While the Kingdom of the Netherlands may have an informal and somewhat provocative image, it also embraces family values and offers excellent conditions for vacations with children.
In Amsterdam and other tourist cities throughout the country, there are plenty of family-friendly places to visit, so you don't have to limit yourself to just the Red Light District or the Vodka Museum!
The Netherlands is known for its extensive infrastructure catering to children's activities. Many hotels and large shopping malls provide playrooms where kids can have fun under the supervision of experienced animators, allowing parents to enjoy their adult activities. Restaurants and cafes often offer a kid-friendly menu, and you'll find playgrounds and mazes scattered throughout the streets.
For the Little Ones
Thanks to the creative minds behind the design of Netherlands' attractions, vacationing with preschoolers is no longer a challenge. All the historical landmarks are gathered in a compact area at Madurodam Miniatures Park in Scheveningen, so there's no need to exhaust your little one with lengthy excursions that they may not fully grasp. The Netherlands also boasts theme parks that cater to all age groups.
No family vacation with kids in the Netherlands is complete without a trip to Tilburg, home to the fantastic Efteling amusement park that immerses visitors in a magical world of fairy tales. Don't forget about Duinrell and Walibi, where both children and parents can have a blast. Ethnographic parks like Zaanse Schans and Zuiderzee offer animation programs in a folklore style suitable for children of all ages.
What to Keep the Prodigy Busy: Suggestions for Schoolchildren
The management of Dutch museums has quite traditional views on vacations in the Netherlands with children. They offer a wide range of interactive excursion programs for kids, helping them acquire new knowledge in a playful format. One example is the Scientific Center NEMO in Amsterdam, which is like a fun encyclopedia of answers to children's endless "whys."
The Netherlands provides the best vacation options for parents with young naturalists. Rarely can a country boast so many zoos, oceanariums, and nature parks. In Amsterdam, to top it all off, there's Micropia, the world's only zoo dedicated to microbes. After a visit to Micropia, your little one is sure to have a new perspective on hygiene.
Definitely make time for the Apenheul Monkey Sanctuary. The nimble monkeys tugging passers-by by the seat of their pants will cheer up children and adults alike. According to guides, the best dolphinarium in the country is located in Harderwijk, and you can see sharks and seals at the oceanarium Ecomare on the island Tessel.
The Natura Artis Magistra museum complex in Amsterdam can be visited in several parts. The zoological garden, aquarium, geological museum, and planetarium all under one roof will provide your child with plenty of food for thought.
Prices for a vacation with kids in the Netherlands might be the only spoonful of tar in the honey barrel. Discounted tickets to museums and attractions for 7-8 EUR are only available for 9-11 year-olds. For 12-year-old schoolchildren, you have to pay the same price as for an adult, which ranges from 12 to 20 EUR.
