Water history with kids around Amsterdam

Head to the family-friendly beach

Only 35 minutes away by train or car, Heemskerk is the North Sea coastline’s best-kept secret. Sandwiched between the dunes and the sea, this historic town is known for its monuments, churches and castles, surrounded by lush green parks. Families looking for a coastal adventure can take a leisurely 20-minute cycle towards the beach, passing through stunning dunes and forested areas with grazing sheep and Scottish highlanders. The kid-friendly beach is equipped with all conveniences, including beach chairs, parasols, and rentable windbreaks, and refreshments are available from the beach pavilion. For more information, visit the Heemskerk Zee van Tijd. 

Uncover washed-up stories

Forget about messages in a bottle – these are the real deal. Washed up on the beach here at Zandvoort and collected by beachcombers through the ages is this collection of treasures displayed at the Juttersmu-ZEE-um. Admission is free, and there is plenty to see. It's fun to fantasise about the stories behind the objects: buoys, bones, shark teeth, letters in bottles and even part of a rocket. Find the answers to all sorts of fascinating questions, like 'How long do things last before they perish?' Besides, if they can’t be sold on the historical value, there is also a pirate ship (with real treasure) for children to play in. Plus, you’re right there at the beach for all the outdoor activities and snacks that you might expect.

Clean up the beach

And why not become a beachcomber yourself? During a walk on the beach, you will find all kinds of things that do not belong there: fishing nets, plastic bottles, cigarette butts and lost toys. Join in with the kids to help clean the beaches and see who can find the weirdest objects. Bloemendaal Beach offers dedicated trays to hand in all the items you find during your walk. Meanwhile, Juttersgeluk collects and recycles them, turning them into beautiful objects, and organises group beachcombing tours for all the family.

Find out how windmills work at Zaanse Schans

Fancy a windmill? How about twelve? A day out at the Zaanse Schans is fun and educational – perfect for a day with the kids. These immaculately restored windmills here are breathtaking by themselves, but the open-air museum surrounding them also offers plenty to do – and to eat too. Stroll past the bakery museum and enjoy the smell of fresh cookies, take a look in the warehouse where clogs are made, and don’t miss the cheese factory and the pewter foundry. Filled with wooden houses, mills, barns and workshops, this place is an adventure park for kids and adults alike.

Sail back in time at Batavialand

Over in the Netherlands’ newest province lies a gateway to one of the country’s oldest traditions: shipping. At Batavia, you can climb aboard a replica of the notorious Dutch East India Company ship, the Batavia. Then head to the wharf to learn traditional seafaring trades such as sailmaking, knot-tying, and metal forging. Inside the museum, the kids can play and learn about water management at the interactive IJsselkogge exhibition or explore the dangers of the deep. All aboard!

Take to the waters in Flevoland

Back towards the city in Almere, give your family the adventure of a lifetime at Outdoor Park Almere SEC Survival. Here, among some of the region’s newest waterways, dozens of challenges await you and the kids. Try the Family Survival package, which takes you through an obstacle course and over a jungle bridge, or try the Family Expedition Outdoor, where you can split your family into teams to compete against each other. With this outdoor park, you can finally discover which family member has the best survival skills. 

Voyage to a mysterious fortress island

Raise the flags and man the guns! For a family-friendly and historical day trip from Amsterdam, hop on a ferry and discover the UNESCO World Heritage Fort Pampus. The island has an extensive events calendar, including the Proef Pampus food festival, a special pirate week in May and a kite festival in June. The island also puts a special spotlight on culture in August and, in October, hosts a Light Festival.

Get a canal’s-eye view of Haarlem

It may not be as famous for canal cruises as Amsterdam, but historic Haarlem has plenty of waterways for an enjoyable family boat trip. Take a guided tour to see the city from the water, all while learning interesting facts about its history and development along the way. The various tour operators – including Smidtje Canal Cruises and Haarlem Canal Tours- offer plenty of options. Or if younger children might struggle to sit still for the duration, hiring your own boat via Luxe Sloepen Haarlem allows you to set your own pace as you explore Haarlem.

Let off some steam at Museum Stoomgemaal

For machineheads young and old, here’s a chance to really get to grips with the Dutch water tech of the past. The Halfweg steam pumping station Museum Stoomgemaal is the oldest and largest working paddlewheel steam pumping station in the world. It was built in 1852 and served as a drainage pumping station, pumping surplus water from the Haarlemmermeer and the North Sea Canal. This is an authentic window into the Netherlands’ world-famous maritime conquests, with exhibitions and industrial steam engines that bring that history to life.