Family and kids in Old Holland
Whether you’re visiting Old Holland with the kids or you’re a current resident looking for family days out in the city, here are a few suggestions to get you started.
Zaanse Schans
A day out at the Zaanse Schans is fun and educational, and perfect for a day with the kids. Stroll past the bakery museum and enjoy the smell of fresh cookies, or take a look at the warehouse where clogs are made. Don’t miss the cheese factory, pewter foundry and of course the windmills. Filled with wooden houses, mills, barns and workshops, this place is an adventure park for kids and adults.
Edam cheese tasting
The Dutch are known across the world for their expert cheese-making, and nowhere is this more true than in the town of Edam. Until 1922, farmers from the surrounding area sailed to Edam’s cheese market, where their produce was weighed and sold. You can see these old practices for yourself when the cheese market is revived every Wednesday in July and August (10:30-12:30). Alternatively, De Kaaswaag Edam (Edam Cheese Weighhouse) invites families to explore the cheesemaking traditions of Edam and, best of all, tasting is allowed!
Zaans Museum and Verkade Experience
At the heart of the Zaans Museum in Zaandam, you will find the Verkade Experience. A treat for young and old alike, the Verkade Experience transports you back to the chocolate-and-biscuit factory of the early twentieth century, where the original machines are still churning away.
Het Twiske
In recreational area Het Twiske there’s plenty to do: rent a canoe, rowboat, pedal boat or a sailboat at Twiske Haven, or tie your own boat up to the piers there. The bike paths are paved and perfect for inline skating as well. There are large playgrounds and a swimming area, plus plenty of open green space to picnic, enjoy the sun or play games.
Het Wormer- en Jisperveld
The Wormer and Jisperveld is a beautiful nature reserve with shallow ditches, extensive meadows and hundreds of small islands. At the water playground of the Poelboerderij Visitor Center in Wormer, kids can play with the boats, buckets and the crane on the unloading dock. There are picnic tables and the Poelboerderij serves coffee and ice cream. Access to the water playground is free. At the Arjan Bloem canoe center you can rent kayaks, canoes, SUP boards and even pedal boats. The canoe center is the starting point for numerous canoe routes through the narrow ditches of the Wormer and Jisperveld. Bring your picnic basket and set sail towards a day of adventure!
Volendam Experience
All in VR, the Experience Volendam takes you back to the year 1916, when Volendam was a small fishing village. The charming hostess, dressed in original Volendam costumes, tells the story about traditional clothing and how people lived and worked. Next is a virtual walk in an old Volendam street. Will you help the fisherman during his adventure?
Waterlands Museum de Speeltoren
The Waterlands Museum de Speeltoren in Monnickendam museum offers something for everyone: journey through tales of ancient settlements, see the beauty of the Waterland region, and hear the most out of tune carillon play. For the kids, there's a fun filled attic. Play in the exciting House of Discovery, dig in the well, or discover surprising combinations in a game of memory.
