Traveling with Small Kids to the Netherlands

The capital of the Netherlands offers numerous kid-friendly activities both indoors and outdoors. From pancake restaurants to museums packed with interactive displays and parks with playgrounds, there is plenty to look forward to when visiting Amsterdam with small children.

Here are some tips for making the most out of your trip, with relaxed parents.

GETTING AROUND

With babies and toddlers, and getting around Amsterdam with a stroller, the city is generally easy to navigate. Just watch out for cobblestone streets, although most roads and streets have sidewalks.
On all train and subway stations, they do have lifts making it easy to navigate with a stroller, but I can’t say the same for houses and hotels. At some places, you will actually need to carry up your kid in your arms and leave the stroller in the hallway.

So, plan to bring a lightweight stroller in case you need to carry that up any stairs!

Another option would be to explore Amsterdam from a different perspective, why not go on a family trip with a canal ride. There is a reason why they call this city the “Venice of North”. Hop on one of the boats to explore over one hundred kilometers of canals and admire charming buildings from the 17th century and picturesque bridges all around.

CHILDPROOF ACTIVITIES IN AMSTERDAM

• Playgrounds in Amsterdam for Toddlers and Babies

Amsterdam has many indoor and outdoor playgrounds for babies and toddlers. Luckily, many of them are located in the vicinity of major attractions. TunFun is probably one of the most famous indoor baby-friendly playgrounds in Amsterdam, while Groot Melkhuis in Vondelpark is a lovely waterside café with a nice outdoor kid’s playground. Perfect for that midday coffee pick me upper.

• Amsterdam Museums

No trip to Amsterdam with a toddler or baby is complete without visiting at least a couple of museums. The thing about this city is that many museums offer plenty of entertainment for families with children. If you are traveling to Amsterdam with a baby who is very young, I recommend going to the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House. Travelers with toddlers who are more mobile should visit museums that are best for kids including the Maritime Museum, the awesome NEMO Science Museum which features the coolest interactive displays ever, and Tropenmuseum.

• Vondelpark

There are many fun things to do in Amsterdam when traveling with babies and a visit to Vondelpark is definitely one of them. This is the largest park in Amsterdam and has plenty of family-friendly activities to offer. Whether you wish to rent bikes with baby seats, spend some quality time with the children at one of the playgrounds, or visit the baby-friendly Kinderkookcafé, the options for having a good time in Vondelpark with a baby or toddler are endless.

• Artis

Artis may not be the largest zoo in the world, but it is one of the oldest in Europe. Opened in 1835, this fabulous museum features dozens of impressive animal exhibits, as well as lovely gardens. There is also a nice planetarium and aquarium worth visiting. In case you get hungry, have lunch at the on-site restaurant that also has a nice playground for the little ones.

AMSTERDAM AND OUR PICKY EATERS

People who travel with children always have a concern about whether or not they will be able to find a good place to eat in the city. Fortunately, Amsterdam is well-known for its abundance of restaurants and cafes that cater to parents with young children.

The Pancake Bakery on Prinsengracht is one of the most popular eateries here and kids just love their poffertjes (small pancakes covered in powdered sugar). Moeders which translates to Mother should also be included on your list of restaurants to visit in Amsterdam. They serve Dutch home cuisine and it’s delicious. There’s no reason why parents shouldn’t be able to enjoy the meal too. 😉

SOS BABY SUPPLIES

You don’t need to fill your suitcase with diapers, baby wipes, baby speens, etc. you can use that space on other necessities.

What I also like about Amsterdam is that the local supermarkets offer a wide range of baby food and formula. As for buying diapers in Amsterdam, they can be bought in just about any supermarket in the city. The most famous supermarket in the Netherlands is AH. You can also find them in beauty shops like Etos and Kruitvat.