A long weekend in Amsterdam with kids – in pictures
First Paris… now Amsterdam. Both cities I’ve visited pre-parenthood, and now returned with my daughter to discover a rather different side. Because whatever Amsterdam’s occasionally risque reputation, it’s a fantastic place to visit with kids – friendly, welcoming, easy to get around and loads to discover.
Check out my guide to Amsterdam with kids for all my posts and tips, but to start off, here’s a quick taste in pictures and a video of our long weekend in Amsterdam.
A canal boat tour (with pirate-themed commentary for Minnie) turned out to be a great way to get our bearings and have a mini introduction from the waterways which link the city – the perfect way to explore with kids, without anyone complaining their legs are tired!
Although we did plenty of wandering the streets, dodging bikes (do keep an eye out, they go fast) and spotting the gabled houses, walking through markets and enjoying some shade in the Vondelpark as our long weekend in Amsterdam coincided with a heatwave.
But we still found time for some of the major – and minor – attractions. As well as a quick visit to the Van Gogh museum (where there’s very limited photography allowed), we headed to the Tassenmuseum, with its displays of bags through history.
And slightly more child-friendly, we spent an afternoon at NEMO, the city’s science museum, which was perfect for toddlers (and their parents… and grandparents) with loads of interactive exhibits.
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Then finished up with a day at Artis Royal zoo, with more than 900 animals, including sunbathing lemurs, some hungry gorillas and giraffe – and a small girl who got an ice cream as the icing on the cake.
Forget the coffeeshops and red light district, Amsterdam is so child-friendly, I wished we had longer than a long weekend…
For more ideas of day trips from Amsterdam with kids, check out my top picks to explore more of the Netherlands, as well as more things to do in Amsterdam with kids
PIN FOR LATER: AMSTERDAM WITH KIDS – IN PICTURES
Images copyright MummyTravels
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Looks like you had a brilliant time. I haven’t been to Amsterdam for many years but can imagine like you returning with your child gives it a whole new take. Look forward to seeing more!
It really is like seeing a different city – I can imagine us going back again when she’s older too (more than once, hopefully!). We had such a great time, I could have stayed for a week.
Ahhh Amsterdam continues to amaze me. With our long weekend we also barely scratched the surface of things to do and also found it super kid friendly. Look forward to your write ups about the Van Gogh (we failed) and the NEMO – another place we have earmarked for a future visit with the girls. Looks like you had a wonderful time.
NEMO was brilliant – it was a flying visit to the Van Gogh though but really glad we did. It’s all so kid-friendly, I’d already love to go back.
Lovely photos – Amsterdam is so picturesque isn’t it! I could spend the whole time taking photographs. Love the canals and water fountains plus the iconic bikes of course. #MondayEscapes
Thanks! It is – I have so many canal shots 🙂
I love Holland and have visited Amsterdam many times – but we have so far only taken the children to Duinrell and the area around there. It was fabulous, so child friendly – especially with all the safe bike lanes. We definitely want to go back there for another hoiday some day…
I haven’t really explored The Netherlands outside Amsterdam, although I’d like to. I did fancy cycling around the city with my daughter too but it was SO hot, a trailer might have been a bit much.
Lovely pics and video… I can’t believe you were only there for a weekend – you did LOADS! We went to Amsterdam a few years ago when Mrs T was very young…it all got a bit dramatic after she had a febrile convulsion in our hotel, so as well as the red light district and wandering around the canals, we also got to see the inside of an ambulance and hospital (which was very good by the way). Will have to go back one day and do it properly! #mondayescapes
Thanks! I do like to cram in as much as I can (toddlers permitting) – your trip sounds a lot more eventful, the kind of thing which always scares me a bit about travelling with kids (thankfully nothing worse than teething/virus/ear infection, horrible though they were at the time). Definitely one to go back to though.
Oh, yes – but thankfully very rare that anything like that does happen! We have friends who live just outside Amsterdam so will defo go back at some point xx
Very true, thankfully. And what a bonus to have friends nearby.
How nice to know about this side of the city, that’s great!
Amsterdam is amazing, I hope to visit it again, this time properly and not in a hurry like last time 😀
Lovely pictures!!
#MondayEscapes
Thanks – it is a really lovely city, and definitely worth a return visit, I think!
I absolutely love finding the family-friendly side of places people would normally not think of for families. Great ideas!
Thanks! It is lovely to see a different side to a city, and proves that far more places are family-friendly than people sometimes think.
Sounds like a wonderful weekend! I always find you can’t go wrong with science museums and zoos.
Absolutely – science museums seem to have improved massively since I remember as a kid. And zoos are always good.
I love this! I had to read it as we’re going to Amsterdam with my daughter this summer (although she’s 9). We went without kids a couple of years back and are looking forward to taking her. We’ve been trying to plan a route that doesn’t go near the red light district!
What good timing – and I’m sure you’ll have a great trip. We didn’t end up going past the main red light district at all so I don’t think it’s too hard to avoid. Enjoy Amsterdam!
How fab I love the sound of the pirate commentary canal boat trip. My three would adore that. It’s my mission for next year to do some long weekends in Europe with the kids now they are easier to move about on the plane/in the car! #countrykids
I loved that idea – was quite tempted to listen myself. And I think this is a good one to start city breaks: fairly compact, easy to get around, lots to do and a nice short flight!
It looks like you had a really great weekend. I’ve never thought of Amsterdam as a place to take the kids for a break so it’s great to hear that you found it so kid-friendly. I’ll definitely take a look into visiting Amsterdam now 🙂 #CountryKids
Such a great holiday – I think a lot of cities are far more family-friendly than you might expect and Amsterdam is lovely.
So many of the street scenes I recognize from my own pre kids travel there but the zoo is new to me, not something I would have visited back in the day but what fun it looks now for children. A lovely look at a wonderful European city. Thank you for sharing on Country Kids.
Amsterdam is very timeless in a lot of ways, with its canals and gabled houses, isn’t it. It really is like seeing a new city sometimes, visiting again with kids – the zoo was lovely.
My brother’s just come back from a few days break in Amsterdam, so I was interested to see what it had for children. Looks like there’s plenty to do, and being flat is handy for little legs to walk. Love the idea of the bag museum #countrykids
The bag museum was a lot of fun (although I did leave my daughter outside doing stickers with my dad for that one) – but loads that’s child-friendly as well.
Amsterdam looks great for kids! I haven’t visited before, but was wondering how easy it would be to get there via ferry from Newcastle. This is definitely on our families list now, thanks for sharing the post and video! 🙂 x #mondayescapes
It’s a great city for families – and you should have a look at http://www.northeastfamilyfun.co.uk/ if you don’t know it, they did a mini cruise from Newcastle to Amsterdam and had a fantastic time. Enjoy if you go!
Would really think of Amsterdam as a place for kids but this post proved me wrong! A real amazing and kid friendly place and so pretty too! #countrykids
Glad to show another side – I think a lot of people would feel the same way, but it’s such a lovely place to go with kids.
Amsterdam is such a pretty city, it’s too hard to describe in words and well worth loads of picture taking.
Absolutely, I just couldn’t stop snapping away at the canals and old houses especially
This is good to read. We’ve booked travel and one night of accommodation in Amsterdam so far (for a break in Oct) but still need 4 nights and all our activities so you’ve given some inspiration.
Have a great time! Glad it’s helpful – there’s another post on day trips from Amsterdam too (https://www.mummytravels.com/day-trips-from-amsterdam-with-kids/) if you wanted to see beyond the city, but loads to do there, so you won’t be short of options. Some more tips here too – https://www.mummytravels.com/11-things-to-do-in-amsterdam-with-kids/