Efteling is a fabulous amusement park in the Netherlands

Country of flowers, mills and cheese dairies, medieval architecture, small streets, many picturesque canals, museum towns under open sky, carefully preserved heritage of ancestors - Holland.

Where can you go with kids?

The NEMO Science and Technology Center in Amsterdam was opened in 1997. The building is a gigantic half sunken ship designed by the Italian Renzo Piano. Visitors to the center will receive answers to their questions related to the world of discoveries and current trends in science; here they will talk in an interactive way about light, genes and DNA, sound, electromagnetism, metal, chemistry, biomedicine, water, the human mind, etc. Children will see, for example, how to blow huge soap bubbles, how a house is built and how balloons are made. In addition to the permanent exhibition, the center often hosts temporary exhibitions. And from the roof of the building opens great view to the city.

Artis Amsterdam Zoo was opened in 1838. About 700 species of animals are represented here - more than 6,000 individuals, which are kept in an environment that is as close to natural as possible. Young visitors will also be able to visit the children's farm, visit the planetarium and a large aquarium (more than 2000 fish), which is home to representatives of the seas, oceans and canals of the city. The ticket price includes a visit to two more museums located on the territory of the zoo: the Geological Museum, which represents the history of evolution on Earth, and the Zoological Museum, which tells about the flora and fauna of the country.

Museum of the Tropics, located next to the zoo, tells about the life, history and culture of the people of the tropics and the Dutch colonies. It is remembered by tourists not only for its exposition (in addition to eight permanent exhibitions, temporary exhibitions of various topics are often placed here), but also for its interior. The building itself was built with oriental motifs, and inside visitors will find themselves either in the oriental bazaar, or in the Indian quarter or Arab city, then they will end up where the life of the natives passes South-East Asia And South America, and all this with sounds and even smells. You can listen to excursions while lying on the bed. The museum has a special children's section, its own theater, and a wonderful library of illustrated books that are freely available. And in the restaurant at the museum you can try exotic dishes.

Madame Tussauds Wax Museum is located on central square capital - Dam. Here you will see William of Orange, Rembrandt, famous politicians, representatives of the nobility, world stars, scenes from everyday life and even landing on the moon. The museum has created various special effects, for example, the figures can move. Here, on the central square, is the Royal Palace, built on 13659 wooden piles (currently used only for official receptions).

Museums in Amsterdam that may also be of interest:

What sights and places should be included in the itinerary if you come to Holland with children? In the blog, we already wrote about what to do with children in Amsterdam itself. Now let's supplement these tips with a list of places of interest for children in other cities in Holland.

1. Efteling- an amusement park, somewhat similar to Disneyland, with a huge number of rides, shows and entertainment. Efteling is located in the village of Kaatsheuvel near Tilburg, a two-hour drive from Amsterdam by public transport. You can book a trip to the park with a transfer from Amsterdam. The park is open 365 days a year.

2. Fairy park Sprookjeswonderland, similar to the Efteling, only smaller and for younger children (then 2 to 8 years old). The park is located in the city of Enkhuizen (by the way, you can also visit there). You can get there from Amsterdam by train in an hour. A beautiful tram will take you from the station to the entrance to the park. In 2019, the park is open from April 13 to October 27.

3. Walibi Park- also one of the amusement parks in Holland, with steep rollercoaster and 30 other attractions. The park is located in the village of Biddinghuizen, 70 km from the capital. The journey from Amsterdam by public transport will take 2 hours. In 2019, the park is open from April 6 to October 27.

4. Linnaeushof Playground. They say the most large playground in Europe. To get here by public transport, you need to take the train to Haarlem, and then transfer to bus number 50 (get off at the Linnaeushof West stop). Total time on the way - about 45 minutes. In 2019, it works from March 27 to September 30, as well as during autumn holidays(from 22 to 27 October).

5. Madurodam- a miniature park in the city of Scheveningen, near The Hague. Here you can see the main sights of Holland on a scale of 1:25. And feel like Gulliver! To get there from Amsterdam, you need to take a train to The Hague, and then change to a tram in the direction of Scheveningen Noorderstrand. Go to Madurodam stop. Total travel time - a little more than an hour. Tickets online are 2 euros cheaper than at the entrance. The park is open all year round.

6. Museum of the human body Corpus near Leiden. The museum is a figure of a man 35 meters high. You can get inside, inspect and feel all of his internal parts of the body. In the museum you can take an audio guide, incl. and in Russian. Children from 6 years of age are allowed to enter the museum. When you get from Amsterdam to Leiden, you need to transfer from the train to bus number 31 (direction Katwijk) and go to the Corpus stop. The total travel time is just under an hour.

7. Railway Museum Spoorwegmuseum in Utrecht. Almost everything here is real! The museum is located in the building of the former railway station. Once an hour between it (station Maliebaan station) and the central station of Utrecht runs modern train. And on the territory of the museum there are many rare trains - from the royal carriage (you can enter it and see the interiors) to the Orient Express - and ancient waiting rooms. In the museum, you can see theatrical performances, ride rides, and visit a mini-laboratory for the design of trains. You can easily spend a whole day here!

8. Burger's Zoo in Arnhem. Of course, there is one in Amsterdam that is also worth visiting with children. But the Royal Zoo in Arnhem, one of the most visited in Europe, is sure to impress both you and the little ones. This is a new type of zoo, where animals are placed not in cages, but in natural landscape. The journey from Amsterdam by public transport will take about 1.5 hours. The zoo is open all year round.

Have a nice trip to Holland with children!

There are options for evening mini-cruises along the canals with dinner or drinks only. Dinner on the boat lasts 2 hours, it is better to book during the day at the box office of the berths or via the Internet on the websites of ship companies.

2. Exploring Art: Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum

The second item on our bucket list was two museums at once: and (Van Gogh Museum). Museums are located on the Museumplein, the largest and, by right, the most cultural in the city.

It is better to love and understand art from childhood, but it is never too late. We strongly recommend that you visit main museum kingdom Rijksmuseum.

The exposition of the museum is dedicated to the history of the Netherlands, art and crafts. Climb to the second floor of the museum to the "Gallery of Glory", here are the masterpieces of the Golden Age: " The night Watch"and" Jewish Bride" Rembrandt van Rijn, "Street" and "The Milkmaid" by Johannes Vermeer of Delft, still lifes by Willem Klas Heda and many other equally important and interesting paintings.

The paintings can be read like a fascinating book and you can see the "light" that Johannes Vermeer and Rembrandt thought. The works of Dutch artists are filled with deep inner meaning, contain symbolism that you want to understand and comprehend.

Opposite the State Museum is the Vincent Van Gogh Museum, which houses the main part of the master's creative heritage. The museum's paintings are arranged in chronological order on three floors. During the inspection, a clear line of professional and personal development of the artist can be traced.

The museums have audio guides in Russian and walkers for young art lovers, but if you have a desire to learn more about the work of Vincent van Gogh, then we will be happy to help you in the exciting process of understanding the world through art.

Photo: Rembrandt House Museum in Amsterdam

6. Residential Boat Museum, Cat Boat and Jordan Walk

Het Woonbootmuseum is real housing on the water. To make sure that you can live on the water, come to this museum. There are 2,500 floating houses in Amsterdam. These are old barges, and small boats, and comfortable two-story houses.

Houses on the water are equipped with all communications, they have electricity, gas and central sewerage. is located in one of the most picturesque quarters The Amsterdam Jordaan on the Prinsengracht canal.

The ship was built in 1914, until the 60s of the last century it carried cargo, sand and gravel, and then in the 60s the boat was rebuilt into a house on the water. For more than 20 years, one Amsterdam family lived here. Everything about the boat looks like the residents went out for a bit and will be back soon. It is better to see once than hear a hundred times!

It is worth noting more than affordable ticket prices:

• Adult - 4.5 euros
• Children - 3.5 euros (from 5 to 15 years).

The boat has an audio guide in Russian.

After visiting the boat, stay take a walk in romantic area Amsterdam -Jordan. Walk along the narrow streets, look into the courtyards, local shops and numerous cafes. Feel the atmosphere of true Amsterdam. Here is the soul and heart of the city, where the songs of Amsterdam chansonniers still sound from the windows of the houses.

In the photo: even when moving from Jordan, residents of the area leave letters of gratitude to their neighbors

On the Single channel, very close to Central Station and from the Jordan area, located cat boat – De poezenboot. Once a lady lived on a boat known to the world under the name of van Velde, who loved cats so much that she created a shelter in her house for homeless striped whiskers.

The cat shelter is still functioning, you can visit it and, if you wish, leave a small donation for the maintenance of cats, since the cat house exists on voluntary donations.

The cat shelter is open from 13.00 to 15.00 except Wednesday and Sunday. The entrance is free.

10. Entertainment centers: for children from 1 to 12 years old

Within walking distance from the stadium and Bijlmer Arena metro there is a children's Entertainment CenterBallorig. Large indoor playground with many slides, trampolines and multi-level labyrinths. Here you can ride scooters and racing cars.

Children from 4 to 12 years old play under the supervision of the staff of the center, and at this time parents can enjoy free time. Children under 4 years of age must be supervised by their parents.

In the center of Amsterdam, near the Waterlooplein metro station, there is a similar entertainment centertunfun in which children from 1 to 12 years old have fun.

The TunFun complex has a children's pavilion for the little ones, where children up to 1 year old can play together with one of the parents or an adult accompanying person. On all other playgrounds, children can play both alone and with their parents. In this case, adults need to buy a separate ticket. But even if you prefer the pleasant expectation of your children, then do not forget that for a group of four children there is one accompanying adult.

It is not allowed to bring your own food to TunFun. There is a cafe, wi-fi, ramps and walkways for wheelchairs and wheelchairs. There are two car parks within a three-minute walk from the complex. You can get acquainted with the tariffs, the location of parking lots and the map on the website of the complex http://www.tunfun.nl/

And a little more...

And in conclusion of our story, we would like to mention a few more interesting places in Amsterdam:

• museum wax figures in the central Dam Square (tickets are sold at a discount online)
• interactive horror theater museum, Rokin Street, a 5-minute walk from the central Dam Square (there are also discounts online)
• ice rink on the Leidseplein (in winter)

In one visit, see all the sights and visit all the museums, exhibitions and entertainment centers Amsterdam is almost impossible, but we hope that you will take advantage of our advice and spend your holidays with children with benefit and pleasure. Plunge back into the carefree world of childhood, learn, be surprised and get a million positive emotions for the year ahead!

Want to see Holland with Katja Bartels and hear more advice and fascinating stories? Katya will be happy to offer you individual and group excursion programs in Amsterdam and the Netherlands.

Are you going on a trip? Search and book flights through the momondo ticket and hotel metasearch engine, choose your interesting leisure options and stay in touch!

Family holidays in Amsterdam: what to show children in the city for adults

The capital of the Netherlands has the image of a city of permissiveness, which somehow does not fit with family vacation. But this does not mean that those who managed to have children, the way here is ordered! We have selected attractions in Amsterdam and the surrounding area that will appeal to both adults and children of all ages, and also found out how you can save money on your trip.

How to get started in Amsterdam?

There are two ways to make a first impression of the city: from the water and from the ground. We recommend trying both, especially since children will also like them.

Canal Cruise

Most affordable option - sightseeing tour duration 1 hour. The route passes by the main attractions that are visible from the water: you can look at and photograph everything around, while listening to the text of the audio guide (available in 19 languages). The ticket costs €16 for an adult and €10 for a child aged 4-13.

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Ships depart from Prins Hendrikkade 25 all year round: from March 23 to October 29 - from 9:00 to 22:00, from October 30 to March 22 - from 9:30 to 21:30. Having bought a ticket, you can board any flight without prior reservation.

The second option is Hop On Hop Off tour, a ticket for 24 hours will cost €22 for an adult and €11 for a child 4-13 years old. Red pleasure boats can be found near the Centraal Station metro station.

Hop On-Hop Off Bus Tour

Double-decker red buses run throughout the city all year round, their route includes the main attractions. You can get on and off at any stop an unlimited number of times within the validity period of the ticket. An audio guide is available on board in 18 languages. An adult ticket for 24 hours costs €21, a child ticket (from 4 to 13 years old) - €10.5.

Walking tour in the center of Amsterdam

The need to follow the guide at a certain pace and listen to his stories can quickly tire the child, so we recommend that you go on your own. Don't forget to bring your map and wear comfortable shoes!

You should start the walk from the Central Station, the building of which was designed by the same architect as the Rijksmuseum. From it, along Damraq Street, you can walk to De Dam Square, where Royal Palace and from there by Rokin and Singel - up flower market Bloemenmarkt (Singel 610-616).

Then head towards Leidesplein, where you can have a bite to eat (dozens of cuisines of the world are represented) and buy souvenirs from the trip.

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Be sure to check out the Museumplein, where the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum are located. There is also a red-and-white inscription I amsterdam, against which tourists like to be photographed.

TOP 7 places for children in Amsterdam

Rijksmuseum

If your children are already interested in art, suggest that they take a look at Art Museum Rijksmuseum, one of the twenty most visited in the world. The exposition presents works by Dutch masters of the 15th-19th centuries: Rembrandt, Vermeer, van der Gelst, Hals and others. The pearl of the collection is Rembrandt's "Night Watch", for the sake of which the building was rebuilt in 1906.

In addition to paintings, there are sculptures, jewelry, furniture, costumes, fabrics, ship models, prints (including 60 drawings by Rembrandt), photographs, and ceramics.

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For families with children 6-12 years old, from August 1 to 30 and from December 25 to January 1, Highlights tour is held daily (€ 75 for a group of up to 15 people, entrance tickets are paid additionally). In addition to the story about the exhibits, it includes experiments and tasks that will captivate even the most restless. In addition, you can choose a multimedia tour, the participants of which complete tasks on special devices and, having completed all the levels, receive prizes.

Address: Museumstraat 1.

Working hours: daily from 09.00 to 17.00.

Cost: €17.5 (for visitors over 18).

Artis Zoo and Micropia Museum

IN oldest zoo The country is home to about 6,000 animals of 700 species, including rare and endangered ones. Most are kept in open enclosures, separated from visitors only by moats and low fences. There is also an aquarium, which ranks second in the world in terms of the number of fish represented, a terrarium, a planetarium, a zoological and geological museum, and a children's farm.

And on the territory there is the only museum on the planet dedicated to bacteria, microbes and viruses. micropia- unique place, where you can see the world hidden from human eyes: examine microorganisms with a microscope, find out what happens to the food left on the table and who lives on banknotes ... To make your visit more interactive, take a card at the entrance, on which you will need to collect the fingerprints of all exhibited in the microbial museum.

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Address: Plantage Kerklaan 38-40.

Opening hours: the zoo is open daily from 9:00 to 17:00-18:00 (every Saturday from June to August - until sunset), Micropia Museum - daily from 9:00 to 18:00 (20:00).

Cost: ticket to the zoo for a child 3-9 years old - €17, adult - €20.5. A visit to the museum for a child 3-9 years old - €12, for an adult - €14. single ticket, allowing you to visit both objects, costs €23.5 for a child, €27.5 for an adult.

Houseboats are one of the symbols of Amsterdam; they arouse genuine interest and many questions among the guests of the city. Where do water and electricity come from? Where does waste water go? Is it cold inside? Isn't it dark?

To satisfy curiosity, a museum was opened in 1997 aboard the former cargo ship Hendrika-Maria. By visiting it, you will find out how difficult and expensive it is to maintain such housing, see its interiors and even be able to sit in an armchair with a book. A great opportunity to get used to the role of the owner!

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There is a children's play area, a cafe decorated in the style of the 50s of the last century and a gift shop. Photography is allowed.

Address: Prinsengracht 296 K (pier near the Anne Frank House Museum).

Working hours: from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 17:00. In July and August the museum is open on Mondays as well.

Cost: adult ticket - €4.5, children (5-15 years old) - €3.5. For holders of the I amsterdam City Card, admission is free.

Located on the banks of the canal, in a building that once served as a warehouse and arsenal. The collection includes several old ships, nautical paintings, maps, globes, ship models, and navigational instruments. One of the most interesting expositions is dedicated to the "Golden Age", when the first Dutch expeditions set off in search of a way to India.

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Maritime museum Het Scheepvaartmuseum - Photo by Henk Bekker

The dock next to the museum houses the reconstructed ship Amsterdam, which was built in 1749 and sank on its first voyage. You can walk along it in the company of crew members: go down into the hold, enter the cabin, lie down in one of the hammocks that served as a bed for the sailors, shoot from the guns.

Address: Kattenburgerplein 1.

Cost: adult ticket - €15, children (4-17 years old) - €7.5. For holders of the I amsterdam City Card, admission is free.

It will be interesting for both children and their parents. You can not only touch the exhibits, but also actively interact with them. For example, visit inside soap bubble, participate in chemical experiments, build a tower of plastic tubes for a cocktail.

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Teenagers will appreciate the exposition dedicated to growing up: hormones, changes in the body, etc. There is also an exposition dedicated to sex - in Amsterdam it is difficult to avoid this topic.

WITH open area The museum's rooftop overlooks the city, and there is a cafe on the top floor where you can buy drinks and light snacks.

Address: Oosterdok 2.

Working hours: from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 17:30. From February 12 to September 9, as well as on the days school holidays The museum is also open on Mondays.

Cost: for visitors over four years old - €16.5. You can buy a ticket online and get into the museum without a queue. For holders of the I amsterdam City Card, admission is free.

home stadium football club Ajax seats 51,628 spectators. Euro 2000 matches were held here, Michael Jackson, The Rolling Stones, Metallica, U2 and other famous performers performed. It delights even those who are indifferent to football.

During the 75-minute tour you will learn about the history of the stadium and the club, visit the press conference room, the room where commentators work during matches, dressing rooms, a museum with a collection of team awards. There is a shop where you can buy souvenirs with Ajax symbols. Tours are conducted in English and Dutch.

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Address: Arena Boulevard 1.

Schedule: In July, August and during school holidays, tours start every 30 minutes from 10:30 to 16:30. At other times, except public holidays, 8 excursions per day are organized. When matches are played at the stadium, the schedule changes.

Cost: €16.5 for an adult, €11 for a child aged 5-12. When buying on the site, tickets will cost €15 and €10 respectively.

TunFun Speelpark

If the weather suddenly deteriorates while walking around Amsterdam, check out the TunFun Speelpark center, where you can find entertainment for children from 1 to 12 years old. Kids 1-4 years old have a separate play area with slides and dry pools, for older children there are springboards and other attractions, as well as a football field.

Changing tables, children's bathrooms, high chairs are available. While the children are having fun, parents can work (there are free wi-fi), read or have a snack in a cafe.

Address: Mr. Visserplein 7.

Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 18:00 (the ticket office closes at 17:00).

Cost: for children 1-12 years old - € 8.5, for accompanying adults over 18 years old admission is free.

Where to go for a day from Amsterdam?

Stop in the capital but see the whole country? Easily! An hour's drive from Amsterdam there is a park, on the territory of which miniature copies of buildings from different corners made on a scale of 1:25. It is divided into three parts: Center, Water World and Innovation Island. Having visited the Center, you will learn about the history of the country, in water world you will see the port of Rotterdam and the famous mills, and you will find modern buildings on the Innovation Island. In addition, the territory has a large playground, several restaurants and souvenir shops.

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Toy cities are inhabited by people, cars and bicycles are parked on their streets, runway Schiphol airport are planes. By railway miniature trains ride, ships move along the canals, blades spin at the mills, there are objects that are activated after you drop a coin into the slot. From time to time on the way will come across interactive entertainment such as putting out a fire in a town or saving villagers from a flood. In general, it will be difficult to take the children away from here, dear parents. Plan your trip for the whole day.