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Perfect Day with Kids in Amsterdam
Due to all the buzz around the coffeeshops and Red Light District, some people shy away from bringing their children to Amsterdam. I think that’s a big mistake! Amsterdam is amazing for children, enjoy the Perfect Day with Kids in Amsterdam with this one-day itinerary. I plan to have a longer, week-long, kid friendly Amsterdam blog coming soon. My kids are a bit older, two teens and a 10-year-old, but my kids LOVED Amsterdam. They have been begging to go back and my oldest has been looking at college study abroad programs in the Netherlands.
The easiest way to get from the airport to Amsterdam is taking the direct train to Central Station. and catch the 12 tram line south to the Rijksmuseum. Central Station is the epicenter of Amsterdam. Be sure to spend a few minutes taking it all in and getting lots of pictures of its opulence. The feeling of emerging from Central Station never gets old, even after a dozen trips! From here there are canal cruises, trams, trains and buses traveling throughout the entire city.
There are options to take cars too, uber and taxis are popular and easily available. Scheduling a car through an app like Welcome pickups from the airport is best to get a safe and haggle free ride. Avoid the unauthorized taxis yelling across the street at the airport. They are not regulated and run scams often. There is an official taxi line for the easiest option without having to plan ahead.
Getting Around Amsterdam
The public transportation in Amsterdam is phenomenal. There is no shortage of trams, trains, metro, IJ ferry and bus lines for you to use to access almost every inch of Amsterdam. You can easily look up public transportation routes on google maps, but the GVB is even better. Since English is widely spoken, all the transportation information is in English, even on the Dutch site. The tram system is the easiest to take as a short term visitor, because you are above ground and able to see the beautiful city.
For those staying longer, there are 5 metro lines (subway) connecting major stations underground. Buses run day and night in Amsterdam and get you outside of the tourist attractions and into the neighborhoods. Ferries are located behind Central Station, for free rides to cross the IJ into Amsterdam Noord. There is also ferry service across the North Sea Canal to connect to other port cities.
Bikes are the king of transportation in Amsterdam. You’ll see lots of kids on bikes, parents riding around with their kids and even schools transporting kids by large bikes with many pedals. However, riding bikes in Amsterdam as a tourist, especially with children, is not always a simple or safe task. I would suggest booking a bike tour in the tulip fields or in Zaanse Schans. Both of these highly visited areas are just outside of Amsterdam and will be a much safer and more enjoyable bike ride. The first lesson in Amsterdam is learning not to walk in the bike lane. Be sure to teach your children about not walking in the bike lane either.
Canal Cruises
A perfect day with kids in Amsterdam includes the most quintessential Amsterdam activity, a canal boat ride. Skip the huge glass top boats with prerecorded audio tours, they aren’t worth the cost when just a few euro more gets you a true cultural experience and education for your kiddos. For convenience and flexibility, Flagship is my go to canal cruise for families. Cruises are only 60 minutes and have boarding locations at all three of the most popular spots: Central Station, Anne Frank House and the Rijksmuseum. Look for the orange flags and staff in all orange for a small group cruise narrated by the captain.
The Blue Boat company canal tour is the best for children and worth coming all the way to the Southern Canal Ring for this specific tour. Located across the canal from the Hard Rock Cafe and across the canal from the Heineken Experience, a quick tram ride from Central Station. The tour is 75-minutes long and only 14 euros with an optional snack add-on. Each kids cruise ticket comes with their own audio story and booklet featuring Harold and Johnny, a cat and mouse characters. Parents have their own adult tour available on their headsets.
1-Day, Hop-on/Hop-off Option
My final suggestion is the Hop on/Hop off Canal Cruise, for travelers with mobility concerns and kids. Also great for reluctant travelers who don’t want to plan an itinerary and follow a schedule, but still get an overview of the Dutch capital city. Be sure to get only the cruise (not additional bus option) since the buses drive around the city. Start in Central Station, after getting off the train. There are two walking tours using the app, the first in Central Station to complete at the beginning or end. Decide on a few stops to get out and take pictures, eat at cafes and visit a museum or attraction.
- Stop 3: Maritime Museum, NEMO Science Museum or the Zoo/Aquarium.
- Stop 4: Gassan Diamond Museum, Waterlooplein Flea Market, 2nd walking tour
- Stop 5: Skinny Bridge
- Stop 6: Heineken Experience, de Pijp, Albert Cuyp Market
- Stop 7: Leidseplein, Hard Rock Cafe, Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum & Van Gogh Museum, Coster Diamonds.
- Stop 8: Jordaan area with the Western Church, Anne Frank House and 9 Streets shopping area with great restaurants and cafes.
The boat tour returns back to the Central Station stop and you can take the train back to the airport.
Parks & Playgrounds in Amsterdam
After a canal cruise, a visit to Vondelpark is next on the list, especially in nice weather. Picking up a picnic lunch of sandwiches or fruit & cheese. Letting the kids pick out interesting flavors of chips, soda or candies to try in a convenience store. Part of a child’s experience in traveling is trying all the international treats, don’t rush through these moments. New foods act as discussion points when kids go back home and talk to friends and family about their trip. Cassidy will never forget her love for Fanta after this trip! Alternatively, the Hard Rock Cafe is an American respite if you have picky eaters or are looking for some good air conditioning in the summer. It is in the perfect location, close to Vondelpark to wander over whenever hunger prevails.
Amsterdam is certainly a city without a lot of green space, except for the parks. Playgrounds can be found in the city center, in corners and squares in the neighborhoods. Each of the big parks like Vondelpark and Westerpark all have a playground area, although you will see lots of children playing games or using their imagination on the grassy areas as well. Some of the best playgrounds are located in the outskirts of Amsterdam and near Haarlem. Check these out for a perfect day with kids in Amsterdam.
- De Veilige Haven in IJ muiden (maritime theme)
- Speelsloot in Amsterdam’s Old Holland
- Klimpark 21- wall climbing, 2 zip-lines and 4 ropes courses
- Linnaeushof- Europe’s biggest playground
- Kraantje Let- restaurant with a view of the playground (near Amsterdam Beach)
Anne Frank House
Skip the Anne Frank House until kids are 12+ and have studied WWII or the Holocaust in school or read the Diary of Anne Frank. This is not a place for young children, unless they are a baby who can sleep through the whole museum. My own daughter was 9 at the time of our visit and I was surprised by her reaction. Cassidy’s reaction surprised me, half from exhaustion and half emotional she cried at the end, “why were they so mean to her?” I realized it was too much.
The Anne Frank House was a non negotiable for my teenagers and they walked away truly moved. This is the one museum that you really need to plan to get tickets ahead of time. The tickets go on sale on the first Tuesday of the month at 10:00 am local time, so if you want tickets, stay up late the Monday night before to get them. There is an option to buy the ticket with or without the intro video, but I highly encourage you to include it. It sets the tone of what Amsterdam was like in the years leading up to the Nazi occupation and Anne’s back story.
Visitors experience quotes, photos, videos and original items in the quiet environment that screams reverence. The experience takes visitors through Otto Frank’s business, the bookshelf to the stairs and the annex known as the attic.The museum opened in1960, originally without access to the annex at Otto’s request. The museum has been added onto over the years and today has a large library and bookshop area in an additionally acquired building. There is a beautiful cafe in this area as well, a great place to enjoy a coffee and cake in sunny or rainy weather.
Museums at the IJ Waterfront
In the IJ river, just North of the Red Light District, are two of the best museums for children. NEMO and the Maritime Museum aren’t just designed for a perfect day with kids in Amsterdam, they are interesting for adults too.
- NEMO Science Museum- is the most popular attraction for children and an educational experience for all who visit. There are Science exhibits that take you through the ages, using water power, technology, life in the universe, a laboratory and humankind exhibits. The roof of the building is seen through the city and is considered the highest city square in the Netherlands. The roof is being refurbished currently and will reopen in Spring of 2025.
- Het Scheepvaartmuseum- Is also known as the Maritime Museum, which displays 500 years of Maritime history. The museum building is full of exhibits throughout the ages and the ships on the jetty can be toured and explored. There are three ships, the East Indiaman replica, SS Christian Bruning and the Royal Barge from 1818.
Artis Park
Artis Park is a wonderful place to take children in the animal wonder phase of life. The Zoo has 300 animals and 800 tree species to experience on your visit. If visiting on a weekend there are weekend tours available and a daily schedule of animal interactions and feedings. The Aquarium is being refurbished and plans to reopen in Spring of 2025. There is also a Planetarium with space shows and 26 national monuments to visit in Artis Park.
There are two additional museums in the park, Artis-Groot Museum and Micropia with separate tickets. Combo tickets and student tickets are a good value and perfect for older kids and adolescents. The Artist-Groot Museum is an interactive museum with a wide variety of biological collections and exhibits. The Micropia is the first interactive museum about microbes and a great educational opportunity for students and adults. Add this spot to your perfect day with kids in Amsterdam, especially when you are traveling with a bunch of animal loving toddlers.
Amsterdam Noord
Take the ferry that goes across the IJ to the North and enjoy the short ride shared by tourists, locals. Go to the A’dam Tower for tickets and get a timed combo ticket with the This is Holland experience. Go up in the A’dam tower to have panoramic views of the city and swing out over the ledge. There is a revolving restaurant and bar to enjoy a meal or drink with a view as well as a fine dining experience at Moon Restaurant, but certainly not child friendly. We just went to the outside observation area where the swing and photo spots were located all around the roof. We got to see Amsterdam like we never had before and it was a beautiful view!
This is Holland is an experience that takes about an hour. First there is an introduction movie, a silly character who spoke in Dutch (subtitled in English) to give some background information about all of the Netherlands and its history. The second part is around a 3D map of the Netherlands and continues to learn more about their shipping industry, cheese making regions and the largest natural skating pond in Freesland. Finally, the group goes to the flight simulator (like Soarin’ at Disney World, but better). The flight simulator takes you on a nice ride through the Dutch countryside and over the 12 Dutch provinces. The ride is neither scary nor nauseating and 12-15 minutes in length.
On the way back to the ferry station, there is a large area of restaurants and cafes overlooking the water. It’s the perfect place to have a drink, snack or meal. I highly recommend coming up to the Noord area for your perfect day with kids in Amsterdam. These fun experiences that are not crowded, and quickly become part of Amsterdam in recent years.
Eating with Kids in Amsterdam
The perfect day with kids in Amsterdam will include showing them the major differences between the food. Their first observation was how good the fruit tasted when I brought berries and bananas home from the market. They liked trying all the different flavored chips and sodas, like Fanta in the EU tastes better and has many more flavor options. The kids noticed how popular paprika flavored chips were and that the cool ranch Doritos were called cool American and tasted even better!
Cassidy is my ice cream girl and we had it every day at least once and many days she also had a milkshake too. It was an experience in tasting and trying new flavors. Warm stroopwafels, made fresh at a market, are the best experience of all Dutch foods. They are cheaper at the market and more authentic than fancy stores. Dutch apple pie is also a popular dessert or snack and will be found at most cafes and restaurants in the city. The most popular fast foods and snacks in Amsterdam are FEBO and fries. FEBO is a vending machine type of wall, where food is warm and ready. French fry stands are all over the city, eaten with mayo or fancy sauces.
Breakfast and brunch foods are very common in Amsterdam, especially pancakes! Most European countries also serve sandwiches for breakfast, which is an easy transition for most kids. Croissants are popular in Amsterdam too, not just France. Pop into a bakery to have fresh croissants with butter, jam or nutella. Ham and cheese on a roll is delicious anywhere and will often have butter on the bread. Peanut butter is very popular in the Netherlands, but it is not the same type of sweet peanut butter we are often used to in the States.
Restaurant Recommendations
The food in Amsterdam is delicious, casual and has lots of international diversity. I knew I wouldn’t have any trouble getting my kids to eat there, especially when I brought ketchup packets I’d collected for months from fast food restaurants. It was funny to see all three of my kids with ketchup packets open at the FoodHallen, with fries, chicken tenders and burgers. If your kids are ketchup or ranch fans, I’d suggest saving the packets and carrying a few in your purse at all times. Sounds crazy, but a simple comfort from home can go a long way. I highly recommend the Foodhallen in Oud West for anyone, since all the flavors of Amsterdam can be found in one place. Grab a table and drinks in the middle and everyone can go on an adventure to find what they want to eat.
Pizza is popular in Europe, typically served as an individual size (not a whole pie). La Perla & Il Pacioccone Pizzeria are my two favorites in the city. Be sure to skip the touristy places on Damrak with displays in the window they reheat. Cafes are simple options that are located on every corner. They serve fried snacks like bitterballen and fries, sandwiches and toasties that are flat grilled cheeses. Cafe Thijssen in the Jordan is one of our favorite cafes out West.
Steakhouses are popular in Amsterdam and some are informal like Toro Dorado, La Boca and the 5 Cannibal Royal locations. Many of these restaurants have kids menus and if not burgers and steak frites (steak and fries) are great for kids. There is often a smaller size, called the ladies steak or split one meal between two kids. My daughter lived off steak frites in both Amsterdam and France!
International Cuisine in Amsterdam
American children seem to be either foodies eating sushi and lobster or are sampling chicken fingers around the world. I’ve got 1 foodie and the other 2 are the chicken finger kids, but these at least like Chinese food. Amsterdam is full of international foods influenced by Dutch colonies and immigrant groups since World War II. Try some of these favorite ethnic cuisines with your kids.
- Asian Fusion- A-fusion
- Cantonese- Nam Kee
- Cantonese/Dim Sum- Oriental City
- Sushi- Sushi Fanatics
- Chengdu style- Yuah Hot Pot
- Thai- Little Thai Prince
- Indonesian- Blue Pepper Restaurant
- Turkish- De Aardige Pers
- Greek- Meat & Greek
- Hummus- Hummus Bistro d&a (Oost/Westerpark)
- Surinamese sandwiches- De Tokoman (3 locations)
- Surinamese- Waterkank
- Indian- Ashoka
It’s fun to try ethnic meals your family is used to at home, to experience the differences with flavors you know they already enjoy.
Finding the Toilets
Toilet is often what they are referred to on signs or WC for water closet. Bathroom is an American term and not used frequently in Europe. Public restrooms in America are available at almost all grocery stores, markets and convenience stores, but that is not true across Europe. You will find restrooms in airports, train stations and gas stations, but often these are paid toilets. When traveling in Europe, keep a handful of Euro coins handy to pay for public toilets. When you have to pay to use the toilet they are cleaner experiences. These restrooms have an attendant who keeps supplies refreshed and mops frequently. Install the Flush app on your phone, so that your gps can show you all the public toilets close to your location at any time.
There are free toilets at most restaurants, cafes, bars and museums around Europe. These free restrooms are often at the mercy of the staff to service them and do not get as much attention as staffed facilities. It is handy to bring your own tissues and sanitizer in a purse or jacket pocket. At the risk of sounding like a mom or teacher, use the bathroom before you leave a hotel, restaurant, museum, etc. even if you don’t think you need to go. This will allow you to have a perfect day with kids in Amsterdam and see more than just the bathroom. Building bathroom breaks into your touring itinerary, will set you up for touring success in Europe.
Perfect Day with Kids in Amsterdam, Next Up
Now that you are prepared for a perfect day with kids in Amsterdam, bring on the long layover! Kids love this city, between the food and all the fun activities. Don’t pass up an opportunity in the city of canals or worse yet, spend the whole day at the airport! Hop into Spring next week, we’ll be discussing the best Spring transformation in Amsterdam… Tulip Time!
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