Cool things to do in Amsterdam over the weekend.

[loopyloo30]

I’m going to be in Amsterdam with my 16yo ASD/adhd son for a day and a half this weekend. We are staying centrally. Does anyone have any recommendations of things we could do? I’m not sure museums are going to be much interest to my son. We aren’t going to have a very big budget. Thank you

Hi,

I hope you have a great weekend. Here are some possibles you might select from, I hope you find something you both enjoy

Amsterdam Zoo

Experience nature at ARTIS – zoo & museums | ARTIS | ARTIS

I have been a few times, its really good.

Canal Boat Trip

What could be more Amsterdam than this? There are lots of companies who do this, offering various lengths etc. You can just walk up and board, but maybe check some out online options first. You get a nice view of the city and maybe learn some history too.

Canal Tours Amsterdam - Damrak Pier 4, 5 & 6 | Stromma

Ton Ton Club

Maybe a shout for a lunch or dinner. You will want the Westergas 'branch' (Westerpark, west of centraal station) - likely a short tram ride, rather than walk.. Japanese themed bar / restaurant and it has cool things like retro arcade machines (video games), board games etc which might appeal to a teen.

TonTon

Banksy Museum

Reproductions of Banksys work from around the world.
Banksy Museum | Permanent Banksy art collection in Amsterdam

I know you said he probably wont lilke museums, but maybe this is different as its street art, political / edgy, modern and probably known to youth.

Its close to the Ton Ton Club so you could combine visits.

Similarly.....

The MoCo Museum.

A fairly compact gallery containing banksy, warhol and the like. Even robbie williams has some stuff in it, but probably due to him being famous already!

Its very colourful and interesting and I would say something for everyone. I think this would speak to teens more than more staid museums like van gogh etc and there are plenty of modern culture references (eg japanese manga) to resonate.

Its at museumplein.

Visit the best modern art museum in Amsterdam | Moco Museum

Amsterdam Dungeon

Lots of european cities have these and it should be suitably spooky / gory for any self respecting teen.

The Amsterdam Dungeon | A Scarily Fun Attraction | Book online & Save

Anne Frank House

Poignant place to visit, it may be of interest as Anne was a teen herself. Combines a well known figure / WW2 history.

Home | Anne Frank Stichting

Heineken Experience

A multimedia experience in the former brewery. The media aspect might be interesting for your son, even if the brewery aspect doesn't hit the spot!

Heineken Experience | Tours & Tickets - Amsterdam - Heineken Experience

Johann Cruff Arena Tour

Does he like football? if so he may like the official tour of the Ajax football stadium.

(incase you are not into football - Ajax are the famous / successful Amsterdam team)

Johan Cruijff ArenA | Stadium tours

Sloterplas (for a walk / fresh air)

If you get a nice day, get the number 7 (I think, check!) tram to its end of its terminus and you could walk around the man made lake sloterplas. Sloterpark surrounds it. Its a pretty area, nice to get some fresh air and stretch your legs, away from the congested city centre.

Sloterpark | Gemeente Amsterdam

Parks

Many of the City parks are beautiful and lovely to walk around, they often have their own internal attractions. Westerpark, Vondelpark, Rembrantpark etc. You will need to journey outside the centre slightly.

I hope some of these might be of interest and I hope you both have a great time.

If it was me and I had the funds, I would do the canal boat, Anne Frank and MoCo. You could fit that into a day and a half comfortably, I think.

Edit - dont worry about travelling about - its a great city to walk in, but the trams are excellent and you just tap on and tap off with your bank card.

If you havent been before, watch out from trams and bikes! Takes a bit of getting used to as a pedestrian!

You could go to more places with your son which he finds interesting. You could watch a movie, go out for lunch or dinner, a walk in park or maybe some picnic day. As the children with ADHD enjoy time out and a change in their routine and environment works as a reward.

There’s really good museum - ‘Our House’ about dance culture - my teen DD (and I) thought it was great fun!

My daughter and I were in Amsterdam a couple years ago for a weekend and she loved the graffiti museum - you take a free boat across and then it's a massive warehouse with really gigantic fun art. Interesting little area to wander around too, very different from the usual spots.

We also loved eating at the Foodhallen (food court style) - not expensive and some really fun options.

We went this summer. One of the best things we did was This is Holland - a history of the Netherlands before a ride simulation that takes you flying across the country. If you get the iAmsterdam card then I think entry is free. Apart from Anne Frank House, it was my favourite part of the trip. You just take the ferry from near Centraal station and it's next to the ADAM tower.

Would definitely recommend the iAmsterdam card - you can buy it for a specific number of days and you get a free canal ride as well as entry to lots of museums, and free transport.

Anne Frank House gets booked up about 6 weeks in advance - we saw lots of people being turned away when we were lining up.

Zaandam windmills (bus ride away) I would add to the list.

woo this sounds good, I'm a bit nervous of rides and things like that - was it scary?!

No, it wasn't - you sit in seats and they strap you in as if you were going on a ride at a theme park. The floor drops, and they move you forward in front of a huge screen across the wall, and then the seats move and tilt to make it seem like you're flying.

I didn't find it scary at all, however my son doesn't like theme park rides, and he didn't enjoy it as much as the rest of us, so it was quite realistic!

We were only there a day, best part was a very small boat trip, very personal compared
ton the large boats with scripted voice over - enjoy!

It’s fabulous to just walk around Amsterdam. So much to see, queue for some chips and ice cream to post on TikTok.
Boat ride is a good idea for when you’re tired of walking.
Catch the free ferry from behind central station, go to the lookout and ride the swings if you dare!
We did a stroop waffle making class which was great fun.

STRAAT - free ferry takes 10 mins from the main station over to the gallery. Well worth the trip over. More suited to younger people than some of the older galleries.

Apart from the parks on @BlueSherbert'sai list,all of those cost (a lot) or need booking. Ton Ton is full of insta wankers.
If hes not been before, a general mooch is good fun. Go to Noord on the free ferry to the street art museum. A wander round de Pijp market would be good for cheaper(still not super cheap)street food. Or head to.Albert Hein near Van Gogh museum and grab picnic food to eat in Vondel Park (if the weather is ok). Agree with the smaller boats, we got one outside Anne Franks house(booked up for weeks, but depending on.your son might be overwhelming, very tiny, very crowded and very poignant.) Thev one we went on also had free drink included.

We loved Wondr - it has a roller rink, giant ball pit, loads of cool installations. Also the Pancake Boat where you, er, go on a boat ride and eat pancakes.

Just mooching around is good fun. It’s so atmospheric and beautiful. Any boat trip is fun.