Are you visiting Amsterdam and the Netherlands with kids, or planning a family trip? Looking for nice family things to do during the Dutch school vacations? We’ve selected the most exciting things to do with children, no matter if you live here or just visiting the Netherlands.
Tip! Starting from June 2026, you can order the I amsterdam City Card or I amsterdam City Card Explorer: Special Edition for children.
If you visit NEMO Museum, Artis Royal Zoo and A’DAM Lookout (entrance tickets for children cost € 21,50 + € 27,50 + € 12,50), with the I amsterdam City Card Explorer you pay € 29 instead of € 61,50. Read more about the I amsterdam City Card for kids, check what is included in the Card and order it online.
Best things to do with children in Amsterdam in 2026
Things to do with kids in the Netherlands in 2026
Photo: Zuiderzee museum, one of my kids’ favourite places in the Netherlands. By the way, even though it is in Enkhuizen, you get free admission with the I amsterdam card.
Things to do with kids in Amsterdam
1. Artis Royal Zoo
Tickets from €27,50 · Children under 3 free · All ages · Free with I amsterdam City Card · Open 365 days a year · Plantage Kerklaan 38-40, Amsterdam
Artis Royal Zoo is the oldest zoo in the Netherlands and one of the country’s most popular attractions. Next to the zoo itself, Artis has an aquarium, a planetarium and numerous playgrounds. Next door is Micropia, the world’s only museum of microbes (recommended age is 8+ years). Come and meet 750 animal species including zebras, giraffes and elephants in the heart of Amsterdam! ARTIS is open 365 days a year.
Tip! On 13 June 2026, the ARTIS Aquarium reopened after a major restoration! Visit and come face-to-face with colourful underwater life.
2. NEMO Science museum
Tickets from €21,50 · Children under 4 free · All ages · Free with I amsterdam City Card · Oosterdok 2, Amsterdam
NEMO Science Museum is a world-known interactive attraction which educates kids about the fascinating world of science. The NEMO collection contains 17.000 technology objects. You can touch, play and interact with hundreds of games. It’s fun for the whole family!
On the roof of the NEMO building you can find the open-air exhibition Energetica, sit on a large terrace and take great panoramic photos.
Read more: Is NEMO Science Museum worth it?
3. Treasure hunt at the Van Gogh museum
Adults from €27 · Children under 18 free · Treasure hunt free at information desk · Timed entry required · Books out weeks in advance · Museumplein 6, Amsterdam
Can an art museum be fun for kids? Yes! At the Van Gogh museum children can do the Treasure hunt with fun assignments (in Dutch or English) that help to explore Van Gogh’s paintings. It is free and available at the Information desk. Answer the questions, complete the tasks, and get a little gift back at the Information desk. An unforgettable experience!
⚠ A timed entry ticket is always required, also for children. Tickets sell out weeks in advance, so book as early as possible.
4. OBA Amsterdam public library
Free entry · All ages · Oosterdokskade 143, Amsterdam · Open daily
OBA Amsterdam library is a popular place among the locals with children. You don’t need a subscription to enter the library, it’s free for everybody (you only have to get a subscription if you want to borrow the books).
The ground floor of OBA library is perfectly designed for children. There are play corners, educational facilities and of course lots of books in different languages.
A nice bonus – you can enjoy a perfect panoramic view over Amsterdam from the top floor!
5. LEGO Store Amsterdam
Free to visit · All ages · Kalverstraat 57, Amsterdam
The LEGO flagship store in Amsterdam is a paradise for kids (and some parents too)! Here you will find LEGO sculptures inspired by the Dutch history and culture, such as an Escher staircase, the Mint tower, a Van Gogh portrait, a Dutch windmill and many others.
There is also a kid’s play area, pick-a-brick displays, a Minifigure Factory for customizable figurines, a Mosaic Maker that creates personalized portraits from LEGO blocks. The personnel is very friendly and helpful. It feels good that they are trying to involve kids in the games and show them the fun of playing with LEGO, and not trying to sell something.
Tip! You can also visit LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre in Scheveningen.
Things to do with kids in the Netherlands
1. Madurodam
Tickets from €19,50 · All ages · 1:25 scale replicas of Dutch landmarks · George Maduroplein 1, The Hague
The Netherlands is too big to see the whole country in one day. But in the miniature city of Madurodam you can explore its highlight: tiny windmills, great palaces, famous Dutch landmarks and historical cities. All replicas in the theme park are made in 1:25 scale. You will feel like a fairy tale giant! Madurodam is located in the Scheveningen district of The Hague, so you can combine it with a visit to the beach.
2. Efteling
Tickets from €31 · All ages · Open 365 days a year · 1 hour from Amsterdam · Europalaan 1, Kaatsheuvel
Efteling, the theme amusement park, sometimes called the Dutch Disneyland, will make you feel like you stepped into a fairy tale. It has attractions for everyone, from the littlest ones to adventurous roller coaster lovers.
The Efteling theme park is located around 100 kilometers from Amsterdam. You may consider staying overnight in one of the theme park hotels. You will feel like a prince, a princess or a fairy tale character! Efteling is open 365 days a year.
Today, the Efteling resort includes the theme park itself and four themed hotels:
Guests of Efteling hotels get free park entry and can enter Efteling half an hour before the official opening times.
3. Sprookjeswonderland
Best for ages 2–8 · Open seasonally · Tickets from €15 · Kooizandweg 9, Enkhuizen
Sprookjeswonderland, a fairy tale park in Enkhuizen, is perfect for kids from 2 to 8 years old. It has everything to make your little ones believe they are in a fairy tale: from beautiful attractions, tiny trains and boats to a small animal farm and theme playgrounds.
Check more photos and videos from Sprookjeswonderland on our Instagram.
4. Blijdorp Zoo in Rotterdam
Tickets from €24 · Children under 3 free · All ages · Open 365 days a year · Blijdorplaan 8, Rotterdam
One of Europe’s most beautiful zoos, Blijdorp Rotterdam Zoo is a place where you can see animals and birds from around the world. Polar bears, tigers, elephants, sea lions, gorillas, and more call it their home. Here you can also find playgrounds and numerous cafes. A nice place to spend a day with the whole family! Rotterdam Zoo is open 365 days a year.
If you are looking for a place to stay in Rotterdam, Van der Valk Hotel Rotterdam – Blijdorp is just next door.
5. Julianatoren
Tickets from €29,50 · Children under 2 free · Best for ages up to 10 · Early bird discount €7,50 · 1 hour from Amsterdam · Apeldoorn
Julianatoren is another amusement park located in Apeldoorn, it’s about a one-hour drive from Amsterdam. The park offers more than 60 great attractions for children up to 10 years old.
The park itself is fairly small, but you can easily spend an entire day here. You’ll find many attractions, including a Ferris wheel, carousels, boat rides, several types of children’s trains, and many others. Once you have paid for admission, you can enjoy any of the attractions an unlimited number of times.
Entrance tickets (from 2 years) cost € 29,50. You can get an early bird discount € 7,50 per person if you book tickets on the Julianatoren official website at least 7 days in advance.
There is a P1 parking lot near the entrance to Julianatoren, but it fills up almost immediately after the park opens. About 800 meters from the entrance there is a large P2 parking lot. You can leave your car there and take a free shuttle bus to the entrance. Important: the return shuttle buses start operating from 3:00 PM. If you plan to leave earlier, you can walk back to the P2 parking lot in about 10 minutes.
There are two more beautiful places near Julianatoren which are also worth a visit – the Apenheul primates zoo and Palace Het Loo. You can spend a weekend in the area and explore this part of the Netherlands.
Recommended hotels nearby – Hotel Restaurant de Echoput, Hotel Pegasus, Van der Valk Hotel Apeldoorn and Hoog Soeren boutique hotel.
6. Linnaeushof
Tickets from €18 · Children under 1 free · All ages · Europe’s biggest playground · Open 7 months a year · Glipperweg 4C, Heemstede
Linnaeushof is Europe’s biggest playground located in Heemstede, between Haarlem and Keukenhof. It has 350+ play sets and attractions such as cable cars, a trampoline, pedal boats, go-karts, bump bikes, miniature golf courses, a monorail, a water playground, a super slide and many more. Fun for everyone!
Children up to 1 year can enter for free.
7. Corpus Experience
Minimum age 6 years · Willem Einthovenstraat 1, Oegstgeest (near Leiden)
The Corpus Museum is an interactive body museum near Leiden. It invites its visitors for a “spectacular journey through the human body” and gives a unique close-up into how a person’s body functions. There are also lots of exciting tests and fun games to play. The minimum age to visit CORPUS is 6 years.
8. Spoorwegmuseum (Railway Museum)
Tickets from €19,50 · All ages · Reservation required · Accessible by train from Utrecht Centraal · Maliebaanstation 16, Utrecht
The Railway Museum in Utrecht is rather an educational theme park than a regular museum. It’s very interactive and designed so you can explore the trains yourself.
You can see magnificent historical machines. Walk through the interior of a train with the different types of cabins they offered in the past. See a play about the Orient Express.
Children who can sit independently and are higher than 90 cm, can go on a little adventure by a little Jumbo Express train.
A wonderful day for the entire family!
9. Openluchtmuseum (Dutch Open Air Museum)
Tickets from €20 weekdays / €24 weekends · Children under 4 free · All ages · Hoeferlaan 4, Arnhem
The Dutch Open Air Museum in Arnhem is one more attraction where you can spend a great day with entire family. Here you will see authentic buildings, farms, factories and other objects collected from different parts of the Netherlands and brought in one place. This is where the history comes to life. There are all kinds of activities organized especially for children.
10. Space Expo in Noordwijk
Tickets from €18,50 · All ages · Space Train tours for ages 9+ · Keplerlaan 3, Noordwijk
Is your kid a fan of space ships and dreaming about travelling to the moon? Visit Space Expo, Museum of space history with exhibits on space, gravity & satellites and explore the wondrous world of space travel.
Kids older than 9 can also take the Space train and get a unique insight into the buildings of ESA ESTEC and the European Space Agency. Tickets for the Space train can be booked online one week in advance. The Space Train tour is in English and Dutch.
Good to know: Dutch school holidays: dates in 2026
FAQ
What are the best things to do in the Netherlands with family?
Great family activities in the Netherlands (or Holland, as it’s also known) include Efteling theme park, Madurodam miniature city, Amsterdam’s Artis Royal Zoo and NEMO Science Museum, plus Linnaeushof, Europe’s biggest playground. See our full list of 25+ family activities above, with prices and age tips for every age group, from toddlers to teens.
Is Amsterdam good for toddlers and teens, or just young kids?
Amsterdam and the Netherlands work well for a wide age range. Linnaeushof has play sets for children up to 10 years old, Sprookjeswonderland in Enkhuizen is designed for ages 2 to 8, and Corpus near Leiden has a minimum age of 6. For older kids and teens, Artis Royal Zoo, NEMO Science Museum, the Van Gogh Museum treasure hunt and the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre in Scheveningen all work well too, and most attractions on this list are suitable for all ages unless noted otherwise.
What can you do with kids in Amsterdam on a rainy day?
For a rainy day, head indoors: NEMO Science Museum is fully interactive and indoor, the OBA Amsterdam Public Library has play corners and panoramic views from the top floor, the LEGO Store in Kalverstraat has a play area and Minifigure Factory, and the Van Gogh Museum’s free treasure hunt works just as well on a wet day as a sunny one.
Are there free things to do with kids in Amsterdam?
Yes. The OBA Amsterdam Public Library is free to enter, the LEGO Store in Amsterdam is free to visit, and the Van Gogh Museum treasure hunt is free for children under 18 (adults still need a ticket). The I amsterdam City Card also includes free entry to Artis Royal Zoo and NEMO Science Museum, which can work out cheaper than paying for each separately.
What does the I amsterdam City Card include for children?
The I amsterdam City Card (or the City Card Explorer: Special Edition for children) includes free or discounted entry to many of the attractions on this list, including Artis Royal Zoo, NEMO Science Museum and Madame Tussauds, plus city transport and bike rental. For example, visiting NEMO, Artis and A’DAM Lookout separately costs around € 61,50 per child, versus € 29 with the City Card Explorer.
Plan your trip to Amsterdam
- Arriving to the Netherlands by plane? This is how you can get from the airport to the city center.
- Travelling from another European city by an international train? It will take you to Amsterdam Central station in the city center.
- There are numerous nice hotels in Amsterdam for every budget. We recommend Ambassade hotel, Andaz Prinsengracht and other hotels in the Nine Streets area on the canal belt of Amsterdam.
- Travel by public transport in Amsterdam with an unlimited pass for 1-7 days.
- Alternatively buy the I amsterdam City Card, which includes city transport, museums entrance, canal cruise and 24 hours bike rental.
- Check out our list of top 15 best things to do in Amsterdam.
Tip! Need a big family accommodation with 2 – 3 bedrooms? Look at aparthotels:
Eric Vökel Apartments
ID Aparthotel
Amsterdam Farm LodgeAlso check the family rooms (up to 6 people) at StayOkay hostels. They have great themed rooms.
Enjoy your visit to the Netherlands with kids!
Last updated: 13 October 2026
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About the author:
Written by a local
Anastasia Dudina
I’ve been living in the Netherlands since 2013 and exploring it ever since. I write and update all articles on Amsterdam Explorer and Holland Explorer myself: real tips, not tourist traps.