5 things to do with Kids in Amsterdam, Netherlands

If anyone is looking for things to do with kids on a trip to Amsterdam here is a list I have complied after a recent trip I took with my kids.  My kids loved them all.   

1) Goat Farm Ridammerhoeve (Geitenboerderij Ridammerhoeve)

This farm is located in Amsterdamse Bos (Amsterdam Forest).  The park is located just outside of Amsterdam in Amstelveen, however the park is owned by the City of Amsterdam.   At the park you can see goats, chickens, cows, pigs, a horse and a pony.  There is also a maze, large play ground and they sell food so you can have a meal or snack. 

 

They make cheese, yogurt, buttermilk, butter, fresh cheese and even ice cream from goat milk.  I purchased some goat cheese and a goat milk cappuccino that was quite good. My kids tried the goat milk ice cream and enjoyed the playground and feeding the goats with bottles.

Tip: we rented bikes and were able to bike all over the forest.  This was a lot of fun.

Goat Cheese

Goat Milk cappucino

2) Linnaeushof is Europe's largest playground.  This place has lots of rides that are all self powered. Be prepared to push and pedal and jump your way through a giant park all day.  You can spend hours there.   They have giant zip lines, boats, go carts, swings and spash pad, a play ground and so much more. 

  

 

3) Van Gough Museum -This place had a great treausre hunt.  You checked in at information.  Then you needed to find all these specific paintings and they helped you find them with clues.   Then write the title of the painting.   Finally you decoded a seceret word.  When you returned your hunt you recieved a sticker and got to select a Van Gough postcard from a selection.  The cafeteria was great too.  

Tip - If you are planning to go book your tickets online in advance as early as possible.  This way you avoid the lines.   Near the museum was Blushing Health Food Coffee - This was a great place to stop for lunch.   You could sit out side in an alley and there was a small play ground the kids could play at. 

 

4) Rent Bikes - Everyone bikes in Amsterdam and the rules are VERY different than in America.   First of all no one wears a helmet.   The have a variety of attachements like a traditional child seat behind or one on the hand bars but there was even a side saddle option for the front of the bike or back of the bike.   There are tandem bikes or Bakfiets,which are modern dutch cargo bikes that 2 kids fit in and you can carry with or without baggage.

 

5) Flower Market (Bloemenmarkt)  This flower market is a floating market but you can barely tell that the shops are on barges.  It is between Muntplein and Koningsplein.   There are lots of shops where you can buy souveniers, seeds and tulip bulbs or fresh flowers.  Plus there were lot sof cheese shops and a cheese museum we stopped in for free samples.   This is along the canal of Amsterdam in downtown and really pretty.   It was nice to walk around.   Tip:  There are wonderful canal cruises you can pick up near by.