Easter in Amsterdam - some specific questions

[iheartdusty]

We have a short holiday booked and I'm hoping that any Amsterdam residents can help out please.

We'll arrive in the evening of Saturday 30th March for one week, staying self-catering in the Westerdok area.

Do the clocks go forward for Spring? When?

Do things close over the Easter weekend, in particular will most shops (esp food shops & bakeries) be open on Easter Sunday and Monday?

will we be able to buy tram tickets etc over that weekend?

we have a couple of guidebooks, but if anyone has any tips for things to do specifically that week, I'd be very grateful. DC are 11 and 9, we will be visiting museums, NEMO, art museums, the Vondelpark, possibly the zoo.

I read about a play centre called something like tun fun, would this appeal to older children?

tia

The clock moves forward the Saturday before Easter.

I think most food shops will be closed on Easter and that Monday is officially a holiday, 2nd Easter Day, and I know schools will be closed but probably the major city center food stores will be open for restricted hours.

You can buy public transportation cards at the train station anytime.

Tun Fun maxes out at age 12. I think older kids aren't allowed in. It can be fun, but over a holiday really crowded and, because it is in a tunnel, really loud.

The Zoo is always good, NEMO too. The Amsterdamse Bos, a wooded area with pancake house, goat farm, playgrounds, etc. is nice. You can get the tram there and is popular with families.

Hope this helps

I second the zoo and NEMO- amazing places!

The tourist info place opposite the train station could be shut when you arrive, however you can buy "oyster card" style tram cards from the machines in the train station. Either paper versions, or a plastic oyster style card for €5 which you can reuse and re load every time you visit.

Enjoy! Cannot wait to take my LO to Amsterdam- it's one of my favourite places!

thank you very much Oly and Bambi

if you try the Anne Frank museum, be prepared for a very long wait.

The boat trips round the canals are good, go under the low bridges etc.

I love Amsterdam - have fun!

thanks for tip re anne frank

You can buy tickets online for Anne Frank house and skip the queues.
Tun Fun will not appeal to your kids, too old and it's a bit grotty anyway.
The Scheepvartmuseum is a real hit with kids here. It's the National Maritime Museum. Google Het Scheepvartmuseum - the website is in English too.
The other museum highly recommended for kids aged 6-13 is The Tropenmuseumjunior. Check out the website-great interactive stuff for kids which is free but you must pay to enter the Tropenmuseum itself. Ring to book your slot-can't book online. They all speak English so easy to book things.
Look at www.iamsterdam.com Look under March, then Easter Weekend and some info there on things to do within and outside Amsterdam.
Do go to the Amsterdamse Bos, hire bikes at the entrance and take a spin through the forest, go to the Pancake house there. Pick up a map at the Visitor's centre at the entrance. There is also the Fun Forest in the Bos. It re-opens the end of March and great for older kids like yours. They will love it if they like climbing. Check the Amsterdamse Bos website. Look at in the Google Chrome browser to translate. You need to book the Fun Forest.

Wander through the Vondelpark, it's lovely and be careful of all the cyclists in Amsterdam- they have right of way so make sure your kids watch their step as lots of bike lanes and they bike fast!

Enjoy your holiday.

I would also suggest a day trip to the Keukenhof gardens

If its sunny, its also very easy to take the train to a seaside resort such as Noordwijk for lunch (about 20-30mn from central station).

Your children can go anywhere in the Netherlands for a day by train for ?2.50.
www.ns.nl/en/travellers/arrange-and-buy/tickets-and-passes/ticket-and-pass-types

fantastic! thank you all so much for these ideas. The Fun Forest in particular is right up our street, and the prospect of pancakes always ensures co-operation from the DC. Love the idea of a day trip too.

I am getting excited now

It's really really cold here right now and I'd skip the Keukenhof if it stays like that, the wind here is vile and you and the kids would be miserable. I'd go for the Zaanseschans if you want a daytrip - windmills, canals and people dressed up, you can arrange a trip in the tourist office in Centraal Station. Haarlem is lovely and only 15 mins on an Intercity train.

Noordwijk is not 20 mins from Amsterdam btw, I think Zaandvoort is what was meant? In any case if the weather is like it is today I'd skip the seaside unless you are truly hardy, a shame as the seaside towns are really nice (I live very close to one).

thanks Katiepoes, I'm keeping a close eye on weather forecasts. Looks v similar to the UK at the moment, so we'll be packing gloves and hats.

I've just moved to Hilversum with my young family and feeling a little lost so the above has given me some reassurance / great ideas to fill the long summer break not knowing a soul! New to mumsnet, so hope to get the text speak up to speed soon! Hannah x