Weekend in Amsterdam with kids: our exact itinerary + best things to do kids will love

A mum’s guide to a great weekend in Amsterdam with our exact itinerary, top things to do in Amsterdam with kids, family friendly restaurants and travel tips.

I am exceptionally fond of Amsterdam and I believe it is one of the best cities to visit in Europe with kids.

Compact, leafy and very safe, Amsterdam is an elegant, beautiful and vibrant place.

I love its multicultural and relaxed vibe and adore the architecture of its historical houses reflected in its canals, its pretty concept stores, museums and endless food options.

I also love how easy it is to enjoy Amsterdam with kids of any age and my kids agree!

We have visited Amsterdam with kids many times: my best friend lives in Amsterdam so we have the opportunity to go often and also to explore the city with the insight knowledge of a local. 

Each trip has made our family love for Amsterdam stronger.

We have loved its museums, its parks, its streets, its shops… no matter how planned or unplanned out stay has been, we have found Amsterdam to be fun, varied and kid friendly.

Today, I share our top things to do in Amsterdam with kids, based on our experience of the city.

This is my guide to the best things to do in Amsterdam with kids and how to see Amsterdam must see attractions with kids in tow. I hope you enjoy it!

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Family weekend in Amsterdam with kids: our itinerary

Amsterdam is a city that can keep you busy for weeks.

Over the course of a weekend, we inevitably had to make choices and I think we made great ones!

However, if you have different interests from us, you can easily replace these attractions with others.

For instance, you could replace the Rijks Museum with the Van Gogh Museum ot the Nemo Museum with Anne Franke House.

Friday evening: arrival, check into hotel, canal cruise with pizza on board. This gave us a slow and relaxing way to start sightseeing without having to walk or worrying about dinner.

Saturday: walk through Amsterdam City center, OpenBare Biblioteke, Nemo Museum, Amsterdam Noord. The walk gave us the opportunity to soak in the atmosphere of Amsterdam city center, stroll along the canals, have pancakes in the Nine Streets area (super pretty!), see the Amsterdam Begijnhof, Dam Square and the famous ‘gingerbread’ houses.

Sunday: Rijks Museum, Vondelpark. This was our museum day and allowed us to see the Dutch Masters, have the kids play in the wonderful Museum Plein and then relax in pretty Vondelpark, where you can also have a meal (there is a cafe with outside terrace).

Notable meals: Il Pecorino, Vondelpark 3, Burgermeester

Idea for spring! If heading to Amsterdam in spring, you may make the most of tulip season! Find here >>> the best ways to see Dutch tulips in and near Amsterdam.

Where to stay in Amsterdam with kids

The best place to stay in Amsterdam with kids is the Canal Ring.

The canal ring is Amsterdam city center: this is the area Unesco recognized as world heritage, the place with the highest number of traditional houses and architecture and the highest number of attractions.

Family hotels I recommend in Amsterdam city center are:

• Hilton DoubleTree Centraal (4* star hotel) – this is an excellent family-friendly hotel in Amsterdam city center, close to the central station and Nemo, one of Amsterdam’s premier children attractions. This is a modern, large hotel with interconnecting rooms for families.
• Monet Garden Hotel (4* star hotel) – this is a beautiful, modern family hotel in Amsterdam city center, with good family rooms with canal views. This is a cozy hotel perfect for families who love a boutique hotel experience: the hotel lounge bar is perfetc if you want an evening drink without having to negotiate Amsterdam at night with kids. 
• Pulitzer (5* star hotel) – this is an elegant, five star hotel in Amsterdam in a beautiful, traditional house in a stellar location in Amsterdam city center. The hoel has excellent family rooms and a very Importan Kids Program that inlcudes the gift of a teddy on arrival, treasure hunt, travel diary and more. 

Top things to do in Amsterdam with kids: chart

Here are my top picks for things to do in Amsterdam with kids of all ages.

*If you wait for good weather you may be waiting a long time in Amsterdam, in all seasons! If you have flexibility about when to go, some seasons have better chances of good weather then others. Find here >> our guide to the best time to go to Amsterdam

Attractions marked as not suitable for a rainy day are just attractions that are better in the sun but if you only have a limited time, just warp up and go anyway! 

Top things to do in Amsterdam with kids: list

Discover Nemo Science Museum and its terrace – the best place in Amsterdam for toddlers and school age kids

Amsterdam science museum tops our list as one attraction specifically for kids but easy to enjoy for adults too. 

Located in a stunning building close to Central Station, in Amsterdam city center,  Nemo Museum is an interactive space where kids can learn about science through exhibitions, workshops and hands-on science experiments.

The museum develops over several floors and covers from mechanics to human learning and activities suitable from toddlers to teenagers and adults.

My kids adored it: their favorite bit was the dam building area, where you build a dam against a flow of water: fun, wet (you may want to bring a change of clothes!) and educational especially if you use it as an excuse to tell the about the history of the Netherlands and its under sea level position! 

The entrance is ticketed and the museum is not cheap: I recommend it for school age kids especially as I believe they will get the best value for money experience. 

Top tip: At the very top of the building, the museum has a wonderful terrace with additional installations, fountains you can splash in (!) and a cafe. This area is free and fantastic with toddlers!

This is by far our favorite place in Amsterdam for toddlers and school age kids especially and one of the best museums in Amsterdam for kids.

Take a canal cruise – best thing to do in Amsterdam for the whole family

It may be a touristy thing, but a boat tour of Amsterdam canals is a fantastic family activity and one of my must-do things to do in Amsterdam with kids in tow.

Amsterdam canals are UNESCO World Heritage and a fundamental part of the history and life of the city.

Seeing Amsterdam from the water is a wonderful way to tap into the history of the city via its waterways and it is also a fantastic solution to see a lot when kids are tired of walking! 

Several companies offer cruises of different lengths and many are family-friendly: some simply welcome kids while others go the extra mile tantalizing small taste buds with a pizza cruise!

Visit the Tropen Museum – museum of world cultures

The Tropenmuseum is often mentioned as one of the best museums in Amsterdam for kids in the world and indeed, it has special attention for young visitors.

The museum is an interactive space aimed at teaching kids (and adults) about different cultures around the world.

The museum has a special children route to allow them to experience as much of the space as possible and encourage them to interact as much as possible with what surrounds them to they can have a truly immersive experience.

Spend a day in Artis Royal Zoo and Micropia

Artis Amsterdam zoo is the oldest zoo in the Netherlands and its complex now comprises of two attractions: the zoo itself and Micropia.

The zoo caters to kids with specialized workshops,  zookeepers talks (in Dutch, but you can ask questions in English) and organized feeding times.

It also has a playground and, in summer, hosts special workshops for children and musical performances.

Top tip: you can bring your own picnic or order a pizza from their outdoor kitchen!

Artis Zoo gets pretty busy on a sunny day so we recommend getting skip the line tickets if going at prime visiting time

Visit a houseboat for people…. or cats!

Amsterdam’s canals are the most interesting feature of the city for kids who will no doubt notice the many colorful boats floating in the canals of Amsterdam city center. 

Children may not realize that while some boats are for transport, some are for living!

Houseboats are an incredible thing to visit.

They have the most interesting nooks and crannies and children will love to see what you can do with a small space! 

To experience life on a houseboat you have several options.

You can stay in one, visit the Houseboat Museum or take a different approach altogether: visit a houseboat converted into a cat refuge!

Play in Openbare Bibliotheek and mouse mansion – the best thing to do in Amsterdam with a toddler!

A wonderful space for kids and adults is Amsterdam’s central library. 

Located in the city cente, not far from the Central Station and a stone throw from Nemo, the library has a great kids section with books, colorful couches and a play area for smaller children. 

One of its areas does have books in English.

The library is a great Amsterdam attraction for kids but is wonderful for adults too.

Something not to be missed in Amsterdam’s central library is the Mouse House. 

This is a 2m-tall dollhouse for mice (toys, not real ones!) with rooms, hallways, factories and shops.

The library is free and a perfect refuge for a rainy day or if you have toddlers who may want some floor and playtime. 

Visit the Van Gogh Museum

The van Gogh museum tops the travel lists of many Amsterdam visitors and can easily be enjoyed as a family too and not just because of Van Gogh’s colorful and (mostly) child-friendly art.

The museum has special attentions for kids. 

They have family tours, family guides, a children treasure hunt and something special: ‘Vincent’s traveling case’, packed with fun activities for kids and adults!

Make sure you stop at the entrance desk for all family information and materials.

You can buy fast track entry tickets to the museum here

Explore the Rijks Museum with kids 

The Rijks Museum is one of the most important art museums in the workd and it is very kid-friendly. 

As well as being stroller friendly, the museum has a very child friendly approach that sees regular activities for kids taking places in there spaces (drawing sessions, family tours). 

The museum has a fun souvenir shops and a lovely garden just outside that are handy if you need to let them run while a little while after the visit. While not a place ‘for’ kids as such, it is so well organized for them, I consider it one of the best museums in Amsterdam for children.

You can read here >> how to visit the RijksMuseum with kids

Visit Straat

Straat is the fabulous, child friendly new Amsterdam museum dedicated to street art and graffiti.

A wonderful place for all ages, the space is easy to enjoy at all ages: small kids will enjoy the burst of color and large artworks while older kids and grown up can also tap into the meaning of the works of art either in their own time of by joining a guided tour.

You can find here >> info and prices 

Experience Anne Frank House

I recommend a visit to Anne Frank’s House to families with older kids and teenagers able to take in the magnitude and meaning of the place. 

Make sure you book tickets in advance from the house itself as there are not tickets sold on site. 

Visit the Maritime Museum

Another museum to please both kids and adults is the Maritime Museum. 

The museum teaches about the history of Dutch maritime endeavors and impressive empire and has something sure to pique the kids’ attention: a full-size replica of an East India Company sailing ship!

The ship is part of the museum and welcomes kids with a discounted price for kids 4 to 11 (kids under 3 go free).

You can buy skip the line tickets to the museum in advance here

Play in Vondelpark

There are many beautiful parks in Amsterdam and a family favorite is Vondelpark.

The park is large and a pleasure to visit with kids: you can stroll or cycle and several playgrounds make it a favorite for local families and visitors alike.

You can bring a picnic to the park but you also have several food options for a family-friendly meal, including hot dog stands and filly fledged restaurants. 

Eat pancakes

My kids had heard about the famous Dutch pancakes before we left home and so we obliged. 

In Amsterdam, you will find Dutch Pancakes but also Amaerican style pancakes, which we found even easier to find. 

Our two favorite places for them are the Hoxton (child-friendly, despite the cool look and atmosphere) and Pluk. 

The Hoxton is stroller friendly and sees many families brunching here. Plus is not stroller friendly but it is pretty and suitable for kids who can be trusted on a flight of stairs. 

You can read a selection of our favorite family-friendly restaurants and eateries in Amsterdam here

Go for a cycle in Amsterdam Noord

Another activity not quite for kids as such but pleasant to do as a family is a trip to Amsterdam Noord. 

This area of Amsterdam is just in front of the Central Station, on the opposite side from the Canal Ring, and has an interesting history. 

Originally an industrial and working-class area, Amsterdam Noord is not a hip and up and coming area with many beer gardens, artsy corner and a lot of green spaces.

A free shuttle boat connects it with Centraal in a matter of minutes and you can spend a whole day wandering around this flat neighborhood. 

Here you have the Amsterdam lookout and famous swing (for daredevils and suitable for older kids only), the beautiful Eye Film Museum and a plethora of waterfront eateries with a hip yet family-friendly vibe.

The nicest way to explore Amsterdam Noord with kids is to get a bike: the area is leafy, flat and very bike friendly, one of the best areas in Amsterdam for cycling with little ones!

Take a Stadium Tour

Soccer lovers may be excited by the idea of visiting the stadium of legendary Ajax.

The stadium can be visited on most days and welcome kids.

Special kids tours are available in Dutch only but they include playtime on the pitch!

Go to the Amsterdam marionette theatre

I am closing this list with an old fashioned attraction that I believe will charm kids and adults alike: the old marionette theatre. 

The theatre holds regular performances with wooden characters that perform opera and music pieces by various composers under the skillful movements of 6 puppeteers.

Some of the performances are specifically for kids. 

Performances are usually in Dutch but because of the nature of the show can be enjoyed also by non-Dutch speakers.

I hope you enjoyed out trip report and our weekend in Amsterdam with kids gave you ideas and inspiration to plan your own. Safe travel planning!