Amsterdam with kids
Amsterdam with kids is easier than most European capitals for one plain reason: the city is flat and small. There are no hills to push a stroller up, the main sights sit within a couple of tram stops of each other, and public transport takes strollers for free. The things that catch families out are different. Bicycles come fast and silently from every direction, canal edges have no railings, and the weather turns wet without warning.
The other trap is tickets. The Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum and NEMO all work on booked time slots, and the first two sell out. Plan those before you fly and leave the rest loose. A good day here is one booked thing in the morning, then a park, a boat or a ferry in the afternoon.
Things to do in Amsterdam with kids
Science museumNEMO Science Museum
child from €21.50Five floors where touching everything is the point. Same price from age 4 up, free under 4.
ZooARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo
child from €27.50A leafy city zoo a tram ride from the centre. Easy with a stroller, pricey at the gate.
Art museumRijksmuseum
free under 19Free for everyone 18 and under and kind to strollers. Still a big art museum, so keep it to 90 minutes.
Art museumVan Gogh Museum
free under 18Free under 18 but tickets are online only and sell out. Short, colourful, crowded.
Historic houseAnne Frank House
child from €7Minimum age 10, steep stairs, no buggies inside. Tickets go on sale six weeks ahead.
Boat rideCanal cruise
free under 4One hour sitting down while the city goes past. The stroller stays on the quay.
ViewpointA'DAM Lookout
child from €10.50Free ferry, fast lift, rooftop view. The swing over the edge needs 1.20 m of child.
Half-day tripZaanse Schans windmills
No ticket neededWorking windmills and green wooden houses, 24 minutes by bus. Walking around is free.
Park and playgroundsVondelpark
No ticket neededThe city's main park, free, with playgrounds and a paddling pool a short walk from the museums.
Museum and shipNational Maritime Museum (Het Scheepvaartmuseum)
child from €8.50A full-size sailing ship to climb around, plus a play exhibition for ages 2 and up.
Wax museumMadame Tussauds Amsterdam
An hour of selfies with wax celebrities. Fine for a rainy afternoon with over-8s, poor value for small kids.
Theme park day tripEfteling
free under 4The Dutch fairy-tale theme park. A full day out of Amsterdam, and worth it if you have four nights or more.
Amsterdam with kids: common questions
Can I take young children to the Anne Frank House?
No. The museum sets a minimum age of 10 and says it is not suitable for younger children. Buggies stay in the cloakroom and the route has steep stairs. Tickets are sold online only and released on Tuesdays for visits six weeks later.
Is Amsterdam stroller friendly?
Mostly yes. The city is flat, trams and metros take pushchairs for free, and the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Maritime Museum all allow them. You cannot take one on the standard canal boats, and Zaanse Schans and Madame Tussauds are awkward on wheels.
Which Amsterdam museums are free for children?
The Rijksmuseum is free for ages 18 and under and the Van Gogh Museum is free under 18, though both still require a booked start time. NEMO is free under 4 and the Maritime Museum is free for ages 4 and under.
How many days do you need in Amsterdam with kids?
Three full days cover the main family sights at a child's pace. Add a fourth for Zaanse Schans and a fifth if you want Efteling, which is a full day trip out of the city.