In August 2022, our little family relocated from London to Amsterdam! In our time here, we have come to truly enjoy our new city of residence. A huge part of loving the city has been figuring out our daily routine, as well as identifying places to eat that we enjoy and that are manageable with our young kids (four and two-years-old), as well as experiencing different activities with our visiting family and friends. I have summarised our list of top places to enjoy doing in Amsterdam on a family trip!
1. Transportation in Amsterdam
Amsterdam offers several transportation options that are suitable for families with kids. Here are some of the best options:
Transport Option | Details |
Bicycle |
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Tram |
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Metro |
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Rent a car |
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Walk |
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Uber/Taxi |
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2. Where to stay in Amsterdam
When choosing a place to stay in Amsterdam with kids, it’s important to consider factors such as proximity to family-friendly attractions, access to public transportation, and the availability of amenities suitable for children. Here are some recommended areas for families visiting Amsterdam:
Neighborhood | Vibe |
Museum Quarter (Museumkwartier) |
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Jordaan |
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De Pijp |
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While choosing the right neighborhood is important, keep in mind that Amsterdam is a compact city, and most attractions are easily accessible by bike, public transportation or on foot. Additionally, consider the specific needs and preferences of your family when selecting accommodation, such as the availability of family rooms, kitchen facilities, and proximity to grocery stores. Simply Google Mapping and reading hotel reviews should be a great start!
Some hotels, which our family and friends stayed at and liked, include the following:
- We had a great experience at Park Plaza Vondelpark Hotel, which is about a 15-20 minute walk to Museum Quarter
- The Hilton Amsterdam is located in the neighborhood, Apollolaan. While it’s not directly in De Pijp, it is relatively close by and easily accessible from the hotel.
- The Amsterdam Marriott is near Leidseplan and in closer proximity to other historic buildings, canals, shops, and restaurants. It is a vibrant and bustling area that offers easy access to various attractions and is well-connected to public transportation networks.
3. What to do in Amsterdam
General Things to Do:
Activity | Description |
Boat ride | Can rent/sail on your own via Sloepdelen or Mokumboat or go on a tour on Flagship or Those Dam Boat Guys |
Bike ride | Rent bikes (use Black Bikes Rental) and go around city or VondelPark. You could take this Bike ride tour option, which some of our visitors really enjoyed! |
Walk the de9straajes (the nines) | Picturesque canals and houses |
Canal photoshoot (15 minutes, 35 euros to get 10 pictures) | This Get Your Guide Canal Photoshoot Experience is a 15-minute photoshoot, generally with a photographer who is starting out their career. It is not fancy photoshoot, but for 35 you receive about a dozen photos. |
Visit a museum | Van Gogh, Moco, Anne Frank, Rijks (My kids aren’t old enough to enjoy too much) |
Explore Museumplein Area | Enjoy the landscape around the museums and shop high end stores |
Explore Leidseplein and Kalverstraat and Dam Square | Walk through canals, shops, and restaurants |
Browse Albert Cuyp Market | Food and shopping stalls |
Day Trips from Amsterdam:
Destination | Description |
Lisse for Tulips | Day Trip Idea for March-May: Easier to rent a car (maybe on MyWheels) and drive there for the day (about a 30 minute drive from Amsterdam). There are fields to drive by. Keukenhof is a curated garden, where there are food stalls, playground, farm animals to look at, and a windmill for photos. There are also open fields that people park near and hop in for photos. Full guide on experiencing tulips in Lisse is coming soon! |
Zaan Schans | Zaanse Schans is a neighborhood in the Dutch town of Zaandam, about a 25 minute drive from Amsterdam. It is full of historic windmills and distinctive green wooden houses. |
Noordwijk Beach | This sandy beach is a 45 minute drive from Amsterdam! Our favorite spot to go to for food on the beach is the TULUM Beach Restaurant and enjoy pretty views. |
Things to do with kids:
Activity | Description |
NEMO Science Museum | Interactive museum for kids; It is super fun but note that the weekends are usually quite busy! Try to book tickets for weekdays, if possible, to avoid less crowds and enhance the experience for the kids |
VondelPark Playground | Standard playground in a pretty park; next to a decent restaurant. There are numerous playgrounds scattered around the city. It is fun for the kids to even run around the different green areas by the water and water fountains. |
De Pijp Petting Farm | Check website for ‘petting bunnies/guinea pigs’ hours |
Kid-Oh | Small indoor play area for kids while parents can sip coffee/chat |
Goat Farm | Further out, but variety of animals and people can feed baby goats |
Lego Store | Let the kids play around the stations with legos |
Wondr Experience | This venue is an ‘experience playground’ and very Instagram worthy. If you have kids, book the time slot for ‘kid hours’ so it feels more manageable when they want to run around and play. |

4. Where to eat in Amsterdam
There is a vast and diverse cuisine in Amsterdam. I pulled together a list of some of our favorite spots, listed below. You can eat in the restaurant or order most on delivery on Uber Eats.
Coffee:
Name | What to get |
LeVain Coffee | Cinnamon Roll |
Cafecito | |
Uncommon | Chai Latte and Chocolate Croissant |
Scandinavian Embassy | |
Chun Cafe | Bubble Tea + Korean style toast sandwiches |
Brunch or Lunch:
Name | What to get |
Dignita | |
Omelegg | |
Biscuit Baby | |
Staring at Jacob | |
Bakers & Roasters | Rancheros Haveros and Pancakes |
Tapi n’ Bowls | Acai
Chicken and cheese flatbread with jalapeno sauce |
Zero Zero | Sandwiches |
Dinner (or could do for lunch):
Name | What to get |
FoodHallen | We love the shawarma pita stand |
Xi’an Delicious Foods | Spicy hot noodles with chicken |
L’antica Pizzeria Da Michele | Marinara/Margarita Half/Half Pizza and Truffle Pizza |
Pizza Bakkers | Family friendly |
Spaghetteria | Family friendly |
Beste Doner | Food truck style, limited benches |
Royal Thai | Soups are great |
Fulu Mandarijn | Sweet and sour chicken is delicious |
Fries
Name | What to get |
Fabel Friet | Fries with spicy mayo and onions |
Vlaams Friteshuis Vleminckx | |
Manneken Pis Damrak |
Dessert
Name | What to get |
Massimo Gelato | |
Waldo | Pecan tart |
Winkel 43 | Apple Pie |
Het Koekemannetje | Chocolate chip cookie |
Van Holland Stroopwafels |
For groceries, the primary grocery store is Albert Heijn, which can be ordered for quick delivery on Flink.

Overall
The Netherlands is very family friendly destination. If possible, when traveling with young kids, we recommend coming in the spring, summer, or fall – as many of the activities that the children will enjoy are outdoors oriented,