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Canal bikes – Rent pedal boats called "canal
bikes" and pedal your way around the canals. This is a fabulous way
to see those wonderful old canal houses and uses up a lot of energy (let
your kids do the pedaling). The "bikes" seat four and have canvas
awnings in case of rain. My kids voted canal biking as their favorite thing
to do in Amsterdam. |
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There are four rental locations – in front of the Westerkerk, at
the Leidseplein, in front of the Rijksmuseum, and on the Keizers-gracht
near the Leidsestraat bridge. |
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Climb up the tower of the Westerkerk – The tower
of the Westerkerk church on the Prinsengracht is a landmark in Amsterdam.
Climb up the church tower to get a panoramic view of Amsterdam from the
observation deck. The kids liked looking at all the comings and goings in
the city below, like a living miniature city. |
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The Westerkerk itself is a lovely spare church. The schedule
of free concerts in the evening is posted outside. |
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Anne Frank House – Down the street from the Westerkerk
is the Anne Frank house, sandwiched in among other houses along the Prinsengracht.
It's a rare experience to walk into the small rooms where the Frank family
went into hiding in World War II. Anne Frank did not survive, but The
Diary of Anne Frank, a record of her teen years in this house, is tribute
to the youthful spirit of hope amidst the destruction of war. From the attic,
she could see the tower of the Westerkerk. |
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Rent bicycles – I have a vivid memory of the kids
biking through the Vondelpark, speeding along smooth paths like leaves blown
on the wind. Amsterdam is a good city for biking – it's flat, there
are bike lanes and you can really see things. Small size kids' bikes are
available for rent and some bicycles have kids’ seats to carry a toddler
on the back. |
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Buy cycling maps that mark bicycling routes through the city
and outlying areas at the Amsterdam tourist office and bookstores. Be sure
to lock your bikes as bike theft is common. (Note: Stolen bikes are often
just jettisoned into the canals. The city has a special crane and hook for
pulling bicycles out of the water. It’s fun to watch.) |
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Science Museum Nemo – This is a really terrific
hands-on science museum, with a Dutch twist. You can't miss the distinctive
building on the Amsterdam waterfront, and once inside, prepare for your
kids to charge right in. The exhibits are multilingual and some are topical
to the Netherlands, technology with a cultural slant. There are things to
do for toddlers (bubble fun, magnetic games, large piece dominos) as well
as a full-fledged chemistry lab for older kids. While my boys spent hours
piloting their model oil barges or sorting balls in the ball factory, I
sat in the café on the upper floor with a spectacular view of the
Amsterdam skyline. |
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Scheepvaart Museum (Ships Museum) – Stand on the
prow, gaze out over the water and imagine your sailing ship is about to
dock in the Spice Islands. At the Scheepvaart Museum, there is a full size
replica of a "Dutch East Indiaman" ship, The Amsterdam.
Inside the museum, there are tons of exquisite models of ships from the
17th century to WWII. Tip: The Ships Museum is closed completely for rennovation until 2009, but you can see the full size replica of the The Amsterdam, docked by the Science Museum Nemo. |
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Go see windmills – Here's a good (kid) description
of windmills, "The windmill has big arms that you put sails on to spin
the arms that turn the wheels that scoop the water to somewhere else." |
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single picturesque windmill is located on the Amstel River in the Amstel
Park, south of Amsterdam. Rent bikes, take the bike paths along the
Amstel River, have a picnic and make it a day. (You can follow the route
that Rembrandt took when he painted outdoors, which I thought was fascinating,
but my kids were oblivious.) |
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Zaanse
Schans – The best collection of windmills close to Amsterdam is
the Zaanse Schans in Zaandam. |
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At the Zaanse Schans, the windmills work and you can climb
out on the deck to see the sails thundering round and round (there are safety
barriers so you can’t get too close.) It’s quite rackety and impressive
inside the windmill too, watching the huge wooden gears turned by the sails! |
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To get a glimpse of a 19th century Dutch household, stop into
the Museum Het Noorderhuis. There are also stores where you can watch
artisans at work. At the De Tinkoepel Tinnegieterij pewter shop, we watched
pewter spoons being hammered into shape. For a quick snack, there's the
De Kraai pancake house. |
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Canal cruise – If you don’t want to pedal
your way around the canals, take a canal cruise. When you take the canal
boats at night, you’re in for a real treat. The bridges over the canals
and Amstel river are lit up with hundreds of lights. |
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Take the one hour cruise (rather than the longer dinner or
"candlelight" cruises). Buy snacks and drinks on the dock before
you go, or bring them with you on the cruise. Canal cruises are available
from the dock across from Centraal Station. |
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Rijksmuseum – This museum is filled
with marvelous paintings by Rembrandt and Vermeer, but don’t be discouraged
if your kids are not initially impressed, even with "The Night Watch." The museum has other great things,
like exquisite doll houses from the 17th century. Take a look
at some of the "food paintings," still life works with that good
Dutch cheese and bread, or heroic paintings of sea battles. Tip: The Rijksmuseum is undergoing rennovation until 2009, so the collections aren't all on display. |
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Van Gogh Museum – Don't miss the newly
rennovated Van Gogh Museum, chock full of stunning van Gogh paintings. Van
Gogh is an artist that seems to resonate with kids – find your favorite
scenes of boats, olive groves, sunflowers, irises, gardens and fields. For
background about van Gogh's life and times, check out the museum
Web site. |
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Woonbootmuseum (Houseboat museum) Prinsengracht
296 – Ever wondered what it’s like inside a houseboat? Visit
the Woonbootmuseum. The houseboat is very homey and cozy, especially nice
on a rainy or gray afternoon. The museum has a children’s play corner
(kids can color pages of houseboats), and a café with coffee, hot chocolate
and soft drinks. |
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Willet-Holthuysen Museum – This is
your chance to see how a wealthy Dutch family lived in centuries past. Lovely
high-ceilinged rooms, gilded chandeliers, windows with stained glass, elegant
furnished rooms. Don't miss the ballroom or formal garden. |
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Tropenmuseum – This museum is dedicated
to "peoples of the world" and is a great hulking building with
excellent collections of musical instruments and masks, as well as reconstructions
of life in different countries. The museum is kid friendly (aka noisy) and
fun for older kids. |
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Ride the ferries – Amsterdam is a
watery town, and getting around on boats is part of the fun. For a short
ride, take the ferry (behind Centraal Station) across to North Amsterdam,
and back. For a longer ride, take the 2 hour Historical Ferry boat
ride (pick it up also at the pier behind Centraal Station) around
the Eastern Islands and Nieuwendam area. |
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Relax in the parks – Amsterdam is
dotted with wonderful parks that have lots of green space and playgrounds
for toddlers. In the center of Amsterdam, visit the Vondelpark.
Other good parks are the Westerpark, Beatrixpark, Rembrandtpark. |
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There are also small playgrounds, near the Noorderkerk,
(slides and swings) and Frederick Hendrik Plein (sandbox
and jungle gym) in the Jordaan. |
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Artis Zoo – The zoo is okay (there's
nothing spectacular about the collection) but it's a nice place to go. The
complex includes an aquarium, geology museum and planetarium (show is in Dutch). There is an excellent kid's playground area
with sandbox and climbing structures. To make a day of it, take the Artis
Express canal boat from Centraal Station. |
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Take a tour of a diamond "factory" – For centuries, Amsterdam has been a center of the diamond industry.
If anyone in your family likes jewelry, ask at your hotel about a diamond
"factory" tour. The "factory" is an atelier where diamonds
are cut and polished into exquisite shapes. Find out what makes a diamond
perfect. At the end of the tour, there is always an opportunity, but no
obligation, to buy. |
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Madame Tussaud's – Madame Tussaud's
is tacky and wonderful, and a way into Dutch history. You'll find incredibly
lifelike portraits of the Dutch painters, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Vermeer.
In the Grand Hall, step into opulent Dutch life around 1700. One family
writes, "Worth the visit, especially on one of those many rainy days." |
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TunFun (under Mr. Visserplein, near Waterlooplein) – Wondering where to play if the weather is crummy? Head over to TunFun
indoor playground, a huge play area under ground, with great climbing structures
for kids of all ages (1-12), slides, ball pools, trampolines and indoor
soccer area. Recommended by a family living in Amsterdam. |
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Set in 17th
century Amsterdam, teenage Adam Windjammer opposes a conniving banker
to keep control his family's trading company. Will the "Black
Pearl," a rare tulip, restore the family fortunes? (Chapter
book)
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The
adventure continues as Adam Windjammer sets sail to search for
his family's lost ships in the West Indies, but the banker's daughter,
Jade van Helsen, yearns to escape her gilded cage in Amsterdam.
A vivid story that brings to life the sights and sounds of Amsterdam
in the golden age. (Chapter book)
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Fun
biography of Rembrandt, one of the greatest painters of all time,
who lived in Amsterdam all his life. Rembrandt liked to spend
time with his family, and painted his mother reading, his wife
dressed in bright clothes and jewels, his son doing homework,
and plenty of pictures of himself. (Picture book)
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Wonderful
exploration of Rembrandt's luminous paintings, with fascinating
details, like a transparent lace veil or Ganymede peeing. Includes
his historical paintings, monumental works like The Night Watch,
and all Rembrandt's self-portraits, from a young person to an old
man. (Picture book)
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Vincent van
Gogh's own words, paired with his paintings, are a magical combination.
Poetic phrases focus on colors in each picture – butter yellow
chairs, a pink sky, the lady's clothes are black, black, black –
and make the paintings really come alive. A fabulous book for all
ages, kids and adults alike. "And in my head a starry night."(Picture book)
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Before
you go to the Van Gogh Museum, find out where van Gogh lived and
painted, his favorite bright colors, why his paintings are so
popular now, but weren't back when van Gogh lived. (Picture book)
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Before
you visit Anne Frank's "secret annex," this is a good
introduction to Anne Frank, perfect for younger kids.
(Easy reader)
For older
kids, Anne Frank's The
Diary of a Young Girl is her story in her own words.
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Pictorial biography of Anne Frank, her life and times, from her early years, invasion and war, to going into hiding. Excellent family pictures, photos of the plaid diary and secret annex, maps and a timeline. Good for older kids. (Illustrated chapter book)
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(More children's
books on other Netherlands pages) |
