10 Best Things to Do in Amsterdam with Kids (What’s Actually Worth It)
Amsterdam might not seem like the easiest city to visit with kids. Between the crowds, constant bikes, and its party-focused reputation, it’s not always the first place families consider.
But after visiting with my boys, it quickly became one of their favourite trips. The canals were a highlight, and there’s a mix of hands-on museums, easy experiences like ferries and markets, and of course stroopwafels and pancakes, that kept them interested without overplanning.
Here are the best things to do in Amsterdam with kids, including what’s worth it, what to skip, and what you need to plan ahead for.
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Top Things to Do with Kids in Amsterdam
Amsterdam has plenty of things to do, but not all of it is great if you’re visiting with kids. Here’s what actually worked for us, and what’s worth prioritising.
1. Tour the Anne Frank House
This was the highlight of our trip, and one of the few things my kids specifically asked to do. After reading a simplified version of Anne’s story before we left, they were really curious to see the Secret Annex.
It’s a more serious stop, but it held their attention more than I expected. They were quiet, focused, and really took it in, especially walking through the hidden rooms behind the bookcase. It led to some really meaningful conversations afterwards.
I managed to grab tickets last-minute, which was lucky since they usually sell out well in advance. (Every Tuesday, new tickets are released and I managed to get some the week before we left). We got the basic visit without a guided tour, but the audio guide was more than enough. There’s even a specific audio version for kids, which my boys listened to while I followed along with the adult one, and they stayed engaged the entire way through.
TKE Tip: Tickets sell out weeks in advance, especially in summer and school holidays. Book as early as you can, and keep checking the website if you’re looking last-minute, as releases do come up.
Before You Go:
If your kids are curious beforehand, reading a simplified version of Anne Frank’s story can make the visit more meaningful. My boys liked Who Was Anne Frank? and When We Flew Away, which gave them enough background to really connect with what they were seeing.
2. Explore the NEMO Science Museum
NEMO is one of the best places in Amsterdam for kids. My 10-year-olds loved it, and we ended up staying almost four hours when I’d budgeted two. It’s hands-on throughout, where kids can build, experiment, test pulleys using their own body weight, and guide a ball with bursts of air through a giant marble-run-style machine.
What I liked most was that the exhibits worked for different ages and attention spans. Younger kids can jump straight into the hands-on fun, while older kids find plenty that makes them think as well as move.
We visited on our first afternoon in Amsterdam after an overnight flight from Canada, and it worked really well. It kept all of us going when we easily could have crashed, and having something interactive made the transition to a new time zone a lot easier.
It would also work well as a mid-trip reset after a few heavier history museums.
TKE Tip: Avoid weekends if you can. We visited on a Sunday and it was packed. Weekdays are calmer and the exhibits would be much easier to enjoy.
3. Visit One of Amsterdam’s Museums
We didn’t go to Amsterdam expecting to enjoy the museums as much as we did, but they ended up surprising me. Nearly every museum we visited had a kids’ audio guide, interactive elements, or a scavenger hunt format designed to keep school-aged kids engaged, and it made a real difference for the boys.
The Rijksmuseum was a good introduction to Dutch art and history. My kids didn’t love it, but they liked it enough to stay interested, especially with the help of the kids’ guide and a few interactive displays. One of the boys was really intrigued with the hidden library though.
Our Lord in the Attic was the real surprise. It’s a hidden Catholic church built into the top three floors of a canal house, and the boys were intrigued from the moment we walked in. The unique setup caught their attention in a way I wasn’t expecting, and it held it.
We missed the Van Gogh Museum because tickets were already sold out by the time we looked — that’s one I’d book the moment plans are confirmed next time. The Resistance Museum was also on my list. It’s said to be well done for kids but a little heavy, and I’d planned to space it between the Anne Frank House and Our Lord in the Attic, but we simply ran out of time, partly because we spent so long at NEMO.
For a full breakdown of the best options, I’ve rounded up the best museums in Amsterdam for kids.
TKE Tip: Don’t assume you can walk into any museum without a timed-entry ticket. Most popular ones require advance booking and fill up fast, especially on weekends and during school holidays.
4. Wander the Jordaan
One of the best ways to experience Amsterdam with kids is simply to wander, and the Jordaan is a great place to start. It’s quieter than the main tourist areas, with narrow streets, canals, and small shops and cafés around every corner.
We spent a lot of time just walking here, stopping to watch boats pass under the bridges and taking in the canals from different angles. Even when it took a while to get somewhere, the kids didn’t seem to notice.
For one of my boys, seeing the canals was a bucket-list moment, and this was the perfect place to slow down and enjoy them.
Keep kids engaged while exploring
If your kids need a bit of extra motivation while wandering, this free Amsterdam scavenger hunt gives them simple things to look for along the way.
5. Spend Time in Vondelpark
Every big city needs a green space, and in Amsterdam that’s Vondelpark. It’s more like Central Park in New York than a wide-open field, with winding paths, smaller grassy areas, and a mix of locals and tourists making the most of the outdoors. My kids loved finding space to kick a soccer ball around, and the playground makes for a good mid-park break.
It’s also one of the better spots to rent bikes if you have kids. Amsterdam’s streets can be intense with fast-moving cyclists, trams, and almost no stop signs, but inside Vondelpark it’s calmer and more forgiving. A good place to get comfortable before venturing out onto the city streets.
Tip: Bring snacks or pick something up nearby for a picnic. There are also cafés and a beer garden in the park if you’d rather sit down.
6. Visit Albert Cuyp
The Albert Cuyp Market was one of our favourite stops in Amsterdam. It feels more local than the busy areas near Centraal Station, and there’s a huge mix of food, clothing, and souvenirs.
We ended up wandering through slowly, picking up snacks and letting the kids look around. Prices were noticeably better than the main shopping streets too, and the boys found Amsterdam football jerseys here for a fraction of what we’d seen elsewhere.
If you’re visiting with kids, it’s an easy place to spend an hour without needing a strict plan.
7. Try a Stroopwafel and Other Dutch Treats
Food was one of the easiest parts of visiting Amsterdam with kids. There’s plenty to try, and most of it is simple and familiar enough that kids are happy to dig in. If you’re looking for more ideas, there’s a lot of great food to try in Amsterdam beyond the basics.
Stroopwafels are the one thing you’ll see everywhere, and they’re definitely worth trying. The best ones are warm from a market stall, and our favourites were at the Albert Cuyp Market. You’ll see versions with extra toppings, but the traditional ones are just two thin waffles with caramel syrup in the middle. You can also grab them at grocery stores for much less, though it’s not quite the same experience.
Dutch pancakes are another great option with kids. They’re thinner than American pancakes and closer to crêpes, with a mix of sweet and savoury toppings. We found a good spot near the Anne Frank House, but you’ll find options all around the city, including Pancakes Amsterdam near Damrak, which is popular but busier.
Fries are everywhere too, served in paper cones with mayo or other toppings. Manneken Pis near Centraal Station is one of the most well-known spots, but we also liked Vlaams Friteshuis Vleminckx, which tends to be a bit less busy.
8. Ride the Free Ferry to NDSM
One of the easiest and most fun things to do in Amsterdam costs nothing. The free ferry from Centraal Station across to NDSM takes just a few minutes, but the experience is worth the ride. Watching the crowd of bikes rolling on all at once was something my kids talked about for days.
On the other side, the atmosphere is completely different from the canal district. NDSM is industrial and covered in street art, with a quieter, more local feel that makes it worth the short crossing. It’s also a great way to see Amsterdam from the water if you’re skipping the canal tour.
There are other free ferries running across the IJ from Centraal Station as well, if you want to explore further north — they’re all free and run frequently.
9. Visit the Amsterdam Public Library (OBA)
We went to the OBA because I’d heard the rooftop terrace had great views over the city — and it does. But the real find was the children’s section downstairs. There’s a wide reading tower kids can climb up into, oversized chairs scattered throughout, and a calm, unhurried atmosphere that made it a genuinely good low-key stop between busier attractions.
My boys were more than happy to hang out there for a while, which gave me a chance to sit down with a coffee and actually look at a map. It won’t be on most Amsterdam itineraries — which is exactly why it’s worth adding.
10. Take a Canal Tour
A canal cruise is one of those classic Amsterdam experiences, and it’s worth doing if you have the time.
We enjoyed seeing the city from the water, but it wasn’t a highlight for my kids. They liked it at first, but their interest didn’t last as long as it did in places like NEMO or the markets.
One thing worth knowing is that not all canal tours are family-friendly. Many are geared toward adults, with unlimited drinks or a party atmosphere. We ended up booking with Lovers, which I wasn’t sure about from the name alone, but it turned out to be one of the better options for families. Blue Boat and the pancake cruise are also great family-friendly canal tours worth checking out.
If you’re short on time, this is one thing you could skip. There are plenty of other ways to experience the canals that kids tend to find more engaging.
Easy Day Trips from Amsterdam with Kids
There’s plenty of things to do in Amsterdam for families, but it’s also really easy to explore a bit more of the Netherlands if you want a change of scenery for a day. Trains are frequent, inexpensive and easy to use with kids.
If you have extra time, here are a few easy day trips that work really well with kids.
Haarlem: Just 15 minutes by train, with a beautiful central square, independent shops, and a much calmer pace than Amsterdam. It’s a great half-day option, with plenty of things to do in Haarlem if you want a change of pace.
Zaanse Schans: A quick train ride to this open-air museum where kids can see traditional Dutch windmills, wooden houses, and demonstrations like cheese-making and clog-carving. Go early (before 10:30 a.m.) to beat the crowds.
Utrecht: About 20 minutes by train, with a unique two-level canal design where cafés and shops sit right at the water’s edge. Fun to explore and less touristy than Amsterdam.
All three are easy, low-stress options that work well for families. And if you’d like to use Amsterdam as a base to see more of the country, I’ve put together a full guide to the best day trips from Amsterdam.
TKE Tip: Kids can travel anywhere in the Netherlands for just €2.50 per day with the Rail Runner ticket, which made it easy to do day trips from Amsterdam.
Where to Stay in Amsterdam with Kids
When you’re visiting Amsterdam with kids, it’s worth staying somewhere central so you can easily walk between sights or hop on transit. I’d avoid staying in the Red Light District, as it’s busy, noisy, and not the best fit for families.
We stayed at the Mövenpick Hotel Amsterdam City Centre, within walking distance from Centraal Station, and the location worked really well for getting around and doing day trips.
If you’re trying to decide where to stay, I’ve put together a full guide to the best areas and family-friendly hotels in Amsterdam.
Practical Tips for Visiting Amsterdam with Kids
Book Ahead
Amsterdam isn’t a city where you can just show up and expect to get into major attractions. The Anne Frank House, Van Gogh Museum, and Rijksmuseum all use timed-entry tickets and often sell out in advance.
It’s worth planning ahead and booking what you can before you arrive. It makes your days smoother and avoids last-minute disappointment.
If you’re planning to visit multiple museums and attractions, the I Amsterdam City Card can be worth looking into. It includes entry to many top sites plus unlimited public transit. I’ve put together a full breakdown of whether the I Amsterdam Card is worth it to help you decide.
Getting Around
Amsterdam is very walkable, and we rarely needed transit during the day. Most of the main sights are closer together than they look on a map, and walking along the canals ended up being part of the experience.
When you do need to go further, public transit is easy to use. Adults can tap on and off with a contactless credit card. For kids, you can’t link a child’s fare to your card, so the GVB Children’s Day Ticket is the easiest option. It’s €5 for unlimited travel on trams, buses, and the metro for 24 hours.
TKE Tip: Make sure you tap in when you board and tap out when you leave. If you forget to tap off, you’ll be charged more than you should.
Budget for Food
Eating out in Amsterdam can add up quickly, especially with kids.
What worked well for us was a big breakfast at the hotel, snacks and market food during the day, and one sit-down meal in the evening. It kept things simple and helped keep costs under control.
Our Take on Amsterdam For Families
Amsterdam ended up being one of the most enjoyable cities we’ve explored as a family, even though not everything went according to plan. NEMO ran way over time, we missed the Van Gogh Museum entirely, and the canal cruise wasn’t a highlight for my kids.
But the Anne Frank House was one of the most meaningful experiences we’ve had travelling, the museums worked far better than we expected, and some of the best moments came from things we hadn’t planned at all. Sitting in a reading tower at the library, watching a crowd of bikes roll onto a ferry, or finding football jerseys at a market stall.
With a bit of planning, especially booking tickets ahead, Amsterdam is a very manageable city to visit with kids, and one we can’t wait to go back to.
If you’re travelling with kids and want to keep them engaged along the way, our Netherlands activity book includes fun facts, simple activities, and prompts to use while exploring.
Planning Your Trip to Amsterdam?
Here’s how to spend 3 days in Amsterdam without overloading your schedule, along with our guide to the best museums in Amsterdam for kids so you can focus on the ones that are actually worth it.
If you’re deciding on accommodation, this guide on where to stay in Amsterdam for families breaks down the best areas, along with our picks for the best family hotels in the city. And if you have extra time, here are some easy day trips from Amsterdam, including Haarlem, Zaanse Schans, and Utrecht.
