10 best family-friendly hotels in Amsterdam

Despite its less than wholesome reputation, Amsterdam is a great destination for a family holiday. As long as you know which parts of the city to avoid, there’s lots to see and plenty to do with kids while you’re there.

From canal-side cycling to fascinating museums, you won’t be short of things to keep you and the kids entertained in the Dutch capital. As with many old cities, finding a hotel that’s set up to welcome families with kids makes a real difference to your time away, and we’ve turned to the well-travelled Mumsnetters for first-hand advice on the best places to stay.

Best family hotels in Amsterdam at a glance

• Best overall: Hotel Sebastains

• Best for budget breaks: Volkshotel

• Best for luxury: Kimpton de Witt

• Best with a pool: Park Plaza Victoria Hotel

• Best apartment: Erik Vökel Suites

1. Best overall hotel: Hotel Sebastains

Hotel Sebastains | Check availability

Set in a converted canal house, Hotel Sebastians has a central location, scenic views and a peaceful locale. The hotel offers bike rental, and you’re no more than a short walk from landmarks like Dam Square and Anne Frank’s House.

Splash out on a luxury family room with a view of the hotel’s garden - the rooms are generously sized and have a spacious en-suite bathroom. There are lots of child-friendly extras at Sebastians, including buggy hire and board games available on request. There's parking available nearby but it’s eye-wateringly expensive, so it’s best to take a taxi or request a shuttle service.

Nearest airport: Amsterdam Schiphol (7 miles)

2. Best cheap hotel: Volkshotel

Volkshotel | Check availability

The rooms at the Volks Hotel are decorated in a cool, minimalist style, making this both a bargainous and stylish choice for your family holiday. A family room features a queen-sized bed at floor level, with two single beds on a mezzanine level.

The hotel is less than 50 metres from Wibautstraat Metro station, so it’s easily accessible by public transport. There’s a rooftop spa with open-air hot tubs, and yoga classes available to book.

Nearest airport: Amsterdam Schiphol (7 miles)

3. Best cool hotel: Conscious Hotel

Conscious Hotel | Check availability

Set right in the cultural centre of Amsterdam, Conscious Hotel has been awarded a Green Key Gold for its environmental responsibility. It serves delicious organic breakfasts and you can hire bikes from the front desk for €15 per day. Catch a bus from Schiphol airport and it’ll drop you right outside the hotel.

Rooms are tastefully decorated, with stylish details. Families can opt for a triple room with a large double bed and a single bed, plus you can add a cot for a small extra charge.

Nearest airport: Amsterdam Schiphol (6 miles)

4. Best luxury hotel: Kimpton de Witt

Kimpton de Witt | Check availability

For a touch of luxury in the heart of Amsterdam, Mumsnetters recommend Kimpton de Witt, just 300 metres from Amsterdam Central Station. The impressive 274-room hotel offers free WiFi and free bike hire, yoga mats in every room and free tea in the lobby.

There are lots of options when it comes to family rooms, from two double-bed rooms to suites. There’s a babysitting service and pets are allowed at no extra charge, plus the hotel will even provide dog beds for four-legged guests.

Nearest airport: Amsterdam Schiphol (12 miles)

5. Best hotel with interconnecting rooms: Mövenpick Hotel

Mövenpick Hotel | Check availability

On the edge of the river IJ, the Movenpick Hotel has lovely views across the water. Go for a connecting family room and enjoy the space and privacy of your own hotel room while the kids sleep safely next door.

The hotel is a stone’s throw from the NEMO Science Museum, which comes highly recommended by Mumsnetters. However, some reviewers say the location is a bit further out than they’d have liked, for visiting central Amsterdam.

Nearest airport: Amsterdam Schiphol (8 miles)

6. Best hotel with a pool: Park Plaza Victoria Hotel

Victoria Hotel | Check availability

"The Park Plaza Victoria Hotel v nice. 5 min walk from Centraal Station in Amsterdam and Nemo walkable. V central and also close to main tram stops (#2 gets you over to VondelPark) Not the cheapest though." Boopear

If swimming a few laps in a luxury pool is an essential part of any holiday, Park Plaza Victoria Hotel is a great choice for your family trip to Amsterdam. As with many historic cities, space is at a premium in Amsterdam, so not many hotels can boast a swimming pool. The hotel offers a choice of connecting rooms, sofa beds and separate rooms for families, so you’re able to book a stay that’s just right for you.

Nearest airport: Schiphol, 7 miles

7. Best hotel for views: Hotel Estherea

Hotel Estherea | Check availability

On the banks of the Singel canal, Hotel Estherea is a dreamy setting for your family break in Amsterdam. The area is quiet but central, and Mumsnetters urge you to try the free hot chocolate in the lobby - plus there’s even a little library and colouring books available for kids.

Rooms are decorated in a chintzy romantic style, with family rooms only sleeping three, but you can book interconnecting rooms if you need more space.

Nearest airport: Amsterdam Schiphol (7 miles)

8 Best apartment: Erik Vökel Suites

Erik Vökel Suites | Check availability

Travelling with kids can be stressful. For some, the luxury of hotel service takes away that stress, but for others, having your own kitchen and plenty of space to spread out in makes trips away with the family so much more easy and fun. An apartment like one at Erik Vokel Suites gives you that home-from-home feeling with all the style of a hotel - not to mention an excellent central location. One-bedroom apartments sleep four with a double room and sofa bed, while two- and three-bedroom suites offer more space to relax in. The apartments are well placed near to the NEMO museum and some suites offer views over the rover IJ.

Nearest airport: Amsterdam Schiphol (8 miles)

9. Best hotel for babies and toddlers: Linden Hotel

Linden Hotel | Check availability

Found in the hip Jordaan district, the Linden Hotel is a popular, very family-friendly mid-priced hotel that Mumsnetters highly recommend. Set in an 18th-century ‘flatiron’ building, the hotel’s friendly staff will take care of everything, making it a great choice for seeing Amsterdam with a baby or toddler. The location is quiet but central, and the rooms are cosy, stylish and peaceful. It’s best to call ahead if you need cots or other extras, as not all rooms can accommodate them.

Nearest airport: Amsterdam Schiphol (7 miles)

10. Best hotel with large rooms: StayOkay Hostel Amsterdam Vondelpark

StayOkay Hostel Amsterdam Vondelpark | Check availability

Bright, bustling and budget-friendly, the StayOkay hostel in Amsterdam’s popular Vondelpark district offers private rooms to sleep up to six people, each with its own bathroom. Rooms are simple and quirkily decorated, with plenty of storage, a little table and chairs. Bunk beds are the order of the day, unless you opt for the quadruple family room, which has two single beds that can be pushed together. If it’s a clean, comfortable place to crash after a busy day of sightseeing that you’re after, this may just be the hotel for you.

Nearest airport: Amsterdam Schiphol (6 miles)

Is Amsterdam good for families?

Amsterdam is a very family-friendly city. Famed for its cycling culture, it’s safe and easy to get around, whether on foot or on two wheels. There are plenty of great parks, brilliant museums and kids are generally very welcome in cafes and restaurants.

Mumsnetters say it’s very easy to avoid the red light district, and that you’d never accidentally wander into it. On the other hand, sex shops and legalised cannabis are harder to steer clear of entirely.

What’s the best area to stay in Amsterdam?

Amsterdam is a tiny city, so wherever you end up staying, you’ll be within easy reach of all there is to see and experience. These are the most-recommended parts of Amsterdam for families:

• Vondelpar: in the Oud Zud (Old South) area is Amsterdam’s answer to Central Park. Leafy and full of families, this is a great place to stay for your family trip

• Canal district: right in the centre of the city, the Canal District is home to many of the more luxurious hotels. You’re bound to have a museum or historic landmark on your doorstop if you stay here

• Jordaan: hip and untouristy, Jordaan is full of authentic Dutch character.

What’s the best family-friendly hotel in Amsterdam?

The best family-friendly hotel in Amsterdam is Hotel Sebastians. Mumsnetters recommend it for its central location, comfortable rooms and array of child-friendly extras.

How we chose our recommendations

Because we know that there's nothing like a real recommendation, we first headed to the Mumsnet forums to find out what family hotels in Amsterdam were being recommended.

We then did some online research, looking at which Amsterdam hotels had won accolades or had been featured in 'best choice' lists, and what customer reviews said about them. Having collated all that information, we then narrowed our list down to the best places to stay for families in Amsterdam at the moment.

Why you should trust us

We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.