10 Awesome Things to do in Amsterdam with Kids

Whether you live in the Netherlands or are just visiting with your family, Amsterdam, and the surrounding beautiful country are shockingly great places to visit with your family. Whenever my family or friends come to visit, we always do one of the things on this list of things to do in Amsterdam with kids! Make sure to read about Miffy (pictured below in a bed of tulips), who is kind of like the local Mikey Mouse.

Nemo – Best Museum in Amsterdam for kids

Nemo is the science museum in Amsterdam and an excellent choice for children. The exhibits are hands-on, which makes for easy child and adult entertainment. Make sure you check out the rooftop terrace for a great view of the city (great for sunset). It should definitely make your itinerary in Amsterdam with kids! Have brunch at Bakers and Roasters nearby!

Scavenger Hunt around the Amsterdam

When my nephews visited, we did this scavenger hunt around the city, and it was very entertaining! It is excellent to explore the historic part of the city while keeping it fun for kids. It is built for kids 8-12 years old to solve riddles and show you around the city’s key areas. The price is also really affordable at 20 euros for the entire group. Highly recommend.

Micropia

The Micropia Museum is fascinating. Did you know you have more than 100,000 billion bacteria in your body alone? The Micropia Museum is an exploration of microbiology and a great museum for children and adults with impressive interactive displays. Micropia is right next to the zoo, so it makes for a great day in Amsterdam with kids.

Zoo – Best for a sunny day in Amsterdam with Kids

Right next to the Micropia museum is the zoo, and you can easily get a combination ticket. The Artis zoo is right in the city’s center, making it really convenient to add to any itinerary. 

Van Gogh

The Van Gogh Museum does a great job of bringing children along for the adventure. They have a traveling Case Clue Board, which leads kids on an adventure through the museum. The museum is smaller than the Rijks so it is much easier for the patience level of kids. Consider booking your tickets in advance as they tend to book up in the peak travel seasons. If you are planning on doing a canal cruise, save money by booking a combination ticket of Van Gogh + Canal Cruise.

Renting a kayak in Amsterdamse Bos Park

Amsterdamse Bos is the largest park in the city. It is truly massive, and you can easily spend an entire day here. If the weather is great on a weekend, we always bike down to Bos Park to spend the day. They have an excellent kayak loop throughout the park, so renting a kayak and completing the beautiful loop around the park is lovely. They tend to book up in the summer months, so book on their website before going. The park also has a swimming pond, bike/walking trails, and a goat farm.

Renting a pedal boat in Amsterdam Canals

You can also rent pedal boats in the canal rings to see the city from the water at your own pace. There is something so magical about seeing the city from the water. It is one of the touristy things that I always make sure is in every visit especially a visit to Amsterdam with kids. Whether it is the pedal boat or a larger canal cruise boat, it is always worth it. Many bigger touring companies offer free cruises in combination with tickets to attractions like the iAmsterdam City Card or Van Gogh/Canal Cruise Combo. The all-you-can-eat pancake tour is always a crowd favorite with kids (see description below).

Canal Cruise with all-you-can-eat pancakes

This Pannenkoken canal cruise is specifically built for families. They serve unlimited Dutch pancakes during the 1.5-hour cruise with an entire toppings bar from marshmallows to ham, cheese, and eggs. There is a playroom on board if your kids are smaller to play around. It is a fantastic Dutch treat to set sail while you fill up on pancakes! The boat is larger because of all the amenities, so it sails down the Ij (main river in Amsterdam). If your kids are a little older, take one of the other pedal boats or other canal cruises that take you through the canal rings.  

Fabrique des Lumieres – Best Art Museum in Amsterdam for Kids

One of the new hidden gems in Amsterdam is Fabrique des Lumieres. Fabrique is a fully immersive experience where art masterpieces surround you, projected on the ceiling, walls, and floor. It truly feels like you are climbing inside the painting and experiencing it from every angle. It is excellent for kids because the art is projected in all corners, so they can run around easily without bumping into anything. Check our full review of Fabrique des Lumieres here. The museum is also in Westerpark in the Bos en Lommer neighborhood so it is great to play in the park before or after the museum.

Straat

If your kids are a little older, Straat is a great choice, as it celebrates Street Art from around the world. As you walk in, the larger-than-life street art pieces greet you from every angle. The museum holds over 150 massive pieces, each with its own story. The museum has an inclusive and casual feeling, making it an enjoyable experience to wander around. The museum is so massive that you can completely escape the city’s crowds. Check our full review of Straat here.

Need more ideas? Check our 3 day Amsterdam Itinerary!

Best Places to stay in Amsterdam with kids

The Yays chain across the city is fantastic to stay in Amsterdam with kids. They have small family apartments across the city, with a small kitchen for a quick breakfast in the morning. The apartments range in size, with additional cots available upon request. Airbnb regulations in Amsterdam are very tight, so they tend to be far more expensive than permanent hotels that have apartments to rent. My sister loved her stay here with her kids.

Yays Salthouse’s location is close to Amsterdam Central, Westerpark, and Fabrique des Lumieres. It is a very central location to tour around Amsterdam with kids.

Another tip – Car Sharing is really popular in Amsterdam and it is very easy to register even with a foreign license. It is great to rent a car to transport the family anywhere and is cheaper than using uber for your whole visit. Mywheels is my favorite with dedicated parking spots everywhere across the city.