Amsterdam with tweens and teens (11+)
Older children can take the serious Amsterdam: the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum, all free or cheap for under-18s. Mix those with the lookout swing and a day at Efteling if you have time. Zoo and playgrounds will feel young to them.
What works at 11+
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.
ViewpointA'DAM Lookout
child from €10.50Free ferry, fast lift, rooftop view. The swing over the edge needs 1.20 m of child.
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.
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.
Boat rideCanal cruise
free under 4One hour sitting down while the city goes past. The stroller stays on the quay.
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.