Amsterdam with family: what to do, what to see, what to visit

Are you going to visit Amsterdam with your family? Excellent idea! We spent 4 days in Amsterdam and have gathered all the practical information to help you prepare for your trip: what to do with children or teenagers, our tips, where to eat, and where to stay in Amsterdam with your family. 

How many days to visit Amsterdam?

A weekend may be enough to discover the must-see sights of Amsterdam. One could say that the ideal duration is 3 days and 2 nights, minimum, especially with children.

We chose to stay for 4 days and 3 nights and did not regret it either. A long weekend is great if you want to visit at least one major museum. 

What to do in Amsterdam with the family? The 10 activities not to miss!

There’s no shortage of family activities! However, we must admit that the city is more interesting to explore with teenagers and children over 7-8 years old than younger children.

1. The essential boat tour

This is the absolute must-do activity in Amsterdam! If you are in a large group, consider booking a private boat (sometimes it’s not necessarily more expensive than the shared boat). You can book your tickets using this link.

For more peace of mind, we recommend booking your seats in advance. If you are leaving in spring or summer, that’s better. Boats operate on the canals of Amsterdam during the day but also in the evening. The show is quite different in the evening but also delightful during the day. Choose the best time for you. 

2. The dancing houses of Amsterdam

Here’s a fun discovery to make with the family! These dancing houses are located along the Damrak canal. Built on pilings in the 17th century, they have started to lean, giving them a “dancing” appearance.

3. The largest museum in Amsterdam: Rijksmuseum

Rijksmuseum is a must-see for art and history lovers. It’s the most beautiful museum in the Netherlands! The museum traces the country’s history from the Middle Ages to today.

• Plan at least 2 hours for this visit.
• Book entrance tickets in advance

The area where the Rijksmuseum is located is called the Museum Quarter. It is one of the city’s most expensive neighborhoods and one of the safest. Read the second part of this article to learn more about the neighborhoods to stay in Amsterdam with a family.

4. The Tuschinski Theater cinema

What to do in Amsterdam with the family in the evening? Why not go to the cinema? But not just any cinema! The Tuschinski Theater is a magical place for a memorable movie session for the whole family! You can check the program on the cinema’s website.

5. The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam

To discover the wonderful works of Van Gogh, you can’t miss this museum! It houses the world’s largest collection of works by Vincent van Gogh.

This museum is one of the most visited places in Amsterdam. To avoid queueing, you can buy tickets in advance and save time. We often go through this site. It’s practical, straightforward, and efficient.

6. The 5D family flying experience: This is Holland

For both older and younger ones, it’s an experience to have! An excellent place to have a good time with the family while having fun.

On one hand, you get to learn about Holland, and on the other, you get to have a memorable experience. It’s awesome! You can find more information and see pictures of the experience here.

7. The Anne Frank House in Amsterdam

This museum is a must-visit if you’re going to Amsterdam with teenagers. It is where Anne Frank lived. So it’s an opportunity to tell her story and the story of World War II through the visit to this apartment-turned-museum.

8. The Albert Cuypmarkt market

If you want to get off the beaten path, this is an excellent place to visit with the family in Amsterdam. The Albert Cuypmarkt is an outdoor market, open 6 days a week and located in Amsterdam’s bohemian De Pjip district. You can find everything, but it’s primarily an ideal place to discover Dutch specialties.

9. The house of the seven countries: Zevenlandenhuizen

An unusual place to see in Amsterdam with children! The architecture of Zevenlandenhuizen reflects 7 European countries at the same time. This curious house is composed of 7 different private homes and is a 10-minute walk from the Museum Quarter.

10. The world’s largest floral park: Keukenhof

Have you ever heard of Keukenhof? We came across this name by chance, and it turned out to be one of the best things we visited in the Netherlands!

This floral park is impressive! We came to Amsterdam specifically at the beginning of May, especially to visit Keukenhof. In April, the flowers are also in bloom. The museum is open from mid-March to mid-May.

Keukenhof is located 40km from Amsterdam. Therefore, plan a whole day to have enough time to do the visit properly. You can get there from Amsterdam by public transport or take a ticket that includes the price of admission and transportation. That’s what we did to make life easier (we got these tickets).

Where to stay when visiting Amsterdam with family? Best neighborhoods and hotels!

Choosing the right neighborhood is very important. Among the best areas to stay in Amsterdam with family, the following are great:

• Museum Quarter;
• Canal Ring;
• Jordaan;
• De Pijp.

Binnenstad is the tourist center of Amsterdam. It’s the most chosen by tourists but is not as charming as the Museum Quarter, the Canal Ring, or Jordaan.

Here’s what we spotted as accommodations in Amsterdam for a family stay:

• Mr. Jordaan: our top pick! Book at least 2-3 months in advance, as rooms go quickly.
• Boutique B&B Nassau: another ideal lodging if you have a big group.
• NH City Centre Amsterdam: ideally located in the historic center of Amsterdam, this hotel offers quad rooms, which is convenient for a family stay with two teenagers.
• Apollofirst Boutique Hotel: a charming boutique hotel for a family stay in the Museum Quarter of Amsterdam.
• Bed of Roses: if you’re looking for an apartment in Amsterdam, this one is great. Unfortunately, it wasn’t available on our dates.

Leidseplein and the Red Light District are neighborhoods to avoid staying in Amsterdam with family. These are rather noisy places, especially in the evening.

Where to eat in Amsterdam with kids?

It can be challenging to find nice spots to eat with kids. Here are the ones we spotted during our stay in Amsterdam.

• The Pantry: delicious restaurant! A place to remember if you want to taste local specialties!
• Brasserie Zuiderbad: a café just steps away from the Rijksmuseum, convenient after a visit.
• The Pancake Bakery: another very nice café within walking distance from Anne Frank’s house.

Traveling to Amsterdam with family: 4 tips

Here are some valuable tips and practical advice for traveling with kids or teens to Amsterdam.

• Everything can be done on foot, but the distances are not small, even if it might seem so. A boat cruise is a superb way to get around Amsterdam and, at the same time, take a break.
• The city card is an excellent way to have unlimited access to public transport, including the tram. It is worth it to not have to worry about tickets once you’re there. You can buy the city card through this link.
• If you visit Anne Frank’s House, you must book in advance because it is a popular visit. We saw a long queue in front. Another solution is to take a themed guided walking tour. We saw several groups doing it, and the price is quite reasonable: cheap walking tour.
• The Museum Quarter is charming to stay in when visiting Amsterdam with kids, but the rates are high. We also really liked the Canal Ring (of course!) and the Jordaan and De Pijp neighborhoods.

For a 2- or 3-night stay, Amsterdam is a superb European destination to visit with family. We loved our trip, especially visiting Keukenhof. We hope you will enjoy it too! Have a great time!