For kids

Famous squares

Hidden Amsterdam

Historical buildings

Old neighbourhoods

Popular museums

Seasonal Amsterdam

Attractions for kids

Below are 12 suggestions for activities with kids: from milking goats to climbing church towers.

1 - Cat Cabinet
For cat lovers - a small private museum in the Golden Bend of Herengracht. Founded in commemoration of the ginger cat J.P. Morgan.

2 - NEMO Science Museum
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.

3 - East Indiaman Amsterdam
Go on board of the 18th century replica of a Dutch VOC trading ship.

4 - Hortus Botanicus
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.

5 - Canal boat trip
A boat trip is always fun, and especially through the canals and harbour of Amsterdam.

6 - Climb the Westertoren
Climb all the stairs to the top. One of the best views of Amsterdam is from the summit of the Westertoren.

7 - 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.

8 - De Hollandsche Manege
For lovers of horses and 19th-century architecture: the Royal Riding School at the Overtoom.

9 - 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.

10 - Pancake Cruise
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!

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.
→ Ridammerhoeve goat farm - milking goats at an animal farm in the Amsterdam Woods
→ The Pancake Bakery on the Prinsengracht
→ climbing park Fun Forest in the Amsterdamse Bos
→ Kids Stadium Tour in the Amsterdam ArenA
→ Playground Amstelpark - play midget golf , take a rail trip through the Amstel Park or eat poffertjes, a kind of tiny pancakes.
→ 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

Fun on the ice

Ice-skating rinks on different squares in Amsterdam.

Van Gogh Museum

(for children aged 6 to 12) children's activities
treasure hunt, family guide, walk-in workshops, Vincent's travelling case

Rijksmuseum

Families and children 6+
family guided tour full of stories, experiments and challenges 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!

NEMO's roof

Every summer NEMO's roof , located on NEMO's top floor, transforms into a city beach, offering visitors to enjoy the sun with the most beautiful view of Amsterdam. Great for kids.

Amstel Park

family recreation park Play midget golf
Take a rail trip through the park
Have fun in the playground
Eat poffertjes, a kind of tiny pancakes