer for kids. Some of our favorite things to do with kids in The Hague are the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag (the Chambers of Wonders are awesome for kids 10+), the Children’s Book Museum, miniature park Madurodam, indoor playgrounds Zuiderparadijs and MonkeyTown Den Haag, Avonturia de Vogelkelder and of course the beach at Scheveningen. At Madurodam you can discover the Netherlands’ highlights, all in mini size. Avonturia de Vogelkelder is a 8000m2 specialty pet shop, the largest in the Benelux, complete with a mini zoo. Our fellow travel bloggers suggest the following things to do in The Hague with kids.

MUSEON – The Hague

MUSEON – Den Haag

MUSEON is situated in The Hague, a city with international vibes as many embassies, diplomatic offices and foreign press are located here. The museum is as diverse as the city itself. You can visit permanent exhibitions about outer space, volcanoes, the polar regions, ecology, geology, history, other cultures and religions, refuge movements. Each one of them takes up a large room and they all feature interactive elements for the little (or older ones) to explore. Some very interesting temporary exhibitions that you can visit right now include: knights and castles, bees and why they are in danger, National Geographic photography exhibition “Photo Ark” and a great exhibition about Ru Paré, the artist and Dutch resistance heroin that saved the life of millions of Jewish children. Do not let the “heavy” subjects, like resistance or refugees put you off. The Dutch have a great talent to make such concepts understandable and approachable to children in a great manner. If you visit MUSEON this summer, your little one will get to design their own knight shield, try out traditional, medieval bookbinding or see if they are any good at the making of stained glass windows. The museum store is loaded with toys that promote critical thinking and scientific discoveries and the cafe is also very child-friendly, offering quite a great variety of food.

Recommended by Paul from Mommy Stroller

Things to do in Leiden with kids

There are many fun children’s museum’s in Leiden, such as National Museum of Antiquities (Museum van Oudheden) and the National Museum of Ethnology (Museum Volkenkunde) recommended below. Other favorites are Naturalis (National Museum of Natural History) and Corpus. At Corpus (for kids age 8+) you can make a journey through the human body. There are some great playgrounds in Leiden, such as speeltuin Westerkwartier and De Speelschans and indoor playgrounds Bubble Jungle and Pirate Island (Piraateiland).

National Museum of Antiquities – Leiden

Rijksmuseum van Oudheden – Leiden

If your little one is interested in history, if they are fascinated with old statues, warriors, ancient battles, how people lived thousands of years ago, then look no further. This antiquities museum features some of the most impressive exhibitions in Europe. The permanent collection about ancient Egypt includes many sarcophagi of all sizes as well as giant statues of Egyptian Pharaohs and other gods. Together with your little one you can use the interactive screens to dissect a crocodile mummy and learn even more! Here you will also find Greek and Etruscan exhibits, ancient Roman ones and also a section on the Near East  (Mesopotamia and Babylon).

We particularly love the top floor where the Dutch archaeological findings unravel on a ribbon-like structure, that creates many nooks and crannies for the children to discover. There they can find interactive screens, fossils, old skeletons, ancient jewels and all sorts of treasures. The building itself is also an attraction, with many glass elements allowing the light to reach just the right places. A large museum store featuring an impressive collection of children’s books dedicated to history (from pure historical ones to comic series like Asterix) and lots of interesting memorabilia to choose from will please young and old. The cafe is roomy and has a nice terrace as well. The museum is quite large and we recommend bringing a lightweight stroller (or a lightweight double umbrella stroller if you have 2 kids) if you have young kids and want to enjoy it fully.

Recommended by Paul from Mommy Stroller

National Museum of Ethnology – Leiden

Museum Volkenkunde – Leiden

The Ethnology Museum in Leiden is a museum about people from various parts of the world. The permanent display shows historical objects from 8 different cultural regions: Africa, Asia, Indonesia, China, Oceania, Japan & Korea, North Pole & North America, Middle & Central America. All objects tell a story about universal human themes, such as surviving, celebration, mourning, praying, fighting and crossing to adulthood. The cultural differences emphasize that deep down we are all the same. Regularly there are temporary exhibitions. The museum offers different treasure hunts for different ages. We recommend that you do a treasure hunt when you visit the museum with your kids, as it’s a proper museum with lots of traditional displays. The treasure hunt makes the objects come alive, and sparks the imagination. For kids 2-6 there’s a fun play area called The Wild Bus next to the restaurant. The bus can take them to whatever part of the world they want to visit. A great place for imaginary play. The National Museum of Ethnology makes for a fascinating visit for both kids and parents.

Recommended by FlipFlopGlobetrotters

Between Leiden and The Hague is a town called Zoeterwoude, near Zoetermeer. It’s a fun day trip from Leiden, where you’ll see more of the Dutch countryside. It’s possible to go by public transport, but you’ll still have to walk 30 minutes from the closest bus stop. Another option is to rent a bike. It takes about 30-40 minutes to get there by bike from Leiden center.

Goat Farm ‘t Geertje – Zoeterwoude

Geitenboerderij ’t Geertje – Zoeterwoude

This adorable farm is the perfect outing with kids in the Netherlands. You can easily fill a day here, or just pop by for some outdoor fun. You can feed the goats bottles of milk, see lots of animals, play on the playground and enjoy lunch in the cafe. You won’t want to miss the Adventure Walk where you head through a fun corse full of stepping stones, log bridges and tree arches. You can also rent a boat or walk down some of the paths that parallel the canal.

Recommended by Elizabeth from Dutch Dutch Goose. Read the full review of goat farm ’t Geertje

Things to do in Wassenaar with kids

When I think of Wassenaar a Dutch song by Dutch hiphop duo Ross & Iba with the name ‘Wassenaar’ directly springs to mind. It was high in the top40 charts in The Netherlands for weeks back in 1996 (yes, I’m that old ;-)). Wassenaar is a town close to Leiden and The Hague. It’s the home of the Dutch king and his family and the Netherlands’ second most prosperous municipality after Bloemendaal with the highest income per capita. Home to the rich and therefore stereotyped as very posh and stuck-up. To the Dutch Wassenaar is best known for attraction park Duinrell and the Tikibad waterpark and swimming pool. You can buy a combination ticket, but it’s also possible to buy a separate ticket for the waterpark.

Amusement park Duinrell – Wassenaar

Attractiepark Duinrell – Wassenaar

Duinrell, situated between Leiden and Den Haag, is a holiday park with an amusement park and the Tiki Pool waterpark all combined into one. The Tiki Pool has 16 slides and various pools suitable for all ages. And the Duinrell amusement park is small enough to explore the main rides and attractions within one day. You will find adrenaline pumping modern rides, old-fashioned attractions, well-landscaped grounds and a very good pancake restaurant that is built around a merry-go-round. The Locomotion ride has car seats with a 5-point harness installed so that even the very young visitors can enjoy the rides.

Recommended by Jules from Shades of Courage.

Monkey Forest Playground – Wassenaar

Monkeybos – Wassenaar

The Dutch water company Dunea uses the dunes to filter the country’s drinking water. The land surrounding the dunes has been converted into recreational use. There is a visitors center and weekly kids programs. The monkeybos though is the highlight. This playground in the woods has swinging ropes and plenty of monkey rope obstacles close to the ground. We always have a great time there and end our visit at the water play area just outside the visitors center. There is also a pancake house with plenty of toys for the kids and of course delicious pancakes.

Recommended by Elizabeth from Dutch Dutch Goose. Read a detailed review of Monkey Forest Playground

Things to do in Utrecht with kids

The Netherlands has so much to offer for kids. In the center of The Netherlands, you’ll find Utrecht, another fun city to visit. Walking in the city center feels like walking around a historical open-air museum. Did you know there’s a Miffy Museum (Nijntje Museum)? The Miffy Museum is a great place to visit with young kids (up til about age 5). And we can also recommend the Railway Museum (Spoorwegmuseum). For kids up til age 7 playground De Torteltuin is a small haven in a bustling city. Older kids will greatly enjoy the Griftpark. De Haar Castle (Kasteel de Haar) just outside of the city’s boundaries, is a castle that seems to have come right out of a fairytale. But there’s more to the province of Utrecht than just Utrecht city. De Utrechtse Heuvelrug (the hillside of Utrecht) is a lovely nature area. This is where the Pyramid of Austerlitz is located.

Pyramid of Austerlitz – Woudenberg

Pyramide van Austerlitz – Woudenberg

Not many people know that the only pyramid on European soil is situated in the village of Woudenberg. The Austerlitz Pyramid is located on the highest summit of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug hills and was constructed in 1804 to honor Napoleon Bonaparte. It is a relic from a time when the Netherlands was under French rule and it is a great and cheap ( 3 EUR p.p.) attraction to visit. Not only do you get some exercise in when climbing to the top of the pyramid to enjoy the view, there are kid-friendly hiking trails in the area around the pyramid and there is even a good size funfair style playground next to the pyramids visitor center, which is open during the summer.

Recommended by Jules from Shades of Courage

Things to do in Breda with kids

I’ve lived in Breda for a while pre-kids. It’s a big city with all necessary amenities but it has the typical Dutch southern charm with a lovely old city center. Because of its location, at a junction of water, road and railway, Breda was an important garrison town, that still houses the Royal Military Academy today. The city has a historical connection to the Dutch royal house of Nassau, through the Lord of Breda who became the Prince of Oranje-Nassau in 1538. There is also a lot to do with kids in Breda. Kids love the Breda city tour with a small electric train (it’s free for kids up to 12) that takes about 50 minutes. The miniature museum (Miniaturenmuseum Breda) at the historical Begijnhof is also great to visit with kids. Other fun things to do in Breda with kids are a canal cruise, the play forests Speelbos Gilze and Speelbos Boeverijen, the reptile house Reptielenhuis De Aarde and the many petting zoos. Close to Breda, about 30 minutes by car, you’ll also find the well-known Safari Park Beekse Bergen.

The south of Holland is famous for its yearly ‘Carnaval’ celebrations. Three days a year, end of February or early March, the city of Breda is turned into party town ‘Kielegat’. There’s a large float parade and people dress up. For the southern Dutch this is the best party of the year.

Pancake restaurant Koeckers – Den Hout

Pannenkoekenrestaurant Koeckers – Den Hout

If you’re visiting the Netherlands, you have to try the famous pancakes. A great place for families to enjoy these delicious bakeries is Koeckers, a restaurant in a small town called Den Hout, near Breda. At Koeckers, all types of pancakes are served, both sweet and with veggies. You can go here early in the day because there is a massive playing garden with trampolines, swings, a cable railway, and a sandbox with an excavator. For a small fee, you can also play minigolf.

If you travel the Netherlands with an RV, which I absolutely recommend, you can stay on campsite ‘t Kopske next door. The place is brilliant for a special family holiday as there are a sandbox and slide in the middle of the campground. Also, kids can play freely with the go-carts and tricycles. The campsite is a perfect place to see more of the North Brabant area. From there, you can easily visit beautiful places like Drimmelen and De Biesbosch National Park, and scenic towns such as Breda and Den Bosch.

Recommended by Nanouk from Dutch family travel blog Samen de Wereld Ontdekken

Things to do in Lelystad with kids

Lelystad is the provincial capital of Flevoland, the 12th province of the Netherlands. Almost all the land of this province was reclaimed from the IJsselmeer in the 1950s and ‘60s and Flevoland is basically an artificial island. Lelystad is a very new city, founded in 1967. Many complain that the city lacks ‘heart’ because it’s so new, but it still has a lot to offer for families. And at just a 40-minute drive away it makes an interesting day trip from Amsterdam. The trip Lelystad – Amsterdam can also be easily done by public transport. There are plenty of opportunities for water sports near Lelystad and it has six marinas and two beaches. Very interesting are the nature areas around Lelystad, from the world-famous natural marshland Oostvaardersplassen to about nine different forested areas. Het Belevenissenbos (‘experience forest’) is the largest playground forest in the Netherlands and fantastic for kids age 6+. The Batavia shipyard is amazing to visit with kids of all ages. Step on board the reconstructed 16th century VOC ship the Batavia and let your imagination run free. National aviation theme park Aviodrome at the Lelystad airport premises is also a favorite among kids.

Oostvaardersplassen Nature Reserve – Lelystad

Natuurgebied Oostvaardersplassen – Lelystad

Built on reclaimed land, The Oostvaardersplassen National Park is a must-see for nature-lovers of all ages. After a stop at De Oostvaarder – the interpretation center, an eco-car takes visitors through the wetlands to see herds of deer, wild horses, oxen, and foxes set against a backdrop of migrating birds. If you’re lucky and eagle-eyed, you’ll spot the elusive sea eagle, which has recently returned to nest in the area after not being seen in the Netherlands since the Middle Ages. To make the most of this easy-to-access day trip from Amsterdam, combine it with a visit to the nearby New Land Heritage Centre which details how the land they are standing on became one of the largest land reclamation projects in the world. Kids are encouraged to play archeologist and dyke builder, and the 3D boat projection game on sand that you move with your fingers is mesmerizing, even for adults.

Recommended by Raymond from Man on the Lam

Things to do at the Wadden Islands with kids

The Dutch Wadden (‘waddeneilanden’) Islands, also known as the West Frisian Islands, are part of a unique nature reserve that stretches all the way to Denmark. There are five Dutch islands: Texel, Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland and Schiermonnikoog. Texel is the largest island and can be reached by ferry from Den Helder. The Wadden islands are barrier islands, protecting the Waddenzee (‘wadden sea’). Amazing nature, pure silence, kilometers of walking and bike paths and wide golden beaches are perfectly combined with nice hotels and holiday apartments for the whole family. Definitely a unique experience in The Netherlands.

Each island has its own characteristics and customs, from large Texel with seven villages to tiny car free Schiermonnikoog with only about 900 inhabitants. From Vlieland you can go on a boat excursion to watch the seals that live near the island. When it’s low tide, parts of the Waddenzee fall dry. At this time it’s even possible to walk over the mudflats (‘wadlopen) all the way from the Frysian mainland (‘Friesland) to the islands! This a difficult hike and for kids there are options to try shorter easier hikes on the mudflats.

Walking the mudflats – Pieterburen

Wadlopen – Pieterburen

The Netherlands is famous for its Waddenzee which is a beautiful national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can just cross it by boat to one of the islands, but more fun is to walk all the way. Yes walk! Walking mudflats is a must do, once in a lifetime, activity with kids. Maybe not all the way from the mainland to the islands but a few hours along the coast is great too. It’s best done around the area of Noordpolderzijl where the Waddenzee is easily accessible. Never go alone out over the mudflats but take a good guide who knows currents and dangerous areas! Tours are organized by Wadloop Centrum Pieterburen. They will also adjust the route so that it’s fun for kids of any age but 8 years or up is best. The guides will also explain about land reclamation, flora, and the fauna. It’s a great learning experience for kids. It depends the season if you’re able to spot seals. It’s highly recommend combining walking mudflats with a visit to the Pieterburen seal refuge center. Take old shoes and be sure to get dirty during this traditional Dutch activity!

Recommended by Chris W. from Chris Travel Blog (CTB Global)

The Netherlands with kids, conclusion

The Netherlands is a great country to visit with kids of all ages. Lovely nature, interesting cities, great children’s museums and plenty of fun kids activities and indoor and outdoor playgrounds. In this guide we’ve covered things to do with kids in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Leiden, Haarlem, Zaandam, Utrecht, Wassenaar, Lelystad and the Wadden Islands. But there’s much more to discover in the northern, eastern or southern part of the Netherlands. Just think of National Park de Hoge Veluwe near Apeldoorn, the megalithic hunebedden in the province of Drenthe, Safaripark de Beekse Bergen near Tilburg in the South or the Dinopark in Zwolle, For such a small country, Holland really has a lot to offer. For outdoor activities, the spring and summer months (April to September) are best, but lots of indoor activities can be done year round, making it possible to visit The Netherlands any time of the year. The Netherlands is definitely a great country to add to your European family trip itinerary.

The post Favorite things to do in The Netherlands with kids appeared first on FlipFlopGlobetrotters.com.

Recently we visited the Teylers Museum in Haarlem, which was maybe a bit too challenging for a toddler. But I think he’ll love it in a few months time. He’s still talking about the visit… Our trip to the Children’s Book Museum (or ‘Frog Museum’ as our toddler calls it, due to the ‘I am Frog’ exhibit) was a big hit. We’ll definitely be going there again! Most museums in The Netherlands offer some kids program and it’s very easy to find activities for older children. The museums on this list are fun for older kids too, but I’m focussing specifically on museums that are fun for toddlers.

Bilingual children’s museums in The Netherlands

Most of the museums in Amsterdam are bilingual, also the children’s museums. Although a lot of people in The Netherlands speak English and we have many expats, museums outside of Amsterdam are mostly only in Dutch. Of course, Google Translate helps a lot while checking the museum’s website for visitor info. And I recently got a tip about the Google Translate App. It now offers instant camera translation and you can use it offline. Just point your phone’s camera at a piece of text and you can instantly see the translated text on your screen. I think your kids will enjoy a museum visit a lot more if you can tell them what they are seeing. This would have been great when we visited the natural history museum in Milan recently, as all the information was only in Italian (and although we try, our knowledge of Italian is virtually non-existent).

Kids museum card

Most museums in The Netherlands offer free entrance for kids up till 4 years old (so we need to hurry and visit a few before our tot turns 4!). Check the museum’s website for pricing details, a lot of museums that are specifically for kids have different tariffs. In general museums in The Netherlands are quite expensive, even for kids you often pay €10-20 for a ticket. So after our toddler turns 4 I think we’ll buy a museum card for him and ourselves (€32,45 for kids, €59,90 for adults at the time of writing, June 2017). Just a few visits and it’ll already be worth it. This might also be a good option if you’re visiting The Netherlands and plan to visit a good few museums or if you’re an expat living in The Netherlands.

The website Museum Kids has info about the museum card, but also a lot of info about children’s museums in The Netherlands.

Best museums for toddlers in The Netherlands

1. Archeologie Museum / Archeology Museum – Haarlem

Our little world traveler calls this the ‘underground museum’ because you have to go down a flight of stairs to reach this museum in the cellars of historical building De Vleeshal (‘meat hall’) in the center of Haarlem. Of course, archeologists’ findings are also ‘under the ground’ so the name fits quite well. The museum is really small, which makes in perfect for toddlers. All the display cases are low and kids can easily see what’s inside. Play archeologist at the small digging pit, where you’ll discover pieces of old pottery and bones. Or find out what people used to eat by sorting various food residues (egg shells, fish bones, fruit pits) at the determination table. Be amazed by all the small bones in a human skeleton and discover how hard it is to piece a vase together from all the small pieces of pottery.

If you’re doing a day trip to Haarlem with kids, the archeology museum is a great place to include. Overall Haarlem is a nice city to visit with (or without) kids. It has a lot of child-friendly lunch places and some nice petting zoos. Sometimes Haarlem is called ‘little Amsterdam’. It has the architecture and the canals, but it’s a lot less busy than Holland’s capital.

2. Kinderboekenmuseum / Children’s Book Museum – The Hague

Our toddler loves books, so this awesome museum has to be in the top 10. There are two exhibitions for kids age 0-6 ‘Ik ben Kikker’ (I am Frog) and ‘ABC met de dieren mee’ (ABC with the animals) and one for ages 7+ called Papiria. The I am Frog exhibition is both in Dutch and English. Each book character has its own little space. Crawl through various fruits and food like the Very Hungry Caterpillar, jump like Frog, patch up Elmer the Patchwork Elephant… the museum’s exhibitions are highly interactive and fun. Kinderboeken museum is easy to reach by public transport. The National Library building that houses the museum is located right next to Den Haag Centraal (The Hague central train station). The website of the Children’s Book Museum tells you more about how to get there and what you can expect.

Watch the video we made below or check the review of our visit to the Children’s Book Museum. Our son keeps asking when we’re going back to visit Frog, so I would say it was a success and we’ll definitely go there again.

3. Nijntje museum / Miffy Museum – Utrecht

Did you know there’s a whole museum dedicated to Miffy? How cool is that! The museum is meant for kids between the ages of 2 and 6, but I think it really depends on your child. A friend of mine who went said her 4-year old probably wouldn’t find it very interesting anymore in a few months. We haven’t been yet, but it’s on the agenda.

They recommend you buy tickets online as availability at the museum itself is limited. For safety reasons they work with time slots (so the building doesn’t exceed maximum capacity). Your booked time slot indicates when you should enter the museum. Once inside you can stay as long as you like. Check the Miffy Museum’s website for more info & prices.

4. Naturalis – Leiden

Naturalis is an awesome museum with a vast natural history collection. The aim of Naturalis is to increase enthusiasm for and knowledge of the amazing diversity of nature. After a long renovation period, the museum reopened in September 2019. The museum is completely renewed and better than ever. Read our detailed review of Naturalis or check out the Naturalis website for more information.

Leiden is a nice city to visit. It has a beautiful historic city center. We were there recently and our little one loved The Burcht, an 11th-century shell keep. Great to spark his imagination. Incidentally my two favorite museums are in Leiden. The Rijksmuseum van de Oudheden (National Museum of Antiquities) and Museum Volkenkunde (National Museum of Ethnology) are awesome to visit with kids of any age.

5. Spoorwegmuseum / Railway Museum – Utrecht

Discovery and experience are paramount at this museum where 175 years of railway history comes to life. This museum is great for kids of all ages (and parents too!). Videos, explanations of the various trains on display, a theater performance by a French chef and a lady traveling the Orient Express, a simulator of a mad train ride where the kids can push buttons and man the steering wheel…. You’re not only looking at old trains, but the museum does its best to animate history, making it a lot more interesting for kids. Our toddler really enjoyed it.

The Railway Museum is housed in an old train station, a beautiful historic building dating from 1874, within walking distance of the city center. Of course, the coolest way to get there is… by train! There’s a train service between Utrecht Centraal and Utrecht Maliebaan. You exit the train inside the museum. More information can be found on the website of the Railway Museum. Kids 0-3 have free entrance.

6. Villa Zebra – modern art kids museum Rotterdam

Villa Zebra is a children’s museum for modern art. Their exhibitions are aimed at kids ages 3-12. The two permanent exhibitions are ZELF (‘self’) for kids 3-6 and Diep in het bos (‘deep in the forest’) for kids 7-12. ZELF consists of 5 play and art installations that were developed by artists, especially for young kids. Going on holiday, camping, starring in the circus, experimenting in the laboratory or creating tangram images, it’s all possible at Villa Zebra. If you visit ZELF your kids can also do a small workshop. The museum has limited opening hours, so don’t forget to check Villa Zebra’s website to see when you can visit.

7. Veiligheidsmuseum PIT / Security Museum PIT – Almere

Veiligheidsmuseum PIT is the national security museum. Here you can find out everything you ever wanted to know about the emergency services (police, fire brigade and ambulance) in The Netherlands. The museum, located in the center of Almere, offers a good mix of historical items and vehicles, and interactive games and activities. It’s both entertaining and educational. Kids and their parents learn all about safety in their own environment and how the emergency services help keep Holland safe. At the moment our 3-year old wants to be a fireman when he grows up, so I’m guessing we’ll be visiting this museum soon! Museum entrance is free for kids 0-3. Take a look at the website of Veiligheidsmuseum PIT for more information, opening hours and ticket prices.

8. Archeon – Aphen aan den Rijn

This awesome place is still high on our museum bucket list. It’s an open air museum dedicated to Prehistoric times, Roman era and Middle Ages. Every day and especially during the weekend and holidays they have various shows, such as a gladiator fight, temple ceremony. Kids can learn sword fighting, archery, making fire and lots of other things. For an additional fee you can buy an activity pass, so kids can do numerous arts and crafts projects. But even without that there’s enough to see and do. Visit a Prehistoric hunter-gatherers camp, check out a Roman bathhouse and wander through a small Medieval town called Gravendam. I’ve only been there once myself, many years before our son was born. It really sounds like an awesome place to take your kids. Very educational too, so great for people that homeschool. Kids up and including 3 years have free entrance. Check out Archeon’s website for more info.

9. Watermuseum – Arnhem

Did you know that less than 1% of the water that’s treated and purified in The Netherlands is used for drinking or cooking? Or that per person per year we use 12300 liters of drinking water to flush the toilet? This and other interesting info about the use of fresh water in Holland can be learned at the Dutch Watermuseum. The Dutch Watermuseum is an interactive museum about all aspects of water, Dutch dike management, ground water management, drinking water production and the use of water in The Netherlands and around the world. We all know most kids love to play with water, so this is a perfect place to take them. The museum is housed in an old 15th-century water mill. Unlike a lot of other museums in The Netherlands the entry fee is very reasonable. For kids 4-12 years old you only pay €6,50 and adults pay €9,50. You can find more information about the museum at Watermuseum’s website.

10. Oertijdmuseum / Prehistoric Museum – Boxtel

Dinosaurs! Need I say more? This museum about the Prehistory is the largest geological museum in The Netherlands. It’s founded by a Dutch geologist who found his first fossil as an 11-year old boy and then kept on collecting. In this museum you can relive the past, and especially prehistoric times with fossils and dinosaurs. The collection is displayed both inside and outside. Inside you find a large collection of impressive dinosaur skeletons. The outside area consists of 2 hectares prehistoric forest where you can see numerous ‘living fossils’, trees that have also been found as fossils. Between the trees there are lots of dinosaur statues. The museum also has some moving dinosaurs. We visited the Dinopark when we were in Prague and our son still talks about it. I guess we need to make our way to the South of The Netherlands some time soon! Honestly the Prehistoric Museum’s website doesn’t offer much information, but you can check prices and opening hours.

The post Top 10 children’s museums in the Netherlands appeared first on FlipFlopGlobetrotters.com.

The Teylers Museum is the oldest museum in the Netherlands, dating back to 1784. It’s the only place in the world where you can see an authentic museum interior from the 18th century. The building is absolutely stunning and worth visiting even without the extensive collection of paintings, drawings, ancient scientific instruments, old coins, fossils and minerals and valuable books.

The history of the Teylers museum

The museum is named after Pieter Teyler van der Hulst (1702-1778), who was a rich cloth merchant and banker from Haarlem. He had a great interest in art and science. When he died in 1778 he left his collection of books, drawings and coins as well as his considerable wealth to the Teylers Foundation. In line with the ideas of the Enlightenment, the first directors of the Teylers Foundation decided to create a center for study and education. The Oval Room, designed by Leendert Viervant 1779 as an ‘art and book’ room, was meant for research and study. Over the years, the museum was gradually extended. The latest addition was in 2002, with a museum shop and a multimedia room.

Visiting the Teylers Museum (with a toddler)

The museum is absolutely fascinating if you enjoy history and as it had been a long time since I was there myself, I decided to give it a go. We spend about one hour inside. That doesn’t seem so long, but I was quite impressed by our tot. It’s a proper museum, without much interaction. There’s a lot to see, but not much to do for a toddler. They do offer activities for slightly older kids (from age 4), such as treasure hunts and workshops and educational programs for schools. I’m sure we’ll be back when he gets a bit older. There’s still a lot to discover!



Our visit in pictures

To give you an impression of the Teylers Museum and our visit, check out these pictures.

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Since there was a tulip picking event for kids in Lisse this weekend, I decided to take our little one there and visit some flower fields on the way back. Last year we went to see the tulip fields at the end of April and by then they were almost overblown. This year we were much earlier and some tulip varieties hadn’t even started to bloom. Most of them were in full bloom though and our little man loved it! He even wanted to take some pictures himself.

Best time to see the Dutch tulip fields

There are more bulb fields than just the tulip fields. As early as late January you can see the first crocuses. Then early spring it’s time for daffodils, narcissus, and hyacinths. And April to early May the tulip fields are in full bloom. If you want to see the tulips, by far the best month to visit the bulb fields and admire all this floral wonder is April.

Of course, the weather remains a deciding factor. If we had a mild winter, the flowers might bloom a bit early. If the winter was more extreme or temperatures stayed low in the first few months of the year, it might take some more time for the flowers to be in full bloom. To be sure though, don’t wait until the beginning of May. By then a lot of the flowers will be overblown. If you want to see where the flower fields are located and which are in full bloom check out the Flower Radar website.

Some fun facts about Dutch tulips

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• The biggest Dutch flower auctions generate an annual turnover of nearly $5 billion
• Holland bulbs are famous, each year approximately 1,7 billion flower bulbs find their way to homes all over the world
• In the Keukenhof over seven million flower bulbs are planted, with no less than 800 tulip varieties
• National Tulip Day was launched in 2012 by Tulip Promotion Netherlands (Tulpen Promotie Nederland or TPN) to promote the Dutch tulips
• Dutch tulip growers produce 4,32 bilion tulip bulbs per year, of which 53% are used for cut flowers
• The tulip isn’t a Dutch native flower, tulips are originally from the high plains of Central Asia

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Start of the tulip season with National Tulip Day in Amsterdam

The official start of the tulip season in The Netherlands is known as National Tulip Day (or ‘Nationale Tulpendag’ in Dutch). It’s held every year on the third Saturday in January. The Dam Square in Amsterdam is transformed into a giant temporary picking garden/cutting garden.

Around 200.000 tulips herald the start of the tulip season. Setting up the garden starts at 08:00 in the morning and it’s is open to the public from 13:00 til 16:30. And the best of all, picking your own bouquet of tulips is free!

Holland Tulip Festival

From early April to Mid May (in 2018 April 21-May 6) tulips dominate the city of Amsterdam for the Holland Tulip Festival (or ‘Tulp Festival’ in Dutch). Over 500.000 tulips can be admired at 60 locations in the city. You can buy an information guide that describes all the venues and tells you which tulips you can see in each location. On the Holland Tulip Festival website you’ll find an interactive map. The map also indicates which flowers are in bloom and which will be blooming soon. This is great time to visit The Netherlands. If you’ve never been to Amsterdam before then definitely check out this detailed Amsterdam accommodation guide to figure out the best area for you to stay.

Keukenhof gardens and Keukenhof Flower Festival

The Keukenhof is one of the most famous floral gardens in the world. It’s only open for 2 months per year (mid March to mid May) and attracts 700.000 visitors annually. The flower garden covers a surface of 32 hectares and has 15 km of walking paths. There are flower shows, inspirational gardens and various events. Kids are also very welcome too at the Keukenhof. There is a free children’s treasure hunt, a petting zoo, a maze and a playground.

We visited the Keukenhof in 2014 when we had some friends from Egypt visiting Holland. It was amazing, but if your kids are small, I don’t think you can get the full experience. There’s just too much to see and most kids aren’t known for their patience. To be honest, our toddler and I had just as much fun visiting the tulip fields this weekend. And that didn’t cost us anything.

Flower parade (Bloemencorso)

There are numerous flower parades in The Netherlands. A lot of them are held in September and the floats are decorated with dahlias. The Flower Parade in the bulb-growing area (‘Bloemencorso Bollenstreek’ in Dutch) is the only parade of this size that takes place in the Spring. It is also the only one that is made entirely with bulb flowers. The event is closely linked to the Keukenhof.

A lot of people don’t know this, but there’s actually a Flower Parade Week in this area of Holland. The 3 days before the actual parade, the 20 floats and 40 luxurious vehicles are decorated. You can visit the huge hall where this is done. The entrance fee is quite low and it’s very educational to see the decorators at work. The Bloemencorso Bollenstreek is always on a Saturday and the decorating takes place the Wednesday – Friday before. The Sunday after the parade, all the floats are exhibited in our hometown Haarlem, in the city center. You can find more information on the website of Bloemencorso Bollenstreek.

Tulip Museum Amsterdam

If you haven’t seen enough tulips, you can visit the Amsterdam Tulip Museum. Also, a great alternative if you’re visiting The Netherlands in Summer, Fall or Winter when the tulips aren’t in bloom. The Tulip Museum teaches you everything you want to know about the history of tulips. The museum is small and to enable visitors to see everything, only 25 people can visit at the same time. It’s housed in a historical canal-side house, so as a bonus you get to see one of these old houses from the inside.

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Visiting Haarlem should definitely be on your list of things to do in The Netherlands. Since it’s very close to both Amsterdam and Schiphol Airport you can easily fit it into your Netherlands itinerary.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, check out this cool video explaining the difference between The Netherlands and Holland.

Seasons in the Netherlands

The Netherlands in the wintertime are either cold and wet, or just plain cold. And often windy. In January and February temperatures can be around 0 Celsius. Sometimes we even get a bit of snow. Of course, you don’t want the weather to spoil your city trip to Haarlem, Netherlands. So dress appropriately, wear a warm coat, warm shoes and bring a winter hat and gloves. Oh, and don’t forget a raincoat or umbrella as The Netherlands generally gets a lot of rain. By far the best time to visit is April-June, when the weather is a bit milder. Although September can have some really nice days too. Haarlem is definitely worth a visit in any season and luckily our city offers plenty of indoor activities for those rainy days!

Breakfast

Since especially in the morning it can be cold, you’ll want to find a nice cosy place for a proper breakfast. Some good options are By Lima (Zijlstraat 65) and Anne&Max (Zijlstraat 68). If you have young kids and are looking for a restaurant with a nice play area, try Yoghurt Barn (Kruisstraat 15). It has a great wooden play kitchen. All three restaurants are open from 8:00, 9:00 on a Sunday. If you’ve already had breakfast at your hotel, quickly skip to the next step.

Spend the morning exploring

When the hungry mouths are fed and everybody’s happy, it’s a great time to go exploring for a bit. Walk to the Grote Markt (big market square) and take a look around. There are some beautiful buildings in this old central square, such as the old Town Hall (people still get married here!) and the Grote or St. Bavokerk. The large and beautiful church is well worth a visit. It’s open Monday-Saturday from 10:00 -17:00. Inside you’ll find the famous Müller organ, dating from 1738, which was played by both Händel and Mozart. Our toddler was very impressed and often asks to go again. One of the other old buildings lining the square is the Vleeshal (meat hall). This building was built early 1600 and used for selling fresh meat. Now, it’s a gallery. If your kids are past the toddler stage, it’s fun to visit the Archeologisch Museum Haarlem (archeologic museum) in the cellars of the Vleeshal.

Lunch

Around lunch time your kids are probably tired of walking around and ready to play for a bit. So it’s a good there are some great family-friendly restaurants in Haarlem’s city center. Meneer Paprika (Koningsstraat 19-21) and Brownies & downieS (Schagchelstraat 26) are great choices. Brownies & downieS is more suitable for younger kids, with a nice play kitchen (our 3,5 year old really enjoyed it last time we were there). Meneer Paprika is always a good choice. It has a wooden train track and lots of other toys to play with (be advised, it’s both a café and a toy store ;-)).

Some culture

After playing and eating a nice lunch, your kids will be energized enough to continue your city trip. Of course, they might not want to leave the nice play areas… If your kids are still very young and happy to be in the back carrier or stroller, or past the toddler stage, you could visit one of the many art museums or galleries. The Frans Hals Museum is no. 1 on TripAdvisor for a reason! But a lot of things kids aren’t supposed to touch are within easy reach, so avoid it if your kids are in the ‘I want to touch everything’ phase! Another great museum I recently visited with our toddler is the Teylers Museum. Our tot was a bit too young to really appreciate it, but he enjoyed it anyway. The museum holds a curious mix of fossils and bones, rocks and gemstones and old scientific instruments. And the building it’s in is absolutely stunning.



… or nature

With infants and toddlers, visiting a museum might not be such a great experience. Luckily there’s a great little playground tucked away between the houses in the city center, it’s called Het Paradijsje (little paradise, Witte Herenstraat 36). Our son loves it and we go there pretty much all year round, provided it’s not raining. It’s open Tuesday-Saturday from 10:00-17:00 and you can play there for €1 per child.

There’s also a petting zoo within easy walking distance of the city center. Kinderboerderij De Houthoeve is located in park The Haarlemmerhout (Hertenkamplaan 3). Check out our post about petting farms around Haarlem for more info. If you do visit this petting zoo, you might also consider Theehuis De Haarlemmerhout for either lunch or dinner. It’s located next to De Houthoeve and open every day from 9:30 – 17:00 (18:00 on weekends). This cute little place serves great Dutch pancakes, but also sandwiches and burgers. You can also just have a coffee or tea with cake.

Afternoon exercise… shopping

Later in the afternoon and before dinner, why not go back to the center for some shopping. Haarlem has won multiple awards for Netherland’s best shopping destination. Fun shops for kids toys are Meneer Paprika (Koningstraat 19-21), Krokodil (Gedempte Oude Gracht 84) and Tante Steef (Zijlstraat 66). Kiekeboek (Gierstraat 29) is an awesome kids book store. At Kruisweg 66a you will find Het Spellenhuis, where they sell every board game and role playing game you can imagine. Definitely worth a visit if your kids are a bit older.

Of course, don’t forget to bring some snacks for your kids to munch on in the afternoon, hungry kids are no fun. You will find some supermarkets in the city center: DekaMarkt (Gedempte Oude Gracht 56-58), Albert Heijn (Drossestraat 11 and Grote Houtstraat 182).

Plan B

Of course, if the weather turns really bad, you can always spend a few hours at the cinema. You can find Pathé Haarlem on Zijlvest 41-43.

Dinnertime!

After a full day of city tripping your kids are probably up for an early dinner. Haarlem has so many restaurants it will be hard to choose! Italian, Japanese, Moroccan, Thai, Indonesian, Indian, Chinese, Mexican… Haarlem’s city center has plenty of restaurants to choose from. The Netherlands is generally pretty child-friendly. Most, if not all, of the restaurants will have high chairs for you to use and most have an area to change diapers. If you fancy a burger, try Rubens Burger (Drossestraat 3), guaranteed a lot tastier than McDonalds! Otherwise, you could go to Tatsu (Oude Groenmarkt 14-16) or Nagoya (Spaarne 48) for all-you-can-eat sushi. It’s fun to let the kids choose which types of sushi or other Japanese dishes they want to try. La Cubanita (Grote Markt 21) is a nice place for tapas. If you like bbq try Roast Bistro (Turfmarkt 26) for some tasty chicken or other roasted goodies. Budget option: Cafe Bruxelles (Lange Wijngaardstraat 16) offers a daily meal for €9.

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We both love reading and all his favourite book characters were present. Frog, the Very Hungry Caterpillar, Little Donkey, Miffy, Dikkie Dik, Elmer the Patchwork Elephant and many many more…

Location of the Children’s Book Museum

The Children’s Book Museum is located in the National Library. The library can be found right next to The Hague Central Station, so it’s very easy to get there by public transport. It took us about 35 minutes by train from Haarlem. Of course the train ride was an adventure in itself. From the train station it’s only a few minutes walk to the Library. There are signs pointing the way. Once inside the building, again there are signs pointing towards the Children’s Book Museum (follow the signs ‘kinderboekenmuseum’).

Exhibits for kids ages 0 to 6

Once you’ve paid for your tickets, I found it a bit unclear where to go. You enter a floor with lots of paintings, who all turned out to be authors (make’s sense…). For the youngsters, you need to go to up one flight of stairs. There, you will find two permanent exhibits: ‘Ik ben Kikker’ (I am Frog) and ‘ABC met de dieren mee’ (ABC with the animals). Every book has it’s own little space. There are a lot of little crawl-throughs and places to discover. I have to say, on a busy Saturday, it was a bit stressful having to chase after our 3-year old while he was crawling around.

Exhibit: I am Frog

The ‘I am Frog’ exhibit is the first exhibit the museum also offers in English. The new Frog exhibit was opened on Dec 10, 2016 so it was all still very new when we visited. There’s a 150m2 separate area completely dedicated to Frog. It’s very interactive and like in the books it helps kids learn about intense emotions, such as love, fear and happiness. Go bake a cake in Pig’s house, enjoy ice skating on the lake with Duck or go fishing or treasure hunting. The Frog exhibit is meant for kids ages 0 and up.

Exhibit: Animal ABC

In the animal ABC exhibit lots of Holland’s favourite children’s books come to life. Crawl through the Very Hungry Caterpillar’s foods and become the beautiful butterfly, get lost in Dikkie Dik’s corn maze or try to give Elmer the Patchwork Elephant back his colours. Target group for this area is ages 2-6. It’s very well done, in attractive colours and basic designs. Although some of the areas could use a little touch up, our little one really enjoyed it.

Exhibits for older kids

For older kids (from age 7) there’s an exhibit called ‘Papiria’ at the bottom floor. To be honest, the whole experience of the top floor was exciting enough for our little one. Next time we go we’ll make sure to properly explore the place. I’m sure there’s a lot we haven’t seen yet.

Children’s Book Museum address

Prins Willem-Alexanderhof 5
2595 BE Den Haag
phone: 070 – 333 96 66
email: info@kinderboekenmuseum.nl
www.kinderboekenmuseum.nl

Children’s Book Museum opening hours

Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 14:00-17:00
Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays: 12:00 – 17:00
The museum is closed on Mondays.

Children’s Book Museum entrance fee

Kids up until 1 years old: free
Kids 2-6 years old:€6
Kids 7-18 years old: €7
Adults: €8,50

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This blog post is linked up with #TuesdayTreasures, #MondayEscapes and #CulturedKids

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If you’re coming to The Netherlands, Haarlem should definitely be on your list of places to visit. It’s one of the nicest cities in The Netherlands. Not just because it’s our hometown (if you do come to Haarlem, drop us a line and we can show you around!). Haarlem has beautiful old architecture in the city center and there are lots of activities in and around the city, for both kids and adults. If you’re staying in Amsterdam, to go from Amsterdam to Haarlem by train only takes about 15 minutes. Some people call Haarlem ‘small Amsterdam’, the same type of architecture, but smaller and much less touristy.

Combine sightseeing with rest & play

Meneer Paprika

Yoghurt Barn

Minimarkt

Veerkwartier

Kweekcafé

Ikea / Smaland

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Sprookjeswonderland is not as busy or expensive as most of the other Dutch amusement parks, such as Efteling, Walibi or Julianatoren. It doesn’t have any thrilling or scary rides, there is no loud music and no long lines. As a result it works really well for younger children. All parents I know of that have visited the park said their kids loved it. As a day trip from Amsterdam with young kids, Sprookjeswonderland is a great option.

For what ages is Sprookjeswonderland best suited?

Fairy tales (‘sprookjes’ in Dutch) are great for kids of all ages, but this park is designed specifically for the little ones. There’s no age limit, but I’d say it’s most suited for kids up until about 7 years old. There’s a lot to see and to discover. The park even has a small petting farm! Unlike the Efteling or other large attraction parks in The Netherlands, this smaller scale park doesn’t offer any thrilling rides. But it’s all a matter of perspective. The mechanical horseback riding, the ladybug boats and the oldtimer cars are quite an adventure for younger kids. While the large boat swing, that goes up pretty high in the air, is cool and exciting for the slightly older children (ages 5 and up, 100 cm length).

If your kids are a bit older or used to larger and more thrilling amusement parks, the Efteling is a good option. Check out these tips if you’re planning to visit.

Sprookjeswonderland’s Enchanted forest

The enchanted forest is home to the gnomes, witches, wizards and you will find lots of familiar fairytale figures such as the Frog King, Snow White and the Sleeping Beauty. Say hi to well-known characters like Tom Thumb, Puss in Boots and the Big Bad Wolf. Afterwards, take a stroll through the gnome village and discover how they live and work. Peep through the windows to see the gnome doctor treat a patient and hear the gnomes sing their songs.

Shows at Sprookjeswonderland

The park offers a number of shows, all automated with puppets. At Violinde Castle (‘Kasteel Violinde’) you can watch a musical about the spoiled little princess Violinde. The musical takes about 30 minutes. Small kids love the songs and the rapidly changing decors. The House of Time (‘Tijdshuis’) shows you all four seasons in about 25 minutes, under the watchful eye of Father Time. In the springtime two elves hold a snail race and the flowers sing and dance, while in the wintertime two farting trolls fall in love. It’s captivating but also funny. The Gulliver’s Travels display tells the well-known story of the ship’s doctor Gulliver who is washed to shore on the island of Lilliput after a shipwreck. It had our toddler watching in awe for a good 10 minutes!

Sprookjeswonderland is affordable

Other than at bigger attractions like the Efteling, where you pay a hefty parking fee (sometimes as high as €10!), Sprookjeswonderland offers free parking. Also, you’re allowed to take your own food and drinks, but the prices at the park’s restaurants are definitely very reasonable. You can get a coffee for €1,20 and an ice-cream for €0,60. Regular entrance fees for Dutch amusement parks are between €20-40 per person, so at €9,95 Sprookjeswonderland offers a wonderfully affordable alternative.

Background of Sprookjeswonderland

Sprookjeswonderland’s history started with one man, who made a gnome doll as a joke. This was in 1973. Actually, the founder is still actively involved in the park today. A lot of the attractions are custom made by the park employees. Just this year they launched a new attraction called ‘Hekspeditie’ and improvements are made constantly. The park has about 250.000 visitors a year. Compared to the Efteling, which has well over 4 million visitors yearly, it’s a very small scale operation. But that’s exactly what makes it so attractive.

Practical information

Address: Sprookjeswonderland Kooizandweg 9 1601LK Enkhuizen
Website: Sprookjeswonderland.nl

Entrance fee Sprookjeswonderland

• Children under 2 years have free entrance
• Everyone from 2 – 65 years: €9,95 per person
• Elderly people 65 years and older €8,50 per person
• Groups of 15 or more people: €8,50 per person

Getting to Sprookjeswonderland by car from Amsterdam

• get onto the A10
• take exit s118 towards the A8/E22 (Leeuwarden/Purmerend/Zaanstad)
• at interchange Knooppunt Zaandam follow signs for A7/E22 (Purmerend/Leeuwarden)
• take exit 9 towards the N302 towards Hoorn-Noord/Enkhuizen/Lelystad
• when you enter Enkhuizen follow the signs ‘Sprookjesland’

Getting to Sprookjeswonderland by train from Amsterdam

There is a direct connection by train. From Amsterdam Central Station it takes about 60 minutes to reach Enkhuizen Station. From the station, you can either walk (20 minutes), take a taxi or take the special Sprookjeswonderland tram. During the summer months, the tram runs every day between 10:00 and 17:00. Outside the summer season it only operates on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

• 2nd class return ticket Amsterdam Central Station – Enkhuizen Station: €22,50
• Return tram ticket Enkhuizen Station – Park entrance: €2
• Taxi to Park entrance: €7 (normal car), €11 (minibus)

Combinations with other nearby attractions

Of course, you can always combine a visit to the park with some of the nearby attractions. If you want to experience the real Holland, away from big city Amsterdam, why not find a hotel in the area?

• The Zuiderzee museum offers an indoor and outdoor section where you can discover the culture and history of the region
• Recreatieoord Enkhuizerzand, right next to Sprookjeswonderland, offers the municipal pool and a beach on the shores of the IJsselmeer
• Bare feet walking trail ‘Gouwe Voeten’ at Bovenkarspel. A 1,5 hour walk without shoes to truly experience nature. Next to a camp ground that offers trampolines, soccer and volleyball fields and a playground.
• Education about the environment at MAK Blokweer in Blokker, with a nature park, visitors center and a farm.

Booking.com

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