Things to do with kids in Amsterdam

Things to do with kids in Amsterdam

1. SeeCanal District

   Anne Frank House

   Anne Frankhuis

   The house where the Jewish girl Anne Frank wrote her diary while hiding with her family from the Nazis. One must buy tickets online, only 20% are issued on the same day so buy them in advance. During high season tickets can be sold out a month in advance. To be safe, you should book 6 weeks in advance. Museumkaart is valid, I Amsterdam Card is not valid.

   9:00 - 22:00 (shorter on some national holidays, closed 25 September)·€16; 10-17 € 7; 0-9 € 1

2. DrinkPlantage

   Brouwerij 't IJ

   Its label with an ostrich egg is a visual pun, as IJ and 'ei' - the word for egg - sound the same in Dutch. East of the centre, close to Artis Zoo, in a former bath house beside a windmill. A small-scale brewery where delicious beer in several varieties and strengths is brewed and sold - at a bar - on the premises. The beer is available at some specialist beer shops, and is of high quality and, in some cases, alcohol content. Internationally renowned!

   Wed-Sun 15:00-20:00

3. BuyOost

   Dappermarkt

   In the east, behind the zoo, and was voted best market in the Netherlands.

   Mon-Sat 09:00-17:00

4. EatPlantage

   De Pizzabakkers

   Hip pizza restaurant, with good stone-baked pizzas. Suitable for children. Almost always busy, so reservation is recommended.

   Sun-Thu 12:00-21:00, Fri 12:00-22:00

5. DoZuid

   Electrische Museumtramlijn Amsterdam

   Electric Tram Museum Amsterdam

   On operating days, the museum runs various vintage trams on two routes. Line 30 runs every 30 minutes along on a 7-km museum rail line to Amstelveen with stops along the route. Station Amstelveen is perhaps the most interesting stop as it is near an attractive small-town area with restaurants. Line 20 runs two trips only around Amsterdam. If you buy a day pass, you can travel both routes.

   Sundays, April-November, plus Easter & Pentecost Mon, 11:00-17:00·Adult fares vary from €3.50 to €12.50 with reduced rates for seniors (65+) and children (4-11)

6. SeeZuid

   Frans Hals

   Those interested in urban renewal may wish to visit Frans Hals, a 19th-century, residential area along the narrow Frans Halsstraat (straat means street). By 2019, the city had removed on-street parking and replaced it with greenery, benches, picnic tables and some playground equipment. There are several restaurants along the street.

7. EatBinnenstad

   Gebr. Niemeijer

   French-style bakery with pastries, croissants, breads, sandwiches all baked fresh on premises. Open for breakfast and lunch, eat-in or takeaway. Bring the kids and eat in the small playroom upstairs.

   Tue-Fri 08:15-18:30, Sat 08:30-17:00, Sun 09:00-17:00·€6-11

8. SeePlantage

   H'ART

   Founded as an outpost of the Hermitage in St Petersburg, ties were severed with the parent institution following Russia's war in Ukraine. After a hasty rebrand, the H'ART museum reopened in April 2022 with a focus on Dutch heritage in Amsterdam.

   Daily 10:00-17:00·Standard (adults and children aged 18 or over) €22.50, children up to 17 years old free

9. BuyBinnenstad

   HEMA Nieuwendijk

   Midrange department/variety chain store, with 540 branches in the Netherlands. This store is one of the flagship stores of this chain which opened in 1926. Besides daily basics, you can also find original Dutch designs. Besides local food products specific linked to this store like the pastry "tompouce" and a sausage "rookworst", you can also find products with Miffy (Nijntje), Takkie and Siepie. The latter two are a dog and a cat figures famous from a Dutch children's books series "Jip and Janneke".

   Mon–Sat 09:00–19:00, Sun 10:00–18:00

10. SeePlantage

    Hortus Botanicus

    The Amsterdam Botanical Gardens — 'Hortus' as they are called by locals — used to be the Botanic Garden of the University of Amsterdam. It is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world. Nowadays it is an independent organisation. The collection of the garden consists of more than 6,000 species. The garden regularly holds extra exhibitions and music performances.

    Closed · opens 10 am tomorrow·Adult €9.75; seniors and children €5.50

11. DoBinnenstad

    NEMO

    Above a tunnel overseeing the IJ, NEMO is the largest science museum in the Netherlands. It's a showcase of how scientific phenomena influence daily life. Different sections of the museum deal with technology and engineering, ICT, and bio- and behavioral sciences. This is a place to take kids and is best for those ages 11 and below—teenagers will probably get bored. And it is usually definitely full of children on weekends. During summer it has a panorama roof terrace on its roof with deckchairs with free entry.

    Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00·€11.50

12. SeePlantage

    Natura Artis Magistra Zoo

    Artis

    An entry ticket for Artis also provides admission to the Planetarium, the Aquarium and the Zoological Museum. Artis is also a botanical garden, with plants and trees gathered from all over the world, just like the animal species. Don't miss the Artis ZOOmeravonden.

    Youth (3 to 9 years) €18, adult (10 to 64 years) €21.50, seniors (65 +) €17.50

13. SeeZuid

    Rijksmuseum

    The largest and most prestigious museum for art and history in the Netherlands: works by Vermeer, Rembrandt, and other Dutch masters. Its garden has a curious collection of architecture and has free entrance during museum opening times. Recommend getting there early to avoid long queues and crowds, then head first for the second floor to see the Rembrandt classics and others such as Avercamp's Winter Landscape with Skaters.

    09:00–17:00 daily·EUR 25 adults, EUR 12.50 European Youth Card, children free, no student discounts

14. SeeBinnenstad

    Royal Palace

    Koninklijk Paleis

    The Royal Palace is one of the three official palaces of the Netherlands. It is at the disposal of King Willem-Alexander by the Act of Parliament. It was built in 1651 as the city hall of Amsterdam, in a period known as the Dutch Golden Age. Many school children learn that because of the swampy soil, it was built on no less than 13,569 wooden poles. In 1795, the French Empire of Napoleon Bonaparte invaded the Netherlands, and his brother Louis Napoleon became the first King of Holland in 1806. He acquired the city hall in that year and turned it into a royal palace. It was restored to the original owners when Prince William VI returned to the Netherlands in 1812, but when he was crowned as King William I, he decided that Amsterdam should be the official capital and acquired the city hall once again as a royal palace. This is still a delicate subject among the locals, some of whom would like to see the palace returned to Amsterdam. It was completely renovated in 2009. It is mainly used for diplomatic receptions and to welcome visiting heads of state, not as a royal residence.

    Daily 12:00–17:00·€12.50

15. SeePlantage

    Scheepvaartmuseum

    Het Scheepvaartmuseum reopened in late 2011 following major renovations. Stimulating, interactive exhibitions allow visitors to explore 500 years of maritime history. The building, called the Arsenal, is impressive. The Central Square, the indoor courtyard can be visited for free and takes your breath away. Also the museum shop, the restaurant and the library are open to the public free of charge.

    09:00-17:00 daily·€15 adults; €7.50 children, students and seniors (prices 2014)

16. SeeZuid

    Van Gogh Museum

    This museum is dedicated to Vincent van Gogh, a late 19th-century Post-Impressionist Dutch painter. Tickets are available online only, and can be booked out weeks in advance during busy periods. In the museum are many, but not all, of Van Gogh's works. The museum contains some famous paintings like Sunflowers and Potato Eaters, but lacks others such as Starry Night. Also, there are selected works of Monet exhibited there. The audio tour at EUR 3.75 for adults, EUR 2 for children aged 13 to 17, in the language of your choice, will give you a much better understanding of Van Gogh's life and his paintings.

    Generally 09:00-18:00, but varies, check website·Adults EUR 25, students EUR 15, under 18 free

17. SeePlantage

    Verzetsmuseum

    Dutch Resistance Museum

    Museum showing what Amsterdam and Holland were like during Nazi occupation. Has a very nice children's section. If you are visiting with kids and want to go to a museum about the Second World War in the Netherlands this is definitely recommended.

    Mon-Fri 10:00-17:00, Sat Sun 11:00-17:00·Adult €12.00, ages 7-17 €6.50

18. BuyBinnenstad

    Waterstones

    Another good tip for English literature. Prices on the high side, but there's a good selection of fiction and children's books. They also have magazines, newspapers and board games.

    Mon–Wed 10:00–18:30, Thu–Sat 10:00–19:00, Sun 11:00–18:30

19. Do Not mapped

    King's Day

    Formerly Queen's Day, this national holiday, nominally in celebration of the King's birthday, is difficult to describe to anyone who's never been there. The city turns into one giant mass of orange-dressed people with flea markets, bands playing, and many on-street parties, ranging from small cafes placing a few kegs of beer outside to huge open-air stages hosting world-famous DJs. The Vondelpark is the place where children sell toys and perform. An experience you'll never forget. Normally held on April 27, but if that is a Sunday, it is celebrated one day earlier.

20. BuyOost

    Bliksem en Sterren

    For kids's clothing.

    Tue-Fri 09:00-17:30, Sat 10:00-17:00

21. BuyOost

    Flo 4 Kidz

    For kids' clothing.

    Tue 12:00-17:30, Wed-Sat 10:00-17:30

22. SeeZuid

    Moco Museum

    Moco is a private museum of modern and contemporary art.

    Sun-Thu 10:00-19:00; Fri Sat 10:00-21:00·Adult €19.50, Youth (13-17) and student €16.50, children (0-12) free

23. BuyOost

    Tjikky+Ko

    For kids's clothing.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Amsterdam (CC BY-SA 4.0).