Best Family Things To Do In Amsterdam (Amsterdam Family Itinerary)
Are you looking for some fun family things to do in Amsterdam? Want to plan a Amsterdam with kids itinerary?
I was so nervous the first time we went to Amsterdam. I wasn’t sure if an Amsterdam family trip was a good idea. Honestly, Amsterdam gets a bad rap!
I am here to tell you that I am so glad we planned an Amsterdam family vacation. It is a great place! There are so many family things to do in Amsterdam. My kids loved it!
I’m excited to share with you all of the best things to do in Amsterdam with kids!
In this post, I am going to give you an overview of some of the best things to do in Amsterdam for kids! You can take these family activities in Amsterdam and add them to your Amsterdam family itinerary.
Let’s explore the family things to do in Amsterdam!
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Where to Stay with Family in Amsterdam?
One of the main reasons I chose Amsterdam out of all the countries in Europe to visit was because finding accommodations for a large family was easy.
Most European cities have 1 queen bed per room. I have a family of 6 people, so I needed more room!
I decided to book the Marriot Courtyard near the airport. They have a huge family room that sleeps 6.
This hotel should win some kind of reward! The staff was so kind and nice. They gave me one of the best welcome gifts (platinum status) I have ever received. (Dutch chocolate, wooden shoes…) It was amazing!
They also have a shuttle from the airport to the hotel, so there is no need to rent a car. The shuttle is free if you are platinum status.
From the airport, you can easily catch the train to Amsterdam Centraal.
Also, this Marriott is near an amazing park. They have bike rentals available so you can hit the trails behind the hotel.
1. Canal Boat Tour
The most iconic thing to do in Amsterdam with family is go on a canal cruise tour. It is one of the best ways to see the city and is truly a unique experience!
There are lots of tours, and ticket prices can start as low as 14 euros.
Some of the best canal tours include food. There is a pizza canal tour, a cheese canal tour, or even a full 4-course meal canal tour.
Family Canal Tour
We decided to do a family pizza canal tour. One thing we thought was funny was that the pizza was New York Pizza. (Maybe not authentic but It was really good!) (That coming from an American!)
When I booked the tour I was excited because I thought this would be the highlight of our Amsterdam family trip.
Our Experience
The tour was great but I was a little bit disappointed because even though it said “family” in the tour title. The commentary was not animated or geared towards kids. In fact, I think the skipper used some foul language!
At times the kids were bored but overall I think it was a good experience. It is one of the top things to do in Amsterdam with family, so I am glad we did it!
2. Zaanse Schans
Zaanse Schans is hands down the best thing to do in Amsterdam for kids! The whole family will love this site! It is perfect day trip for younger kids!
We loved it! It is a cultural and historical site that is similar to Williamsburg or This is the place park in Utah. There are lots of historical buildings full of fun!
Basically, you get to learn about windmills, Dutch chocolate, Dutch cheese, and wooden shoes.
We didn’t know much about Zaanse Schans before we arrived. We just jumped in an Uber and decided to try it out. I am so glad we did! It is one of the best family activities in Amsterdam.
We spent about 3 hours at the site. Most of the attractions are free, but you can buy an upgraded ticket that will allow you admission to the museum and other historical sites.
We bought the upgraded ticket and would highly recommend it.
If you are looking for things to do in Amsterdam with kids Zaanse Schans needs to be at the top of your Amsterdam family itinerary.
There are a few ways to get Zaanse Schans if you do not have a car. We took an Uber but you can also book a tour that will take you here and a few other areas nearby!
Our Experience
We did a month-long Europe vacation and my kids said Amsterdam was one of their favorite locations. (We went to 7 countries!)
Zaanse Schans was amazing! Of all the fun things here, the kids loved eating the free cheese samples, going on top of the windmills, and jumping in the wooden shoes. It was a blast!
You can not go to the Netherlands and not ride a bike! Even our hotel had bike rentals!
Amsterdam has about 21,000 miles of bike paths and over 200,000 bike racks in the city! I was a little nervous that there would be bikes everywhere when we went. It wasn’t bad at all.
You can rent a bike and commute like a local or visit one of the beautiful parks. We decided to do more of a country bike ride. It was beautiful. Some places do not have kid bikes.
Our Experience
When thinking about outdoor activities, we really wanted to ride bikes! My 9-year-old was dying to ride a bike but there were only adult bikes available to rent where we went.
We have enough people in our family that we could take turns. Some of the older kids hung out while we rode around the countryside.
Renting bikes or going on a bike tour is one of the best things to do in Amsterdam with family!
4. Anne Frank House
I love history! I knew if I was going to be in Amsterdam I had to visit the Anne Frank House. My kids have learned about Anne Frank in school and were excited to go.
I had to wake up 6 weeks before our arrival at 2 or 3 am to get the tickets. They sell out in less than 5 minutes!
It is crazy! I was so glad I was able to get tickets. There are two types of tickets one is not for kids. I believe it is a little more graphic.
Our Experience
You can not take pictures inside the Anne Frank house. My kids loved having an audio tour guide and following the commentary provided.
My 9-year-old would ask questions and it was really awesome to be able to explain some hard things in a way that he could understand.
Overall, my kids really enjoyed going. It was such a great experience.
If you are unable to get tickets to the Anne Frank House there are lots of Anne Frank walking tours in Amsterdam.
I think small children would probably not love the Anne Frank House but school-aged kids will. It is one of the best places to visit in Amsterdam with family.
5. Try a Pancake House
We are foodies! We love trying fun places when we visit new areas. One of the things we kept noticing in Amsterdam is that there were pancake bakery houses everywhere.
We did a little research and found high ratings for the Pancake House. It was located near the Anne Frank House.
Our Experience
I just have to say it was AMAZING! Literally, I was blown away with how good it was.
We ordered a stroop waffle pancake. It had ice cream and stroop waffles cooked inside. We ordered a classic Nutella pancake and loved it too.
These pancakes are more like crepes than what Americans would think of when they think of pancakes.
Add a stop to a pancake shop on your Amsterdam family vacation!
6. Amsterdam Centraal
Amsterdam Centraal is a great starting place on your Amsterdam with kids adventure.
It is super easy to navigate and there are some really cool stores inside.
The outside of the building is where you will want to take a few photos and start touring the city. The canal is located nearby.
7.Try a Stroop Wafle
I am a stroop wafle Lover! The first thing we did as we jumped off the plane in Amsterdam was head to the grocery store.
I was able to find Stroop waffles. It was a hit! My family loved them. We bought some fun Dutch treats and enjoyed this Holland treat!
Haarlem is the perfect place to get stroop wafels!
8. Bus Tour
Booking a bus tour is one of the best ways to see a city. My kids love that it is a lot less walking!
In Amsterdam, you have the option of a bus tour as well as a canal tour, when you book. It is a great way to see everything!
Stops on the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
- Central Station
- Passenger Terminal Amsterdam
- Maritime Museum
- World of Gassan Diamond Museum
- Jewish Cultural Corner
- Royal Theater Carre
- Heineken Experience
- Museum District
- Vondelpark
- Westerpark
You might want to get a GoCity Pass so that you can enjoy the museums and other fun activities for families in Amsterdam.
Ready to Create an Amsterdam Family Itinerary?
Are you ready to plan an Amsterdam family itinerary?
I am going to give you a 2-day Amsterdam itinerary because I think you can do most of the best family things in Amsterdam in that amount of time.
I would then do day trips to other fun places in the Netherlands.
Day 1
- Bike Tour (2.5- 3 hours)
- Anne Frank House (1.5 hours)
- Boat Canal Tour with Dinner (1-2 hours)
Day 2
- Zaanse Schans (Half Day)
- Book a Food Tour or eat at a Pancake House
I learned on our last Europe trip that when you travel with kids it is not good to overbook and over plan.
This family Amsterdam itinerary will give you flexibility if you need a nap or want to add something else in the mix!
More Amsterdam Family Attractions
There are a few other attractions in Amsterdam you might want to consider. The Nemo Science Museum, the JHM Children’s Museum, the Van Gogh Treasure Hunt at the Van Gogh Museum, Artis Zoo, and the National Maritime Museum.
Amsterdam with Kids
Hopefully, this Amsterdam with kids itinerary will help you plan your trip! There are so many fun family things to do in Amsterdam.
We truly loved visiting Amsterdam and would go back in a heart beat! We saw a lot in 2 days but I would love to do day trips outside of the city next time!
Have so much fun exploring Amsterdam with kids!
Facebook Community
If you need advice about your upcoming trip join our Facebook Travel Community. This group is full of amazing people that will answer any questions you might have. Join us and we can help! Also, I try to post special deals that companies send me.
