![\"Boat](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/amsterdam-boat-canal-bridge-view.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nad \u2013 contains paid content\/affiliate links*<\/a><\/p>\n You\u2019ve got all the attractions of a major city, linked by picturesque canals overlooked by gabled houses, plus plenty of green space in between. And along with the famous art museums, zoo and science centre, the friendly Dutch are very welcoming to families. Just don\u2019t step out in front of the bikes.<\/p>\n With flights, ferries and Eurostar to get you there, it\u2019s easy to discover for a weekend break as well \u2013 and check out my photos <\/a>if you need any more tempting. Here are my top tips for Amsterdam with kids<\/p>\n Amsterdam: Getting there\/around<\/p>\n Eurostar<\/a> has a direct train service from the UK, taking around four hours from London to Amsterdam, without having to change for customs at Brussels<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re in the north of England, DFDS ferries<\/a> cross daily from Newcastle \u2013 it\u2019s an overnight crossing which is ideal if you\u2019re visiting Amsterdam with kids: curl up in a cabin at night and wake up raring to explore. Alternatively, you can get a ferry with P&O<\/a> from Hull to Rotterdam, which is then only a short train journey from Amsterdam.<\/p>\n There are a string of low-cost and national airlines flying to Schipol Airport every day, around a one-hour flight from London. <\/p>\n Trains run 24 hours a day from Schipol to Centraal station with single use tickets available from machines. Look for the ones with the blue top \u2013 those with a yellow top are only for travellers with passes, one of the lessons I learned along the way<\/a>!<\/p>\n These tickets aren\u2019t covered by the I Amsterdam card<\/a> but trams and buses in the centre are, so it\u2019s very straightforward to get around, plus you can also use contactless for adult tickets and kids aged 12+ who pay adult fares. The train network also makes it very easy to explore further afield, if you\u2019re planning any day trips from Amsterdam with kids<\/a>.<\/p>\n There is currently no visa needed for UK or EU citizens.<\/p>\n Where to stay in Amsterdam<\/p>\n On our last visit, we stayed in AirBNB, which I love when you\u2019re travelling with younger kids in particular \u2013 space to spread out after their bedtime and we were an easy distance from the city centre.<\/p>\n But Amsterdam specialises in all kinds of quirky hotels, from five-star glamour to converted canal houses as well as canal houseboats to rent if you\u2019re looking for alternatives to self-catering.<\/p>\n I\u2019m a big fan of Plum Guide<\/a>, which has a range of accommodation that\u2019s been individually vetted, and which you can filter if you\u2019re travelling with babies or kids, including some great places to stay in Amsterdam with kids.<\/p>\n If you prefer the idea of hotels in Amsterdam, check out the options from Booking.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking for somewhere to store your bags before checking in or after you leave your accommodation, Stasher<\/a> and Luggage Hero<\/a> have a string of secure baggage storage points around the city<\/p>\n What to do in Amsterdam with children<\/p>\n There\u2019s plenty to entertain children of every age \u2013 including a toddler, as I discovered. If you\u2019re not sure where to start, here are my top things to do in Amsterdam<\/a> with kids to give you some more ideas.<\/p>\n Canal cruise<\/p>\n I recommend starting with a canal cruise to get your bearings and see some of the architecture. <\/p>\n There are several child-friendly options including the main 75-minute City Canal cruise<\/a> or the kids cruise with its wannabe pirate commentary, or hop on and off as you please with the Amsterdam Canal Bus<\/a>.<\/p>\n Get outdoors<\/p>\n Amsterdam also has some lovely green space to break up the museums or to escape the summer heat \u2013 the Vondelpark is worth a wander at any time though.<\/p>\n Or head to the Westerpark in Amsterdam West which also has a splash pool for sunny days, as well as plenty of green space. The Hortus Botanicus, or Botanical Gardens, are also included in the I Amsterdam card for a slightly different way to get outdoors.<\/p>\n Family attractions<\/p>\n Another favourite with younger kids \u2013 although there\u2019s plenty for a variety of ages \u2013 is\u00a0NEMO Science Center<\/a>. Lots of chance to get hands on with the interactive exhibits, there are some live shows and the roof garden also has one of the best views of the city<\/p>\n You can easily spend a day at Artis Zoo<\/a> too \u2013 as well as the animals, there\u2019s a planetarium, aquarium and even a section on some of the microorganisms which share our world. Perfect for kids of all ages.<\/p>\n Or there\u2019s a huge amount of fun for everyone in the family at two of Amsterdam\u2019s newest attractions, which are (handily) right next to each other. The Wondr Experience<\/a> is home to Europe\u2019s largest ball pit, as well as a sea of teddy bears, a pool full of marshmallows, confetti showers, a magical kaleidoscope and more, including a SpongeBob themed zone.<\/p>\n Or the 12 interactive themed zones of the Barbie: The Dream Experience<\/a> are fantastic for Barbie fans of all ages \u2013 and it\u2019s only in Amsterdam. Relive a few childhood dreams and some iconic Barbie moments from across six decades, including the chance to head down the Dream House Slide. <\/p>\n Both attractions are one metro stop from the city\u2019s Central Station, or a ride on the free ferry, and you can come away with professional quality photos at both attractions \u2013 not to mention some exclusive merchandise at Barbie: The Dream Experience, which also has a kids\u2019 menu in its cafe.<\/p>\n There are some other big name family attractions in Amsterdam too, including Madame Tussauds<\/a> and the Amsterdam Dungeon<\/a>. Or if your kids love the weird and wonderful, how about Ripley\u2019s Believe It or Not<\/a>?<\/p>\n Get more ideas of the best things to do in Amsterdam with kids<\/a> here<\/p>\n Museums<\/p>\n Amsterdam is rightly famous for its art galleries , especially the Rijksmuseum<\/a>, Van Gogh museum<\/a> and Stedelijk museum<\/a>. All have some activities for younger children and sit almost next-door to each other<\/p>\n If you\u2019re not sure which to choose, some are included in the I Amsterdam card<\/a>, or here are my five top tips for visiting<\/a>\u00a0the Van Gogh museum with younger kids. Or STRAAT<\/a> is dedicated to street art for an alternative experience to appeal to teens, along with modern art at Moco Museum<\/a>.<\/p>\n The city also has an impressive number of very quirky museums \u2013 some more child-friendly than others. The Kattenkabinet<\/a> is packed with cat-related art and more, while you could learn about canal life at the Houseboat Museum or discover more about the human body at the interactive Museum Vrolik. You can even board a ship at the National Maritime Museum<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sadly, the quirky Tassenmuseum, which focused on bags and purses and was a fascinating mix of culture, history and style is sadly now closed.<\/p>\n And if you\u2019re visiting with older children, you can\u2019t miss the Anne Frank House \u2013 an incredibly moving experience. Make sure you book your tickets online well in advance.<\/p>\n What to eat in Amsterdam<\/p>\n Traditional Dutch food focuses on filling you up more than fine dining, although that\u2019s no bad thing with kids.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t leave without trying the pancakes \u2013 locals love Pancakes!<\/a> in the Jordaan as much as as tourists, with weird and wonderful combinations like bacon, banana and chilli pepper along with less exotic \u2018pannekoek\u2019 toppings.<\/p>\n There\u2019s plenty of street food for on the go: try chips with mayonnaise, or \u2018vlaamse frites\u2019, as well as\u00a0herring (although pre-schoolers are unlikely to be lining up for the raw fish in a bun of \u2018broodje haring\u2019).<\/p>\n And stroopwafel are best eaten after balancing them above a hot drink to melt the caramel. Although I rarely say no to stroopwafel at any time!<\/p>\n You\u2019ll also find plenty of Indonesian food, a legacy of Amsterdam\u2019s colonial past, along with all the usual global cuisines, from pizza to hamburgers\u2026<\/p>\n Amsterdam with kids: Plan your visit<\/p>\n The I Amsterdam card can be a great money saver, especially if you\u2019ll be taking trams around the city \u2013 check out my review<\/a> to decide if it\u2019s worth it.<\/p>\n There are also several Amsterdam guide books for kids<\/a> along with my own personal recommendation of Lonely Planet\u2019s various guides to the city, including a Pocket guide<\/a> and full-size guide book<\/a>.<\/p>\n For more information, the city\u2019s tourist information site is at iamsterdam.com\/en<\/a> and if you\u2019re planning to venture further afield, there are more ideas for day trips from Amsterdam<\/a>.<\/p>\n *First published 2015, last updated 2025*<\/p>\n PIN FOR LATER: GUIDE TO AMSTERDAM WITH KIDS<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n