We’re heading to Amsterdam soon and we’re looking for tips on family travel in Amsterdam. Our Amsterdam Airbnb host has a toddler, and she’s very kindly given us some creative suggestions on things to do in Amsterdam with kids. This is one of the many perks of using Airbnb.
First off, we’ll address family base camp. Where have you stayed in Amsterdam with young children? Why?
We saw a lot of visually-stunning, affordable, family flats in The Jordaan neighbourhood, including the one we’re renting. The Jordaan is a former 17th century working-class borough with narrow, picturesque streets and charing garden courtyards. It’s just west of the Central Station and wraps around the western arch of the UNESCO Canal Ring. It has a reputation for having artistic residents, many of whom are parents. The cool dining and shopping artery is the Haarlemmerstraat, with independent boutiques and on-trend as well as traditional restaurants and bars.
In addition to suggesting Artis Royal Zoo, a classic Amsterdam with kids tourist site, our Amsterdam Airbnb host recommended checking out the city’s many kinderboerdeijen, a.k.a. petting zoos.
She also recommended a visit to the Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam (Amsterdam Public Library), “a beautiful building with a play area for kids.” Just a five-minute walk east of Central Station, the library was built in 2007 and with ecological design by Jo Coenen, the former state architect of the Netherlands.
Here are some more things we’re interested in. We’d love to hear intel and suggestions from you.
Image: Moyan Brenn
Small Folk Travel wants to know more about
- Iconic Amsterdam eats: cheese, stroopwafels, cones of hot patat/frites with Dutch dipping sauces, poffertjes, licorice, herring, and Indonesian food. Where should we dine? What have we missed?
- Canal cruises. Fun for tots, or not?
- Best parks and gardens for kids?
- Most picturesque streets?
- Cycling in Amsterdam with kids. Where to rent bikes?
- Amsterdam markets. When and where?
- Best museums to visit with young kids? Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam Tulip Museum, Amsterdam Cheese Museum, etc.?
- Best children’s toy, clothes, and book shops? Iconic or emerging Dutch kids’ brands and authors?
Go on, tell us what you think.
Lead image: raysnaps
Have a go at getting your hot lunch from a wall. Well, it’s more like a large vending machine. Pick from patat (fries and must be tried with Dutch mayo), krokets (deep-fried meat roll – tastes much better than it sounds), frikandellen (kind of like a sausage), and other fast food items. Heerlijk!