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Vondelpark – The Vondelpark is a large area with grass, trees, ponds and flat pathways (perfect for bikes or strollers). This is a great spot to bring toddlers, also to take a bike ride. I have a vivid memory of the kids
biking through the Vondelpark, speeding along smooth paths like leaves blown
on the wind. |
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Van Gogh Museum – Don't miss the Van Gogh Museum, chock full of van Gogh's most famous paintings. Van
Gogh is an artist that seems to resonate with kids – find your favorite
scenes of the homey yellow house, Vincent's bedroom, sunflowers, gardens and fields. |
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Be sure to pick up the excellent children's audio tour of the Van Gogh paintings, or the self-guided treasure hunt from the front desk. The treasure hunt is good for older kids. |
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After you've looked at all the Van Gogh's, there's also Renoir, Monet, Gaugin and Pisarro paintings on the upper floor. |
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Tip: Read our blog post: "Van Gogh's Sunflowers: Light on Light" |
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 Behind the Van Gogh Museum is a big grassy area, small playground, little pond and snack bars with ice cream, waffles and cold drinks. |
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Rijksmuseum – Here's where you'll see the biggies of Dutch art, especially the painters Vermeer and Rembrandt (at the top of the list is Rembrandt's incomparable The Night Watch). Also, through the art works, kids can get a sense of Dutch history, from the Golden Age to global voyages. |
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Kids will also like "food paintings," still life works with good Dutch cheese and grapes, or heroic paintings of sea battles. Don't miss the exquisite doll houses from the 17th century, sword and armor collection, and models of Dutch sailing ships. |
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This is a popular museum, so buy Rijksmuseum tickets online in advance, and avoid ticket lines. |
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Tip: The Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum are right next to each other, but don't go from one to museum to each other. Each museum is so rich; plan your visit to each museum as a separate outing. |
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The Van Gogh Museum is a "must see," and before you go, read about the life of the artist. What did van Gogh see when he walked in the Dutch countryside as a boy, looked at paintings in art museums, practiced drawing people in fields, lived in a yellow house and painted sunflowers in France? (Picture book)
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Vincent van
Gogh's own words are paired with his paintings – violet irises, pink sky, green shutter, blue and white vase, "a yellow sky with yellow sun" –
it truly makes the paintings come alive. (Picture book)
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Rembrandt is one of the most famous Dutch artists. Look at the details of his paintings, such amazing color and texture. Filled with examples of Rembrandt's works, including self-portraits, his lovely wife Saskia, and stories from the Bible. Fun to read before you visit the Rijksmuseum. (Picture book)
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Wonderful
exploration of Rembrandt's luminous paintings with fascinating
details, and including his monumental works such as The Night Watch,
and all Rembrandt's self-portraits, from a young person to an old
man. (Picture book)
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Look at close-up details of Vermeer's oil paintings, such shimmering color and texture of fabrics. Filled with examples of Vermeer's paintings – exquisite Girl with a Pearl Earring, maid pouring pitcher of milk, girl sleeping,street near his house, river view of Delft. Look for The Milkmaid when you visit Rijksmuseum. (Picture book)
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