Amsterdam with Kids: A 7-Day Family Itinerary (with Day Trips in the Netherlands)

Amsterdam is one of those cities that sounds sophisticated when you tell people you’re going, but is secretly designed for children. It’s flat, it’s small, it’s filled with playgrounds and pancakes. It’s also where you realize that Dutch parents have been onto something all along with their cargo bikes, their laissez-faire approach at playgrounds, and their refusal to panic when it rains sideways. Here’s how to spend a week in Amsterdam with kids without losing your mind or your sense of style.

Where to Stay in Amsterdam with Kids

Amsterdam has no shortage of stylish hotels, but these three stand out for families who want both comfort and character.

Pulitzer Amsterdam

A cluster of 25 renovated canal houses stitched together into one hotel, the Pulitzer feels chic and historic without losing its cozy, boutique vibe. Family perks include scavenger hunts, welcome amenities for kids, and connecting rooms. There’s no pool here, but the atmosphere and service more than make up for it.

De L’Europe Amsterdam

If you want luxury with a side of wellness, De L’Europe delivers. Its spa includes an indoor pool with sweeping canal views, plus a sauna, steam room, and fitness center. The location along the Amstel River is central yet serene, making it a great choice for families who want a balance of sightseeing and downtime.

Rosewood Amsterdam

The newest five-star arrival in the city, Rosewood Amsterdam brings a polished but family-friendly feel. Its 12-meter indoor heated pool is a major perk, especially with dedicated children’s swim hours. Add in a spa, fitness center, and thoughtful service, and it’s an excellent option if you want all the extras without compromising on style.

Day 1: Arrival & Canal Life

There’s no better way to start than on the water. Canal tours are everywhere, but go for a smaller salon boat if you can. You’ll get cushioned seats, a glass of wine, and a guide who actually tells you stories instead of rattling off dates. The kids think it’s a boat ride, you get architecture and history. Everyone wins.

Dinner at Jansz sets the tone for the trip: chic, but they’ll still bring extra bread for the kids. If only every family trip could begin this way.

Day 2: Science & Pancakes

Spend the morning at NEMO Science Museum, which is basically where science teachers send their best ideas to retire. Giant bubble experiments, chain reactions, a rooftop terrace with the best view of the city. Kids love it because they can touch everything, and you’ll love it because they’re busy touching something that isn’t your phone.

If you have energy, walk across to the Maritime Museum. The replica VOC ship outside is perfect for climbing and pretending you’re a pirate family for an hour.

Lunch at Pancakes Amsterdam, where your children will finally sit quietly because they are too busy inhaling poffertjes (tiny pancakes covered in powdered sugar). Order apple pancakes for yourself and pretend you’re sharing. Dinner back near your hotel at Restaurant Sebastian, with pizza, wine, and people-watching, feels civilized and doable.

Day 3: Tulip Day Trip

If you’re lucky enough to be in Amsterdam in spring, go to Keukenhof Gardens. The flowers look like they’ve been Photoshopped, and there are playgrounds and hedge mazes to distract the kids while you take approximately 147 tulip photos you’ll never print. Add a stop at a cheese farm or windmill for the kind of day where you finally get the family photo that makes it to the holiday card.

Day 4: Park & Zoo Day (Choose Your Own Adventure)

Start with Artis Zoo, which is manageable in size (translation: you won’t lose your children or your will to live). It also has an aquarium and a planetarium in case the animals get old. Lunch at De Plantage next door feels like you’ve escaped to a chic conservatory, but they won’t blink when you order fries for the kids.

Now, choose your path:

Option A: Bike Like the Dutch

Rent a cargo bike (bakfiets). Put your children in the front box, channel your inner Dutch parent, and pedal through Vondelpark. Stop at playgrounds, wave at the swans, and try not to tip over when you attempt to sip a latte at the same time. Dutch parents transport two children, a dog, and three bags of groceries on these things without breaking a sweat. You will wobble with one child and a bottle of water.

Option B: Wander the Nine Streets

If biking with small humans sounds like cardio you didn’t sign up for, stroll the Nine Streets instead. It’s Amsterdam at its most charming: crooked boutiques, vintage shops, cafés you suddenly need to sit down in. My son was delighted by the quirky toy and game shops. I was delighted by “just popping in” to clothing stores that somehow led to trying things on.

Dinner at Casa di David along the canal makes everyone happy: pasta, tiramisu, water views.

Day 5: Fairytale Adventure

Take a full day for Efteling, the Dutch version of Disney, if Disney had been designed by the Brothers Grimm. It’s whimsical, a little odd, and completely magical. You’ll walk through enchanted forests, ride attractions that are more storybook than stomach-churning, and realize this is the rare theme park where adults are having just as much fun as kids. You’ll also come home tired, sticky from snacks, and full of bizarre Dutch fairytales you’ll never be able to retell properly.

Day 6: A Dutch Family Day in Breda

Hop on the train to Breda, about an hour from Amsterdam, and you’ll find yourself in a city that feels both local and welcoming. It’s where my in-laws live, which means I can personally confirm it’s about as Dutch as it gets: friendly, walkable, and blissfully untouristed compared to Amsterdam.

Right across from the train station is a big park with an adorable playground and a tea house café. This is one of those very Dutch parenting moments where you sit down to a relaxing lunch while your kids run around safely, because here, parents don’t hover and children are trusted to play. It feels both refreshing and slightly radical.

From there, stroll into Breda’s old town, where cafés spill onto the main square, boutiques line the side streets, and there’s a castle to admire. It’s lively enough to feel like an outing, but relaxed enough that your kids can run without you shouting “watch the bikes!” every ten seconds.

Day 7: Markets & Farewell

Spend your last morning at the Albert Cuyp Market, where you will snack on stroopwafels, consider trying herring, and buy souvenirs that won’t survive the flight home.

For one last burst of energy, head underground to TunFun, a play paradise built in a converted traffic tunnel, or circle back to Vondelpark for one last swing-set session.

Wrap up with dinner wherever feels right. Amsterdam is full of cozy restaurants that don’t require weeks-ahead reservations. And if you did manage to score Anne Frank House tickets, congratulations, you’re better at planning ahead than most of us. It’s powerful and best saved for older kids (12+).

Optional Day Trips if You Have Extra Time

Utrecht Train Museum (Spoorwegmuseum)

If you have a train-obsessed child (or partner), take the quick 30-minute train ride to Utrecht. The Railway Museum is a dream: real locomotives to climb on, interactive exhibits, and even a mini theme park atmosphere. It’s history, but disguised as play.

The Hague (Den Haag)

An easy day trip from Amsterdam and home to the Mauritshuis Museum, where you can see Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring in person. The city also has wide, sandy beaches if you want to mix art with a little sea air.

Amsterdam with kids is a mix of science experiments, pancakes, fairytales, and canals. It’s messy, magical, and surprisingly chic. Dutch parents make it all look effortless: cargo bikes in the rain, kids who actually sleep, sandwiches eaten without complaint. You will wobble, hover, and overpack snacks. But you will also come home with a trip that feels both fun and grown-up, which is more than you can say for most family vacations.