If you’re looking for a family vacation idea, Amsterdam should definitely be at the top of your list. Full of artistic culture, fascinating museums, picturesque canals, and shopping centers, this capital city will keep you and the kids busy for the duration of your stay. Here are 10 things you have to check out during your getaway.
1. Vondelpark
Built in 1864, a group of Amsterdam citizens raised money to build this public park that’s now known as Vondelpark. The sprawling urban oasis is perfect for the entire family. You can rollerblade, listen to the live entertainment, or play with your kids on the wooden planks. During the summer, the park puts on free concerts in the open-air theater, and every Friday at 8:30 p.m., skateboarders from all over meet up to show off their tricks in front of the crowd.
2. Nemo Science Museum
For some interactive fun, look no further than Nemo Science Museum. This hands-on attraction is perfect for kids of all ages. Located at the Oosterdok in Amsterdam-Centrum, the museum is housed on four different floors and includes a special exhibit for teens to learn more about the human body and all its functions. For the smaller kids, they can have fun creating massive soap bubbles in the chemistry lab.
3. The De Mirandabad Swimming Pool
Whether it’s hot or cold out, The De Mirandabad Swimming Pool definitely comes in handy for tourists and locals. This beautiful indoor pool is encased in a glass dome that illuminates light in a variety of dazzling colors. Below the surface of the pool, a special controller changes the hue of various lamps to give the water a colorful effect.
4. Canal Pizza Cruise
Eating some delicious pizza while going on a relaxing canal ride sounds like the perfect vacation, doesn’t it? Thankfully, you can do both of these things on your vacation to Amsterdam. The Canal Pizza Cruises will take you on a 90-minute ride while you and the family nibble on the tastiest cuisines. And to top it all off, all passengers are treated with some delicious Ben & Jerry’s ice cream at the end of the main course.
5. The Eye Film Museum
Your family will have hours of fun at The Eye Film Museum. This attraction is all about the production of movies and the history of film dating back to the late 1890s. Kids can head downstairs to the free Panorama section where they can even act in their very own motion picture film.
6. Albert Cuyp Market
One of the most popular shopping districts in the Netherlands is none other than the Albert Cuyp Market. One of the biggest outdoor markets found in Europe, you can find everything from clothing to fresh produce. If you’re a bargain shopper, the market also has a wide selection of secondhand clothing, leather goods, and jewelry. With 260 vendors in total, you can shop ’til you drop the entire day.
7. Nine Streets
Speaking of shopping, another prime location to get your shop on is at Nine Streets. Just like the name suggests, this area includes nine tiny streets that are packed with vintage shops and boutiques. Your kids will also enjoy this tourists destination because of the abundance of various toy stores!
8. Amsterdam Museum
The Amsterdam Musem will teach you and your children everything you ever needed to know about the city’s history. As you peruse the exhibits, you’ll travel back in time to the 17th Century Golden Age to discover the legacy of the canals and how the city became so liberal with its drug laws.
9. Rent a Bakfiets
Amsterdam is known as a walkable city, and many of the locals and tourists also get around by bike. However, if you’ll be bringing the kids along on your journey, it’s best to rent a bakfiets. Located all around the city, bakfiets make it easy for you to transport your kids all around town. Drivers in the city are used to sharing the road with bicyclists, so don’t be afraid to rent a bakfiet and head out on the town!
10. Anne Frank Tour
There are numerous Anne Frank Tours available that will give you a brush up on the history of the German-born girl who documented her life through her posthumously published diary. The Anne Frank museum teaches you everything about her short life, and various walking tours will give you access to the infamous Secret Annex.
