Family and kids in New Land

Aviodrome

For those who have always dreamed of becoming a pilot, here’s your chance. The flight simulator at the Aviodrome, an aviation museum in Lelystad, is a must-do for flight enthusiasts. Tour a real Boeing 757 jumbo jet (yes, even the cockpit!) and get behind the controls of a F-104 Starfighter simulator to get some real-life pilot training. Then, tour the museum to admire some of its most treasured objects, such as historic pilot and flight attendant uniforms, handbooks and more.

Batavialand

Once you’ve taken command of the skies at the Aviodrome, it’s time to conquer the sea at Batavialand! Climb aboard a replica of the famed Dutch East India Company ship, the Batavia, to get a feel for the water. 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 and the dangers of the deep.

Outdoor Park SEC

Give your family the adventure of a lifetime at Outdoor Park Almere SEC Survivals, where 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 in teams to compete against each other. With this outdoor park, you can finally discover which family member has the best survival skills.

De Kemphaan & Stichting AAP

For an adventurous day out – and plenty for kids to do – head to De Kemphaan, close to Almere, where kids will delight in tackling the high ropes and zip lines of Klimbos Fun Forest Almere. Take a break at one of the local restaurants or even spend the night in one of the estate’s camping pitches or tipi tents on the nature campsite. Then, head over to Stichting AAP to observe the rescued monkeys. This animal care organisation provides shelter to abandoned or neglected animals, in particular, all types of monkeys. The foundation strives to place the animals back into the wild after recovery. Look behind the scenes during guided tours held every Friday, Saturday and Sunday and watch the animals in the Monkey House, the quarantine and the chimpanzee building from a distance.

Almere Jungle

Also located within De Kemphaan, the unmissable Almere Jungle offers exotic animal surprises, a tropical cafe and exceptional play areas. This amusing wildlife park, staffed by passionate volunteers, has lashings of humour, imagination and care in how the enclosures are constructed.

Belevenissenbos

In the Zuigerplasbos, just north of Lelystad, you’ll find an adventurous play forest called Belevenissenbos. This large, freely accessible nature reserve lives up to its name – ‘experience forest’. These 40 hectares of forest offer exciting adventures for little explorers. There is a motocross track, sand bumps, storm courses, a course of over 50 obstacles and much more. It’s suitable for children from 6 to 16 years old.

Walibi

The Netherlands is full of theme parks, and though New Land is new, it has one too. Walibi Holland, one of the best theme parks in the entire country, boasts seven rollercoasters: Goliath, the fastest and highest rollercoaster in the country; Xpress, which takes you from 0 to 90 km/h in just three seconds; and Lost Gravity, the newest and most famous roller coaster. For younger families, take a tour of Merlin’s Magical Castle or take a spin in a bumper car.

Dolfinarium Harderwijk

Some kids can’t get enough of the water – and in New Land, there’s plenty of it. Continue the aquatic theme of your family’s holiday with a visit to the Dolfinarium, a spectacular water park home to dozens of dolphins, seals, walruses, sea lions and fish. The events programme includes daily animal presentations, including the impressive and educational dolphin presentation Oceanica and Sea Lion College, where you'll learn about California sea lions and their natural habitats.

Den Uylpark petting zoo

Situated just west of Almere city centre, the petting zoo at Den Uylpark (in Dutch) is easily accessible and invites young and old to get up close with farm animals and other smaller pets, including pigs, ponies, goats, sheep, chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs. Its main building is another piece of inspirational architecture, this time designed as a wooden cube. Other petting zoos in Almere include Kinderboerderij De Beestenbende (link in Dutch, just a short walk from station Almere Buiten) and Manege de Stek (link in Dutch, just north of the city centre), which is also a horse stable and offers riding lessons.

Het Vroege Vogelbos

Translated as the 'Early Bird Forest', this park in Almere is a friendly and fun option for families – especially those with very young kids. Part forest, part sheep farm, it always promises a calming day out and is particularly exciting during the lambing season. Much of the wool produced from these sheep is sold on-site – as well as products made from it – and there are regular wool workshops for young and old. The 1 km and 2 km walking routes make for a lovely stroll with plenty to see. And there are longer cycle routes around and out of the park if you want to explore Almere's countryside and forests further.