Utrecht or Amsterdam drop off with primary school aged kids

[Nutellaonall]

Was planning a stop off in Amsterdam on our travels with the kids at half term. My friend said Utrecht might be better and more child friendly. DH says it’s just a generic city and set on Amsterdam.
Personally I think Amsterdam would be a better place to see without three lovely kids in tow.
Any advice welcome.

Title was supposed to say stop off!

Amsterdam will be better than Utrecht. Utrecht is very student heavy, huge roadworks going on at the moment and doesn't have much in the way to entertain kids on a stop off.

Love both, no help sorry.

Depends maybe on the interests of your kids.

Mine loved the kids’ science museum in Amsterdam, Anne Frank House, the art gallery, hiring bikes, trams and the pancake house.

I loved ( as a teacher) the museum that has the Dick Bruner’s (Miffy) studio, in Utrecht.

100% Amsterdam. It’s a very kid friendly city. And lots to do with kids. Utrecht is, well, boring and generic.

Your husband is right!

Just popped in to mention Rotterdam. How long is the stop-off and will you have a car?

My Utrecht-Ian colleague used to recommend staying in Utrecht and getting the (quick, cheap) train into Amsterdam.

We are porting at Rotterdam. Hadn’t considered there.

Rotterdam is surprisingly good, lots to do, nice mix of old and new, good eating and decent parks.

Amsterdam always feels a bit gougy to me, plus driving v unpleasant anywhere near the centre.

If you're arriving in Rotterdam, I'd probably stay there and also go to Delft.

This! Where does your boat come in? Rotterdam itself? Visit Rotterdam and Delft! Stay on the SS Rotterdam, play at the Pinball Museum, eat the Fenix Food Factory or the Foodhallen, visit the Maritiem Museum. Get the train to Delft. Eat apple pie at Kobus Kuch, look at the beautiful old houses by the canals and the main square, visit the Nieuwe Kerk and the Royal Delft factory.

We went to Utrecht in the end. Mostly because it didnt involve a detour and only had about 5 hours. We loved it. Its such a pretty and chilled city. We just wandered around the old town. Its was similar to amsterdam with lots of cafes, did a bit of shopping, and ate lots off food. We would have got a pedalo had it been cooler. We wanted to go to the miffy museum but alas it was shut on a Monday.
DH loves it and is already aranging a bloke dual city trip with amsterdam.

I was thinking "why would you want to drop your kids off abroad?"

But then remembered some days I could easily do the same thing as a parent 🤣🤣

I was going to suggest Rotterdam too.