The best things to do in Amsterdam for toddlers

Forget the brown cafes and red light district, a city break in Amsterdam with kids is perfect for families – and that includes seeing the city with a toddler. Especially now I’m (fairly) certain Minnie won’t try to fall into a canal.

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If you’re also planning to see Amsterdam with a 2-year-old, it’s not even a tricky journey: there are also some cheap – and quick – flight routes, including low-cost airlines, or you can take a ferry to Hook of Holland or Rotterdam, or direct train with the Eurostar route.

So I’ve found some of the best things to do in Amsterdam for toddlers… not least, climbing over the iconic I Amsterdam sign. 

1. Take a canal cruise

A great way to see Amsterdam with kids and experience the canals without walking, it’s something that appeals whatever age you are.

But if you’re looking for child-friendly Amsterdam ideas, there’s still a string of companies to choose from, including a hop-on, hop-off canal boat and a pancake cruise on the Pannenkoekenboot.

Pancakes are always going to feature on a list of things to do in Amsterdam with a toddler after all!

2. The Vondelpark

The city’s most famous park is a lovely green oasis, perfect if you find yourself visiting in summer and need a shady retreat for kids to run off a bit of energy (or cool off from the city streets).

As well as ambling alongside the lake and down the paths, there are things to do in the Vondelpark itself – the most kid-friendly of which is the huge playground overlooked by the Het Groot Melkhuis café.

For another quirky activity, chek out the Kinderkookkafe, where the kids wear the aprons and create their own meals. Adults can help if you’re visiting with toddlers or preschoolers, but it’s also a great option with slightly older kids.

3. Ride a bike

One of the safest places to cycle, half the city (maybe more!) seems to get around on bikes – if you are on foot, it’s worth trying to work out the system fairly quickly, so you – or your toddler – isn’t wandering out in front of fast-moving bikes.

If you’re in Amsterdam with kids who can’t ride, renting a bakfiets – a bike with little trailer at the front – is a great way to explore, although don’t forget to lock them up if you do stop.

4. Nemo Science Museum

Amsterdam’s Science Museum is aimed at children aged six to 16, although there are as many exhibitions and experiments to entertain pre-schoolers (and parents) as school age kids – so if you’re wondering what to do in Amsterdam with a child, this should definitely be on the list.

It was one of the biggest hits of our trip, with so many things to get hands on with, including making giant bubbles, experiments with sound, exhibits on the human body but also shows to watch plus areas aimed at teens and a lot lot more.

The sloping roof even becomes a beach in summer, with fantastic views out over Amsterdam. Buy a skip-the-line ticket online in advance here

And check out my review of our visit in this post too

5. Amsterdam art galleries with kids

One thing Amsterdam is famous for is its incredible art galleries – and if you’ve assumed those have to be off the list if you’re looking for things to do in Amsterdam with a toddler, think again.

Most of the city’s major museums have children’s tours – the Rijksmuseum has a guided tours, a digital game as well as tips for families including a 1km walk through. Some are better for different age groups but it’s a great place to start.

The Van Gogh museum has options galore too, including a treasure hunt, family guided tour, family guides, and even a travelling case with different activities for kids – although again, many are aimed at age six plus. If you’re splashing out, you can even get a private family-friendly tour of the Van Gogh Museum.

Check out my tips for visiting the Van Gogh museum with a toddler where I created a toddler-friendly treasure hunt using the museum’s map and highlights – perfect for short attention spans.

If you’ve set your heart on seeing the Rembrandthuis, it has a special audioguide for kids (aimed at six up) while it’s free for under sixes to enter if you’re planning a short visit.

And Amsterdam’s outpost of the Hermitage museum has children’s routes through its exhibitions, as well as treasure hunts, so that’s still a possibility when you’re planning things to do in Amsterdam with toddlers.

Of course, if you can time a visit to tie in with younger toddlers’ naps, you get slightly longer to wander around and soak up the art yourself too.

6. National Maritime Museum

With the Dutch once in the forefront of exploring the globe, learning more about the seafarers of the Golden Age is going to capture even the short attention span of a toddler – who doesn’t fancy imagining themselves on deck seeking out new worlds?

One of the highlights is the life-size replica of the Dutch East India Company ship Amsterdam, which you can clamber over with guided tours in English. They last around 50 minutes and have a separate entry fee than the National Maritime Museum of just 3 Euros 50, so you’re not committed to the full cost if you’re not sure your toddler will be gripped by the indoor exhibits.

EDIT: This is temporarily closed until January 2021, with the clipper Stad Amsterdam moored in its place.

There are plenty of activities for kids in the museum too, including an interactive life-size board game and an exhibition on whales, as well as a 60-minute audio guide which is helpful to pick out the higlights.

Incidentally, this is also a great option in Amsterdam for kids over 10 including a specific exhibit with characters bringing the Golden Age to life: one to return for!

7. Tropenmuseum

This museum is focused on people around the world, so it’s great for capturing younger kids’ attention, as well as introducing them to some other cultures and what connects us all.

The Tropenmuseum Junior is one of the more unusual Amsterdam children’s attractions to keep on your list too – the Tropenmuseum’s children’s museum is all about getting hands on: seeing, touching, experiencing and participating in order to get even the youngest visitors thinking about keeping an open mind about the world.

It’s also places like this which make me say an emphatic yes to anyone asking, is Amsterdam good for families?

8. Artis Royal Zoo

You can’t beat a day looking at animals if you’re a toddler – and this zoo, in one of the greener leafy parts of central Amsterdam has more than 900 different species of animals.

Along with an aquarium and a petting area, you can spot everything from giraffes to gorillas, not to mention elephants, lions, lemurs, penguins and more. 

There are activities and talks throughout the day, and you can take a guided tour, but half the fun is ambling around at your own pace watching the animals. Whichever you choose, there’s plenty to entertain anyone visiting Amsterdam with baby or toddler here.

You can also head in to the planetarium as part of your visit, while the aquarium is also included in the ticket price. Get skip the queue admission and cancellation up to 24 hours beforehand if you buy online.

Check out our review of our visit to Artis Royal Zoo with a toddler

9. Discover Amsterdam Noord

Hop on the free ferry which runs to Amsterdam Noord, one of the city’s biggest creative hubs.

Once an industrial area, wander around and you’ll discover street art galore – perfect if you’re looking for things to do with kids in Amsterdam that will suit toddlers and older siblings, as even littler ones will love the bright colours.

It’s another great place to cycle, or if you’ve got a younger toddler in a buggy, to walk as they watch the world go by.

10. Visit Ontdekhoek

There are various branches of Ontdekhoek around the Netherlands – ‘Discovery Corner’ is aimed at four and above, with over 30 different experiments and activities from making soap to developing photos, all designed to be done without parents being involved.

EDIT: The Amsterdam location is currently closed until a new base can be found.

Amsterdam with toddlers… things to postpone until they’re older

And when my daughter’s older? There’s a long list of things to do in Amsterdam for kids once you’ve left the toddler years behind too, not to mention a whole string of great day trips from Amsterdam with kids.

A visit to The Anne Frank House is definitely for older children, but nothing brings recent history quite as vividly to life as this desperately moving place.

Or on a lighter note, there are quirky museums galore in Amsterdam – wandering around the museum of bags and purses was a very fun diversion which would entertain older kids.

For more tips on the best things to do in Amsterdam with kids, check out my family guide to the city as well as my review of the I Amsterdam card…

*First published 2014, updated 2020*

PIN FOR LATER: THINGS TO DO IN AMSTERDAM WITH TODDLERS

Main image/Rijksmuseum/National Maritime museum photos courtesy Depositphotos, all others copyright MummyTravels

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