Poring rain Amsterdam with teen. Massive c**k up holiday.

[Amsterdammit]

Hello, we’ve had too much going on as a family are v v stressed. Worried so much about hol and heat with pale lonely teen that In a moment of anxiety booked Amsterdam which was insanely expensive and now it will be pouring all week.
Please please if anyone has any nice restaurants, cafes, museums anything at all they can recommend.Teen is into science and computers, hates art, hates museums, we are happy, I mean desperate, and can hop on a train for a day trip. what were we thinking?! Just so desperately wanted a nice break for teen and now think we’ve cocked up desperately.

@MariaLuna more scare mongering

I had no intention of "scare mongering", it was simply a comment in response to a pp saying that her teenagers had enjoyed walking through the red light district.

Surely you can see from the rest of my post how enthusiastic I am about Amsterdam? I think it's a wonderful city, especially its maritime history, its huge range of restaurants, its wonderful architecture, its flower market....

There was no need to criticise my post, I was just talking about a city I love, just as you do.

Download the 9292 app for travel info. You can also book travel tickets via the app. You can buy a ov chipkaart for travel that can work out cheaper than buying paper tickets for the train. Although you do have to pay a fee for the card.

Leiden is definitely worth a visit. Bit like a mini Amsterdam and you can do a canal trip, visit a windmill etc.

Agree Nemo and the maritime museum are good. Definitely not dusty old museums. Very hands on and they used to do free workshops and activities. There is also a smaller science/environment type museum in The Hague. Also a Ripleys believe it or not in Amsterdam. And a Tony’s chocolonely place where you can design your own chocolate bar (and eat free samples).

You could visit the beach at The Hague. If it’s raining then the glow in the dark mini golf is good fun. Don’t bother with the Lego discovery centre as it’s not a theme park and is more for younger kids. Think they still have a zip wire and big wheel there too?

Maybe the teen can have a look at what they’d like to do?

I really, really like Schipol Airport and could spend hours there 😂

My robot building teen (18) loved this museum
https://www.museumspeelklok.nl/en/

Clocks were the earliest proto-computers.
Then they added music and automatons.

This museum they can see the inner workings. It child friendly, but not just for children.

Another vote for Leiden and Nautralis, it’s an amazing natural history museum. The town is beautiful and so much less busy than Amsterdam.

Also loved the Esher museum in The Hague, I know its art, but it’s all so mathematical it’s fascinating. And again a lot more manageable then Amsterdam

Also, a canal cruise with pure boats can take them to see the engineering of the canals
https://pureboats.com

Naturalis and Boerhaave in Leiden. Natural science and science museums in Leiden, just hop on a train, there are four every hour and you can walk to both musea from Leiden central station.

If the teen likes zoos, Artis in Amsterdam and Blijdorp in Rotterdam are great and doable in lousy weather.

Actually it wasn’t a mistake it was a great choice because Amsterdam is a huge city and there will be lots and lots of things to keep you entertained even if the weather is awful. Haven’t been in 20 years so I won’t offer any recommendations but there have been plenty on this thread. Often weather forecasts are incorrect anyway.

Dire? I don’t think so. My sister was there with her 3 small children last year and they had an amazing time. I was there as a teenager and loved it. I know there is a bit of a seedy vibe in parts but it is a fantastic city. Getting a train somewhere for a day trip somewhere is not a bad idea, I’m sure there is good transport which would open lots of opportunities

There are a few science and technology museums in Rotterdam. Also food wise I think Amsterdam is amazing. What food does your DS like?

Sorry teen not DS.

If teen isn't especially interested in Anne Frank, I wouldn't do it.

My parents took me, I got bored and ended up thoroughly unsympathetic to her for years

If you go to Utrecht I'd check out the Museum Speelkok. It's number 1 on Tripadvisor because it is awesome. Big collection of self-playing musical instruments (so arguably science). Time it to go on a musical tour and they play the instruments which is a lot of fun.

Thank you so much everyone! You are all wonderful and I’m so appreciative .
Am beyond anxious, but you have reassured me a bit. I looked at the f1 track, but £600 to drive a car, he’d have loved it though!
unfortunately Anne frank is booked solid till sometime in august. Though I think you are right annamagnani I’m not sure given our current state of mind, it’s the most helpful thing to see!
We have tickets to Van Gogh and the graffiti museum and torture museum etc look ok. And he loves Thai, spicy. Asian food so if anyone has restaurant recommendations please feel free!
I think the challenge is that we are putting a lot of pressure on ourselves to give DS a good time, while we are both struggling.
ironically we’d have been cheaper to get a flight to somewhere hot, we were both just overwhelmed. Too stressed to think clearly! Hoping this will help.
if anyone has any other tips please chip in, strumpwaffels to you in return xxx

We did lots already mentioned but also the upside down museum was fun and good for photos. It also has a massive ball pool. Also, finding the different chip stands and comparing which ones are the best and finding the stroop waffles in the markets. I had been to the Anne frank Haus before and would go again a third time. Such an important place..

Thank you! Not sure how much fun a ball pool is with your parents when you are 16!
oh crap. I think the problem is he’s at that in between age. I’m also not actually sure how to talk to him atm. I’m met with rolled eyes and a tolerant smile if I’m lucky. Feeling very insecure! Can you tell!

Right behind the train station and shopping centre you can get the free ferry over to the tall building which has different things to see. It's great and at the top their is a VR rollercoaster thing that's great fun. My husband and I went on it then had a drink and sat for ages watching others sitting screaming and laughing etc. well worth a trip. Also the dungeons, similar to all the other ones but still worth a visit. Ann Frank's house too but this needs to be pre booked .

Thank you! I thought the tall building was just a swing, other things sound fun. I guess I need to stop worrying if DS will enjoy or I’ll be a nervous wreck

Hire bikes and explore the city like a local. I did that with my 17 year old, they loved it

Placemarking as taking three girls to Amsterdam in August and this is gold.

maritiemmuseum.nl/en/exhibitions/offshore-experience

I'm not sure if this will be too young for your teen.

Get him to research and plan what to do. Less work for you and he can’t moan about it. Win-win.

Mine were older but I can imagine it would be great for little ones too. You can spend ages just exploring the fairytale forest. There are lots of great playgrounds throughout the park and some rides will be ok for all the family. It's an amazing place.

We went last year with 14yo ds. He loves a good rollercoaster and there was enough to keep him going for 10 hours with repeat visits to his favourites. Dd is like me and a total coaster-phobe. We did the swan rides on the lake 😂

God I love Amsterdam, can't understand the description of it as dire but we're all different. There's great food everywhere (we love D&A hummus for lunch), transport is easy, and it's very easy to avoid the seedy parts unless you actively want to visit them (and we did, for the church in the attic, which was an absolute sleeper hit for us but perhaps not for OP's teen).

I agree with getting your DS to figure out some things he wants to do OP, get him involved and invested.