Although many people think of it as the Sin City of Europe, Amsterdam is actually a great place to travel with a baby that attracts many young families. The capital of the Netherlands offers numerous baby-friendly activities both indoors and outdoors.
From pancake restaurants to museums packed with interactive displays and parks with playgrounds, there is to plenty to look forward to when visiting Amsterdam with a baby or toddler.
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Getting Around Amsterdam with Toddlers or Babies
When I visited Amsterdam for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to get around the city. There are not that many cars and it seems that everyone is riding bicycles.
You will see many locals driving their babies around the city in a bakfiets, a bike with a tub in front where a child can sit in. If you are staying in Amsterdam for a few days, than I recommend renting a bike with a child seat, as bakfiets are not that easy to ride.
Do you want to ride a bakfiet? You can rent one from a local via Peerby.com.
As for getting around Amsterdam with a stroller, the city is generally easy to navigate with a stroller. Just watch out for cobblestone streets, although most roads and streets have sidewalks.
Safety Tip
Keep in mind that red sidewalks in Amsterdam are not to be used by pedestrians, as these are cycling paths.
Amsterdam train and subway stations do have lifts making it easy to navigate with a stroller, but I can’t say the same for houses and hotels. At some places, you will actually need to carry your kid in your arms and leave the stroller in the hallway.
Plan to bring a lightweight stroller in case you need to carry that up any stairs! You can bring along one of these best baby carriers for travel too, which will make carrying baby and luggage a lot easier!
How to Get From the Amsterdam Airport to your Hotel
If you are traveling to Amsterdam with a baby or toddler and have a stroller with you, the easiest way to get from the Schiphol Airport to the city center is by train. It is faster and much cheaper than a taxi ride. You should also keep in mind that taxis usually don’t have their own car seats.
An affordable luxury is to book a private transfer from the airport to your hotel. After a long day of flying with a baby to Amsterdam, it’s just nice to have your driver waiting for you at your arrival gate with your name on a sign. A family-friendly private transfer service in Amsterdam is Welcome Pickups, which allows you to pre-book child seats.
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Flying to Amsterdam with your baby? Don’t miss my posts on tips for flying with a baby and flying with a baby and breastfeeding on an airplane!
5 Fun Things to do in Amsterdam with Toddlers and Babies
1. Playgrounds in Amsterdam for Toddlers and Babies
Amsterdam has many indoor and outdoor playgrounds for babies and toddlers. Luckily, many of them are located in the vicinity of major Amsterdam attractions. TunFun is probably one of the most famous indoor baby-friendly playgrounds in Amsterdam, while Groot Melkhuis in Vondelpark is a lovely waterside café with a nice outdoor kids playground.
2. Amsterdam Museums
No trip to Amsterdam with a toddler or baby is complete without visiting at least a couple of museums. The thing about Amsterdam is that many museums offer plenty of entertainment for families with children and most of them offer tours for kids.
If you are traveling to Amsterdam with a baby who is very young, I recommend going to the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House.
Travelers visiting Amsterdam with toddlers should visit museums which are best for kids including the Maritime Museum, the awesome NEMO Science Museum which features the coolest interactive displays ever, and Tropenmuseum.
3. Vondelpark
There are many fun things to do in Amsterdam when traveling with babies and a visit to Vondelpark is definitely one of them. Vondelpark is the largest park in Amsterdam and has plenty of family-friendly activities to offer.
Whether you wish to rent bikes with baby seats, spend some quality time with the children at one of the playgrounds, or visit the baby-friendly Kinderkookcafé, the options for having a good time in Vondelpark with a baby or toddler are endless.
4. Artis Zoo
Artis may not be the largest zoo in the world, but it is one of the oldest in Europe. Opened in 1835, the fabulous Amsterdam zoo features dozens of impressive animal exhibits, as well as lovely gardens. There is also a nice planetarium and aquarium worth visiting. In case you get hungry, have lunch at the on-site restaurant that also has a nice playground for the little ones.
5. Family Canal Ride
To explore Amsterdam from a different perspective, why not go on a family trip with a canal ride. There is a reason why they call Amsterdam the “Venice of North”. Hop on one of the boats to explore over one hundred kilometers of canals and admire charming buildings from the 17th century and picturesque bridges all around.
The I Amsterdam Card
I also suggest getting a 72 Hour I Amsterdam Pass because of its value. Besides unlimited public transit with buses, tram, metro, and one free canal cruise, the I Amsterdam Pass includes free admission to places like Rembrandt House, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam Museum, NEMO Science Center, the National Maritime Museum, Artis Zoo, and many others.
Where to Eat in Amsterdam with Babies and Toddlers
People who travel with babies and toddlers always have a concern about whether or not they will be able to find a good place to eat in the city. Fortunately, Amsterdam is well-known for its abundance of family-friendly restaurants and cafes that cater to parents with young children.
The Pancake Bakery on Prinsengracht is one of the most popular eateries here and kids just love their poffertjes (small pancakes covered in powdered sugar). Moeders which translates to Mother should also be included on your list of restaurants to visit in Amsterdam. They serve Dutch home cuisine and it’s delicious.
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Find out why Traveling to Europe with a Baby or Toddler is so amazing!
Where to Get Baby Supplies in Amsterdam
You don’t need to fill your suitcase with diapers, you can leave that room for other baby travel items.
What I also like about Amsterdam is that the local supermarkets offer a wide range of baby food and formula. As for buying diapers in Amsterdam, they can be bought in just about any supermarket in the city. The most famous supermarket in the Netherlands is the AH. You can also find them in beauty shops like Etos and Kruitvat.
Baby-Friendly Places to Stay in Amsterdam
There are many great neighborhoods in Amsterdam to stay in when traveling with babies or toddlers. The Leidseplein area is very convenient, as it is close to shops, museums, and Vondelpark. De Jordaan area is also one of the best neighborhoods for families to stay in as it is close to all the action, but still not that close to the vibrant nightlife of Amsterdam.
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Don’t forget to pack your portable baby travel cot or one of these toddler travel beds.
As for the types accommodations, there are plenty of options to choose from. Some parents like staying in vacation home rentals and cottages with fully-equipped kitchens, while others prefer to find a baby-friendly hotel like these family-friendly Amsterdam hotels.
Fortunately, Amsterdam is home to a number of family-friendly hotels. XO Hotels Blue Square has a cute kid’s corner for toddlers indoors, while the luxurious and centrally located Ambassade Hotel offers babysitting services.
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As you can see, Amsterdam is a great place to visit with a baby. For more destination ideas, check out my list of the best places to travel with a baby.
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This post was written & edited by:
Celine Brewer is the owner of Baby Can Travel. Not only does she have years of experience traveling with babies & toddlers, but she's helped millions of new parents travel with their babies and toddlers for over a decade. In addition to writing on her baby travel blog, she has shared her expertise on traveling with a baby or toddler by contributing to articles about traveling with a baby with the Washington Post, USA Today, the Lonely Planet magazine and Pregnancy & Newborn magazine.
Celine also writes about family travel on the site FamilyCanTravel.com, which she co-owns with her husband. Being from the Canadian Rockies, she shares her passion about her home and travel to Banff National Park and area on their site TravelBanffCanada.com.
