Amsterdam is a fantastic city to visit with children. It’s a great place for a wander, there’s some delicious sweet foods to pickup as you go and there are some super attractions to visit. If you’re planning a family trip to Amsterdam then read on for all our Amsterdam for kids tips and suggestions. Here are our best things to do in Amsterdam with kids (with ☔ rainy day options too):
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Table of Contents
1. Visit NEMO the science museum
This is so much fun for children. We spent a whole rainy afternoon in Amsterdam here and didn’t even see a quarter of it.
There are so many areas to it and fun to be had for toddlers right up to teenagers and with a cafe, roof garden and a brilliant end of the day show this is one not to miss.
☔ Rainy day option
Find out more at NEMO Science Center here or buy an I Amsterdam city card here for free entry to 60 different museums and free public transport.
2. Take a trip to Vondelpark
Vondelpark is the large green space in the centre of Amsterdam.
There’s a fantastic playground in the middle, cafes for grown-up coffee pick-me-ups and duck ponds galore. It’s a perfect place to run free and burn off some energy.
3. Eat pancakes – one of the top things to do in Amsterdam with kids
You can’t visit Holland and not eat pancakes.
I am not ashamed to say we ate a number of different pancakes on our trip around the Netherlands. All in the name of research of course.
Two of our favourites were The Pancake Bakery in central Amsterdam and Pancakes Amserdam.
The pancakes are huge and packed full of numerous combinations of flavours both sweet and savoury. Best of all the children’s pancakes at The Pancake Bakery come with surprise gifts.
☔ Rainy day option
4. Hire bikes
By bike is the best way to visit this alluring city.
Amsterdam is made for bicycles and the cycle paths are everywhere.
If your kids are old enough it is a wonderful way to spend a day. Cycling around and taking in the sights.
Book a brilliant 3 hour bike tour here or book bike rentals here.
5. Get exploring at Het Scheepvaartmuseum
Het Scheepvaartmuseum is Amsterdam’s Maritime Museum. This museum is huge and has a full sized replica of a 17th Century ship,
The Amsterdam where you can learn how to fire a cannon, haul the cargo and steer the ship.
Inside the museum are some fantastic interactive displays. Our favourite was all about whales and why we need to protect this beautiful creature.
☔ Rainy day option
Get your skip the line tickets here or buy an I Amsterdam for free entry to 60 museums and public transport here.
6. Eat frites
Eating these large, chunky chips is a Dutch past-time. We loved getting a big cone and choosing the sauce to go on them.
Go traditional with mayonnaise or opt for something different like curry or even peanut.
They’re a great way to take some time out and rest during a day of sightseeing with a hot snack.
☔ Rainy day option
7. Visit the animals at the Artis Royal Zoo
We absolutely love this Amsterdam zoo which really takes pride in creating a natural as possible environment for the animals. It’s also involved in some fantastic conservation work.
The zoo is incredibly large and you can easily spend a day here.
With lots of indoor attractions like a huge butterfly atrium and an aquarium there are plenty of places to escape any showers too.
Get your tickets in advance here. or buy an I Amsterdam City Card for free entry to the zoo along with 60 other attractions and public transport around the city.
8. Take a boat trip through the canals – things to do in Amsterdam with kids
This is the perfect way to see this city that is surrounded by and defined by water. It’s also a great way to rest weary legs.
One of the best has to be the pancake cruises where you can see the sights whilst eating pancakes. What’s not to love?!
Book your tickets in advance here
9. Visit Anne Frank’s House
This is not one for very young children but I took my six and eight year olds in having spoken to them about the history in a sensitive way.
The house where Anne hid from the Nazis and wrote so much of her inspiring diary is somewhere that brings this area of history alive. And helps children understand how very real it was.
Depending on the age and / or sensitivity of your children you can skip the more graphic displays at the end and spend more time in the Secret Annexe.
This is history that should not be forgotten.
☔ Rainy day option
Read more at their Website here and pick up tickets for a fantastic Anne Frank walking tour here.
10. Take in the art at the Van Gogh Museum – things to do in Amsterdam with kids
This is one of our favourite art galleries and it is really child friendly.
With special trails for six year olds and up, treasure hunts and art sessions this is a museum to really inspire children. It’s definitely not a hushed space where they aren’t welcome.
☔ Rainy day option
Find out more about the museum here and buy an I Amsterdam City Card for free entry to 60 other attractions and public transport around the city.
11. The Hop on Hop Off boat
We absolutely love the Hop On Hop Off buses and boats and think they’re brilliant for those travelling with kids.
The Amsterdam version has 19 different stops. You can sit and enjoy the whole thing or jump on and off at the stops that you want to.
☔ Rainy day option
Find out more and book your tickets here.
12. Take a pizza cruise
What better way to see Amsterdam than on a pizza cruise?!
Cruise through the canals of the city while eating pizzas (vegetarians are catered for) and seeing the sights. With hot pizza, unlimited wine, beer and soft drinks, this is a great way to see Amsterdam with kids.
☔ Rainy day option
Find out more and book your tickets here.
Have you visited Amsterdam with your children? Where are your favourite places to visit in the city?
Read more on things to do in Amsterdam with kids
We have many features on the Netherlands with kids if you are planning a trip to this beautiful country.
Read more:
Our ultimate guide to the Netherlands with kids
A 14 day itinerary in the Netherlands with kids
10 of the best day trips from Amsterdam
Your Amsterdam with kids checklist
- ✈️ – Find great flights to Amsterdam with Opodo
- 🏨- Find great family hotels in Amsterdam
- 💳 – Get a Currensea Card to easily pay for purchases abroad
- 📚 – Get planning your trip with the Lonely Planet guide to Amsterdam or the Lonely Planet guide to Netherlands
- 🍝 – Food to try – stroopwafel, delicious caramel filled wafers and frites – chips which come with a whole variety of dips.
- 🌍 Useful phrases hallo for hello, dank u for thank you, Vaarwel for goodbye.
I can recommend a trip on the canals. It’s a relaxing way to see the city. I adore Amsterdam.
I’ve never been to Amsterdam, but would to go!
Some great suggestions, the canals would be a hit with my children too. I’ve not been to Amsterdam!
I love the Van Gogh Museum (though I did have a gun pointed at me when I tried to take a sneaky photo!) I’ve not done Amsterdam with the kids but I’m sure they would love it – something for later on in the year!
We loved Artis zoo too – especially the lemurs and pelicans. Very child friendly and all on flat ground so no tired legs!
I need to visit Amsterdam I have heard so many good things about it and after reading this I know my kids would like it too
Amsterdam looks a great place to visit!
I adore Amsterdam and would love to take my little girl. I did not realise there was so much to do there. Pancakes that come with surprise gifts sold it for me! And i never knew Amsterdam had a zoo. Would love to take my Hubby to the Anne Frank museum. I studied her history at school and found it very interesting.
I adore Amsterdam, but have never been with the boys, this is somewhere I need to visit with the,
I had no idea that Amsterdam had so much to offer. The pancakes sound gorgeous!
The queue for Anne Franks House was massive the last time I was in Amsterdam and the rain was also horrendous so I never did get to go in.
So many great things to do! I’d love to go someday xx
with all the rumours of amsterdam i would never have thought it was suitable for children
Can you believe we went to Holland but didn’t go to Amsterdam?! We spent most of our time in the south and in the coast. Oh well, we will have to go again. Looks like there is loads of fun things to do in Amsterdam with kids!
I would love to take my son here. It is so underrated as a family destination, but there is so much culture and fun stuff for children!
OOOh what fun I would love to go back to Amsterdam
This is fab, last time i went i didn’t have kids with me 🙂
what a great place to visit.
This is great! We went pre kids and would love to go back!
My biggest sis really wants to visit – Anne Franks house is top of her list x
Great tips, we’ve been lots pre kids to visit friends who work/live there but hadn’t considered it that much fun for kids
This is a city I really want to visit. I think it sounds fascinating x
I’ve never been to Amsterdam with kids; not sure why but I always think about this city as an adult place
I remember helping a journalist composing an article like this during my internship. I think you made the right choices! I hope you and your kids enjoyed A’dam?
Great Blog Post..I am always worried about family trip. It will inspire me to travel with family…..
Oh thank you for your message. The first step with travelling with children is the hardest, after that it gets easier and easier! Thank you for your message….and good luck for your first family trip! 🙂
Vondelpark is a great place with kids. And if you’re hungry (or just want to sit and soak up the sun) there is a great outdoor cafe/restaurant in the park called The Groot Melkhuis where there is a fantastic kids play area.
Thank you for the tips – Vondelpark is great is great isn’t it? Love Amsterdam so much!
Great list of things to do and now I’m even more excited to take my kids just a few days after Christmas. I love idea of the canal trip with pancakes, that won’t need much selling to my family!
Have a wonderful trip, it really is such a great place to visit with kids 🙂
I love that there are so many options if the weather is not great! We will visit in October so there’s a good chance we’ll get bad weather. The maritime museum looks interesting. I’d be interested to know how you explained the history of Anne Frank to a six year old as my son is also six so I will have to explain to him.
Have an amazing trip. We talked to our children in a really simplistic way about the War and what a terrible time it was and the details of why Anne Frank needed to go in to hiding. There’s a really good book you can get about the history which is especially for young children too. I hope you enjoy Amsterdam, we love it there.