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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Holiday planning - Amsterdam

28 replies

fruitfly3 · 24/09/2025 23:17

I’ve booked to go to Amsterdam in half term with a mixed group of under 10s over 70s and me in the middle. We have three full days and are staying centrally. Mix of interests - the older group are happy wandering, doing boat rides and chilling with a coffee (they’re not culture vultures or foodies and happy to have some structured activities and chilling time). The children love a museum in small doses, interactive stuff, nature, animals, food, playgrounds, bikes). They don’t love crowds, excessive noise or overwhelm, hence I plan my city trips carefully.

I would love recommendations for any gems i’m missing from the below - we’re always up for going a little off the tourist trail for a brilliant experience. What would you recommend? Thinking so far…

  • Nemo
  • Bike hire and riding around Amsterdame Bos or Voldenpark
  • a boat tour (maybe a private electric one but ideas welcome)
  • HEMA shopping
  • General wondering

Event food-wise I’m thinking;

  • Pancakes (would love recommendations)
  • Food Hallen
  • Restaurant - family friendly but not fine dining or fast food/ pub style -
  • something with a touch of class to celebrate a special occasion.

Thoughts, ideas and experiences so appreciated!

OP posts:
bert3400 · 24/09/2025 23:26

Nemo is brilliant, really interactive. The cafe on the roof is pretty spectacular too.

fruitfly3 · 24/09/2025 23:26

@bert3400 brilliant - thank you, can’t wait for that!

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AccessSaver · 24/09/2025 23:28

I'd second Nemo's cafe - we had a lovely lunch there. Also went to the Hermitage art gallery, Jewish Museum and Rijksmuseum

Forgottenmyphone · 25/09/2025 06:58

I think you should add to your itinerary:
Rembrandt’s Amsterdam experience (immersive and doesn’t take too long)
This Is Holland (this was my DC’s highlight!)
A treasure hunt at the STRAAT museum https://straatmuseum.com/en/children-s-treasure-hunt

Combine pancakes with a boat cruise https://amsterdam.pannenkoekenboot.nl/en/arrangement/75-minutenvaart/

Our favourite place to eat was Blue (amazing views). We also ate the best mini pancakes at Pat's Poffertjes.

Children’s treasure hunt

Children’s treasure hunt

https://straatmuseum.com/en/children-s-treasure-hunt

LlynTegid · 25/09/2025 06:59

Van Gogh museum will interest children as well as adults I think- just book in advance I suggest.

WineNoMore20 · 25/09/2025 07:03

The Zoo is also a great day out and walkable from central location’s.

fruitfly3 · 25/09/2025 07:12

Amazing thank you! Was the 5d flight experience scary in any way @Forgottenmyphone - neither of my children like loud / scary / rollercoasters etc

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Forgottenmyphone · 25/09/2025 08:08

It’s not loud or scary, but I wouldn’t recommend it if you really don’t like heights.

Ted27 · 25/09/2025 08:13

Day out to the Windmills at Zaanse Schans

TizerorFizz · 25/09/2025 13:19

My under 10s enjoyed the Van Gogh museum. Iconic really. Plus Anne Frank huis.

selfmademaniac · 25/09/2025 13:36

The maritime museum is a little different and has something for all ages - the replica sailing ship is very good fun and climbing on it is encouraged https://www.hetscheepvaartmuseum.com/.

if you want to visit the Anne frank museum you need to book online - sometimes months in advance.

a cheap activitiy is riding the (free) ferries over to North Amsterdam - great harbour views and they leave continuously from behind the central station.

We loved our family visit to Amsterdam but did find a couple of things difficult. Public toilets are few and far between and expensive. (1eur per person per visit and with long queues at the ones we did find) So with a group of under tens and over 70s this may need some thought.

museums are great but they are expensive and kids pay too. ( and can’t just pop in to use the loos!

I wouldn’t recommend cycling in central Amsterdam with kids( except perhaps in the vondel park) unless they are extremely competent and experienced at road / group riding. The paths are very busy and fast and there are an increasing number of electric bikes using them too. It can take some getting used to! Perhaps take a train to a quieter area first. Then it’s a joy!

The National Maritime Museum

The collection of The National Maritime Museum is one of the largest and most notable maritime collections in the world with approximately 400,000 objects.

https://www.hetscheepvaartmuseum.com/

balzamico · 25/09/2025 13:36

Albert Cuyp market is fantastic for a wander - make sure you have room for a freshly made stroopwaffel. I also second the windmills at Zaanse Schans. Public transport is superb and the boat trips are great. Try sundowners on the roof of the Hilton hotel in Centraal if youre feeling flush.

selfmademaniac · 25/09/2025 13:39

Also, all the good children’s playgrounds are pay to go in (some even have barbed wire around them to keep non payers out) surprising to us and something to be aware of

fruitfly3 · 25/09/2025 16:16

Thanks all - will work through the list thank you! @selfmademaniac great tip, thank you

OP posts:
TreesAtSea · 25/09/2025 17:32

PP is right about public toilets, but if in central Amsterdam there are free ones on the fifth floor of the iconic Bijenkorf department store in Dam Square.

oncemoreuntothebeachdearfriends · 25/09/2025 18:01

Anne Frank house is a very moving experience, lots of discreet wiping of eyes when I've been there (twice).
I wouldn't take under 10s there.

GameWheelsAlarm · 25/09/2025 18:13

The Van Gough museum had a nice interactive kids exhibition but it wouldn't keep them entertained for long.

Be cautious about bike hire. It's great for experienced cyclists but the hire bike aren't easy to handle.

Top recommendation - https://amsterdam.pannenkoekenboot.nl/ was brilliant. We also loved Nemo. There are a LOT of willies on the top floor. Dutch people are less inhibited than British people.

We also loved the Zoo https://www.artis.nl/ and would have happily spent a 2nd day going to the various other interesting-looking museums on the same site but we ran out if time, you may wish to spend longer there.

fruitfly3 · 25/09/2025 22:21

Thanks for the public toilet tip - that’s so helpful to know. Will plan very tightly in that case as it’s not just the children who need that. Might also take the good ol’ potette with me too!

OP posts:
TreesAtSea · 25/09/2025 22:57

Re. toilets, pretty sure they have them in HEMA on Kalverstraat too. There is a charge, though HEMA stores sometimes seem to do this on an "honesty box" basis, not of course that I'm suggesting using them without paying...

If people in your group are keen on Christmas, the eye-catching "Christmas shop" on the same fifth floor of the Bijenkorf store may be of interest. I was there last week and it was hard to miss, though a lot of the stuff did seem pricey.

TizerorFizz · 26/09/2025 08:38

@GameWheelsAlarm Could dc not look at a few paintings? My dc wanted to see some. They both had looked at Van Gogh paintings at school. Not everything has to be superficial entertainment.

JennyWreny · 01/10/2025 22:56

@fruitfly3 I'm a bit late to this thread because I was on holiday in Amsterdam when you started it! A few things we saw/did that you mentioned and might help.

Boat tour - we did a canal tour with Flagship tours. It was an open boat which would probably seat around 20ish - although there were only 9 of us on that particular tour. The smaller boats like this can get through the smaller bridges and therefore canals that the large boats can't fit into. We booked online and paid about €18-19 each (€25 on the boat). It was cheaper because we booked online and because it was one of the earlier tours (10.30am). We booked it the night before so we could check the weather. There was a load of umbrellas, but we didn't need them!

Bikes - we didn't hire bikes but when you are crossing roads you really need to keep your wits about you with the cycle lanes. Sometimes they aren't included in the crossings, so you see a green man to cross and then realise that you also have to look to cross the cycle lane first.

Pancakes - little ones from Pat's Proffertjes as PP mentioned. The one nearest the station at Nieuwendijk had more seating than the other branch.

Foodhallen - I guess you'll have noticed that it's a bit further out of the centre. We were staying right near the museums and it was definitely walkable for us but feeling a bit more lazy on the way home and we got a tram. I would say it was quite busy. We went twice, both times it wasn't that easy to find a table for the four of us but it was easier midweek a little earlier than when we went later on Friday night. The other thing I would say is that it's quite busy/noisy - they have a small area upstairs which was much quieter/calmer. Loved it though - great food.

Museums - we went to Van Gogh museum and Rijksmuseum. The Rijksmuseum has an app that you can download which has audio tours. Van Gogh museum you can hire an audio guide. Pretty sure they both had good options for children. You do need to book them in advance though - I think we booked the day before though, so not too far in advance.

As a couple of PPs have already mentioned, a trip to Zaanse Schans was great for us. We got there early (ish) - 9.15am train - takes about 15 mins and then 15 mins walk when you get off the train to get to the Windmills. We didn't pay for the museum etc, just wandered around for a few hours. We all really enjoyed it. Clog making, cheese shop, hot chocolate etc. Train was about €7.50 ish return.

De Bijenkorf - This was a good stop for lunch one day. They have lots of different counters with different options, Italian, Grill, Salad, Wok etc Lovely pastries.

Other things we did -
Pantopia - lovely, but expensive patisserie - was a birthday treat - very nice
Fabel Friet - lovely fries - very popular on tiktok
Van Stapele cookies - had to queue but very nice - also found on Tiktok
Stroopwafels (Mellys) - large ones, still warm - MMMmmmmmmm

Also look out for Albert Heijn - which is chain of supermarkets - great for grabbing some snacks/water etc - similar colour branding to Coop - they are all over the place - very handy.

Have a great time!

Springflowersyay · 01/10/2025 23:05

I’m going for a long weekend next week, so taking note, thanks.

fruitfly3 · 02/10/2025 07:03

@JennyWreny thank you so much for- this is brilliant! I hadn’t realised we could do the windmills independently on the train - will definitely pencil that in. Crazy day today but will come back and might have some questions for you

OP posts:
JennyWreny · 02/10/2025 10:14

No worries. Here's the youtube video I found for Zaanse Schans - he got the bus but according to google maps it takes a lot longer - train seemed to be pretty easy.

Ted27 · 02/10/2025 18:39

@fruitfly3

We went on the train to the Windmills. There was a short walk but it was very easy