Attractions for kids
Below are 12 suggestions for activities with kids: from milking goats to climbing church towers.
1 - science centre NEMO
a hands-on, science and technology museum housed in an impressive, boat-shaped building. You will smell, hear, feel and see how the world works.
2 - TunFun - indoor playground for children from 1-12 years old. Children have fun in a sportive, active and creative way in a former traffic underpass in the centre of Amsterdam.
3 - De Hollandsche Manege
For lovers of horses and 19th-century architecture: the Royal Riding School at the Overtoom.
4 - Canal boat trip
A boat trip is always fun, and especially through the canals and harbour of Amsterdam.
5 - Climb the Westertoren
Climb all the stairs to the top. One of the best views of Amsterdam is from the summit of the Westertoren.
6 - Artis Zoo
Your kids will love the animals and many playgrounds of Amsterdam Zoo. Take the Artis Zoo Express 
that brings you by boat from the Central Railway Station to Artis.
7 - Hortus
One of the oldest botanical gardens (1682) with a classical designed outdoor garden and 7 greenhouses (with each representing a different climate), 300-year-old Eastern Cape giant cycad and palm greenhouse.
8 - Playground Amstelpark
Play midget golf , take a rail trip through the Amstel Park or eat poffertjes, a kind of tiny pancakes.
9 - Pancake Boat
During a three hour cruise, the Pancake Boat will take you along the port of Amsterdam, across the IJ lake and along Amsterdam Central Station, to the Erts and Entrepot harbour... and you may eat as many pancakes as you want!
10 - Milking Goats at the Ridammerhoeve goat farm in the Amsterdam Woods. More than 150 goats and cute little baby lambs roam around freely here. Try milking a goat. And how about bottle-feeding a baby goat? On Saturday you can watch how they make cheese from fresh goat's milk.
11 - Electric Tram Museum
Go back in time with a ride on a historic tram from Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Groningen, Vienna or Prague.
12 - Water bikes
A water bike is a boat you pedal with your feet. It's great fun in sunny weather, and still doable when it rains; boats can be covered with a rain shield.
More ideas
→ Anne Frank House on the Prinsengracht→ Madame Tussauds wax museum on the Dam
→ Muiderslot Castle in Muiden (15 km southeast of Amsterdam)
→ Feeding Pigeons on Dam Square - Hundreds of pigeons take off from and land on this square between the Royal Palace and the National Monument. They'll even land gently on your shoulder or hand when you feed them.
→ The Pancake Bakery
on the Prinsengracht→ climbing park Fun Forest
in the Amsterdamse Bos→ World of Ajax in the Amsterdam ArenA
→ Race Planet for Kids
- mega indoor play area for kids from 2-12 years old: driving, sledging, climbing, sliding, karting, and traffic garden.
Kids can play with pedal cars, aeroplanes, electric formula 1 racing cars at Race Planet
Things to do with kids
Van Gogh Museum
Activities for museum kidsan exciting tour of the museum for children aged 6 to 12. You will look, listen and learn all about the life and work of Vincent van Gogh. In Dutch and English
Rijksmuseum
Families and childrenGo on a voyage of discovery with the whole family and enjoy the highlights of Dutch art and history.
Museums such as the Tropenmuseum and Jewish Historical Museum also include children's section.
child-friendly restaurants
eating & drinking with kids in restaurants that are safe for children ... and parents!
Festival for children
October 12-27, 2013Cinekid 2013
annual Film, Television and New Media Festival for Children
BovenNEMO
Every summer Café DECK5
, located on NEMO's top floor, transforms the roof into a city beach, offering visitors to enjoy the sun with the most beautiful view of Amsterdam. Great for kids.