Things to do with kids in Amsterdam
A little while back, the UK’s ‘National Trust’ launched a brilliant initiative to inspire children to spend more time outdoors. Called ’50 Things to do before you’re 11 ¾’, it’s packed full of fantastic inspiration to get kids outside and active. Here's our roundup of the 50 things every child should get out and do in Amsterdam before their 12th birthday.
Museums
1. Put on a lab coat and complete an experiment at Nemo
2. Solve the interactive Family Quest at the Rijksmuseum
3. Shoot a cannon from the East India Ship at the Scheepvaartmuseum
4. Fill a medal with stickers for completing Prince Louis' challenge at The Royal Palace
5. Complete the clues in Vincent’s Travelling Case at the Van Gogh Museum
6. Make mosaic tiles in a Moroccan Riad at ZieZo Marokko in the Wereldmuseum Amsterdam Junior
7. Bake a challah at the Jewish Historical Museum
8. Read the Diary of Anne Frank and then tour the Anne Frank House
9. Explore the invisible world around us at Micropia.
Outdoors
10. Swing from the trees at the Fun Forest Climbing Park
11. Watch the lions being fed at Artis
12. Balance on a raft at the Vijver in the Amsterdamse Bos
13. Make it over the finish line in the Olympic Stadium at the Amsterdam Marathon Kids Run
14. Meet some new-born lambs at a kinderboerderij
15. Pick apples and berries at Fruittuin van West
16. Sledge down the roof of the Albert Heijn at Museumplein
17. Ride through secret gardens on board the train in the Amstelpark
18. Bottle feed a goat at the Geitenboerderij Riddamerhoeve
19. Skip across the stepping stones at the Grote Zwembad in the Amsterdamse Bos
20. Build a den in the Wood Cabin Village at Jeugdland
21. Run through the water feature on the roof at Nemo
22. Make sandcastles at an urban beach
23. See a play at the Open Air Theatre in the Vondelpark
Transport
24. Sit in the bucket of a ‘bakfiets’
25. Take a ride on the vintage museum tram
26. Cycle along the Amstel all the way to Ouderkerk
27. Take the ferry over to Noord
28. Travel from one end of a tramline to another
29. Become a certified Freshwater Pirate on the Blue Boat Canal Tour
30. Captain the plane on the Schiphol Panorama Terrace
Play at being a tourist
31. Have your picture taken at every letter of the I amsterdam sign
32. Go skating in winter in front of the Rijksmuseum
33. Take in the views from the top of the A'DAM toren
34. Dance along to a traditional Amsterdam barrel organ known as a ‘draaiorgel’
35. Visit each of the 11 neighbourhoods on the I amsterdam neighbourhood listings
36. Run through the water feature at the Museumplein.
Events
37. Sell your wares in the Vondelpark on King's Day
38. Learn to juggle, unicycle or brave the trapeze by brushing up on your circus skills with Circus Elleboog
39. Go for a spin on the solar merry-go-round at Pure Markt
40. See the Amsterdam Light Festival at night from a boat
41. Welcome Sinterklaas as he arrives from Spain and join in the fun at the Intocht
42. Take part in a workshop at the Junior Grachtenfestival
43. Make a movie, join an open mic singing contest or perfect your hip hop dance skills at the Junior Uitmarkt
44. Watch Ajax win a home game in the Amsterdam ArenA.
Food
45. Make a meal for your family at the Kinderkookcafe
46. Have hagelslag for breakfast
47. Scoff DIY pancakes after playing in the ball pool on the Pancake Boat
48. Try 10 types of ‘drop’ at Jamin
49. Eat warm, freshly made stroopwafels, poffertjes and oliebollen from a food truck
50. Enjoy a Hollandse Nieuwe Haring in Springtime.
For lots more family-friendly inspiration and tips on activities, restaurants or hotels, check out our guest blogger's website: AmsterdamWonderland.com.
