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Amstelpark: The First Park We Found In Amsterdam
When we first arrived in Amsterdam, Netherlands, we were staying in Hotel Novotel Amsterdam City and went to Amstelpark every day for four days in a row. As an introduction to parks in Amsterdam, it couldn’t have been better and with 8 year old, it was the best place to run around, feed some animals, and have all of the fun. If you’re going to be in southern Amsterdam and want a great place to take kids, definitely consider Amstelpark. Located between the Amstel and Europaboulevard, the park was established in 1972 after a horticulture exhibition and it is beautiful. Looking for a great place to spend the day with…
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De Hallen: From Foodie Fun To A Shopping Delight In Amsterdam
Headed into Amsterdam from Haarlem for a little adventure on the weekend, we set our sights on Foodhallen to get our party started. With a number of picky eaters in the group, we decided a hall with various food stalls would start us off on the right foot… and it did. What we didn’t count on though, was all of the other fun “hallens” in the building. Why does everyone always talk about Foodhallen and neglect mentioning the awesome design market, filmhallen, and other fun spaces? We had no idea there was so much to see there and rather than moving on to a nearby park, we ended up staying…
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How To Spend The Day In Zaandam, Netherlands
When we first came to the Netherlands, we found a great spot to call home for a month in Zaandam, a city just north of Amsterdam. We would wake up and when the breezes were headed our way, we’d smell chocolate thanks to the Verkade chocolate manufacturer in the area. Not necessarily a touristy hot spot, there are some very fun, beautiful, and historical reasons to spend a day in the area. If you asked me how to spend a day in Zaandam, this is what I would tell you: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking…
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The Tulip Barn: An Experiential Tulip Field In The Netherlands
If you’re visiting Netherlands in the spring, chances are high that you’re looking to visit the iconic tulip fields. You might even join a tour out to the popular Keukenhof Garden. The garden is beautiful of course, but if you actually want to walk in tulip fields, you’ll want to find an experiential tulip garden. The Keukenhof gardens keeps their tulips very protected and the farmer’s tulip fields in the area, while beautiful, shouldn’t be traipsed in without express approval. If you don’t want to get in trouble in someone’s private tulip field but want that epic photo, find a tulip garden like The Tulip Barn which plants the iconic…
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Playing With Kids In Haarlem: Haarlemmer Kweektuin
What’s one of the first things you do when you move to an area? For me, it’s walking. A lot of long walks to get the lay of the land and learn about my new area. On one such early walk in Haarlem-Noord, I happily found Haarlemmer Kweektuin, a fantastic park with playgrounds for kids, all of the natural scenery for me, and even some history too! If you’re looking for one of the best parks in Haarlem, it has to be Haarlemmer Kweektuin. This sprawling 4.2-hectare park sees 50,000 visitors annually and yet there’s always plenty of space when we’ve visited. This park in Haarlem blends recreation, education, and…
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Discover the Museum of the Mind In Haarlem
There are some very cool museums in Haarlem, Netherlands and since we’ve been living here, we’ve been trying to visit them all. We stopped into the gorgeous and fun Teylers Museum and checked out the art at the Frans Hals Museum and then we found the Museum of the Mind. Sounds intriguing, doesn’t it? Also translated as Museum of the Spirit (Museum Van De Geest), this stop is a unique look into the human mind through art. The museum has an innovative approach to their exhibition which blends art, science, and history and because of that was named the Museum of the Year 2022. Get ready to find out about…
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Is There A Beach In Amsterdam? No, But Zandvoort Is The Closest
When we first moved to the Netherlands and our Dutch friend drove us to the beach for a day on the coast, I realized I knew nothing about Dutch beaches. I had never even thought to look into beaches in Netherlands and didn’t realize they had such a beautiful seaside with gorgeously soft sand. Though there is not a beach in Amsterdam (well there are a few “urban beaches”), you can get out to the coast easily from Amsterdam Centraal Train Station in under an hour. If you’re visiting the Netherlands in the summer, I highly recommend spending a day on the coast. Even in the other seasons, the seaside…
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Discover the Charm of Bloemenmarkt: Amsterdam’s Floating Flower Market
Criss-crossing the canals of Amsterdam in the Netherlands can provide all sorts of picturesque views and walks down beautiful city streets. Some more beautiful than others. If you find the right streets to walk down, you can be surrounded by aromatic flowers or cafes and restaurants. This past weekend as we were showing some friends around Amsterdam and walking from the Van Gogh Museum up to the Royal Palace Amsterdam, we stopped along the Bloemenmarkt. Nestled along the Singel canal, this floating flower market is an explosion of colors, scents, and Dutch charm. On one side you’ll find flowers, pictures of flowers, and flower bulbs to grow your own flowers…
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Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum With Kids: Worth It?
When my daughter was in kindergarten, the students were asked to paint their own version of Van Gogh’s “The Bedroom”. After that she delved into Van Gogh’s work and was so inspired we continued to use his works as inspiration. After we moved to the Netherlands, the Van Gogh Museum was top on our things to do in Amsterdam list suffice to say. We’re not the only ones that seek to find this museum though of course. With over 200 paintings, 500 drawings, and 700 letters, alongside a collection of Japanese prints and a comprehensive library with more than 23,000 titles, the Van Gogh Museum offers an unparalleled look into…
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Step Inside the Royal Palace Amsterdam With Kids
There’s just something about European palaces, isn’t there? The grandiosity. The ambiance. The luxury. Step into the Royal Palace Amsterdam in the Netherlands and you will have plenty to look at. Not just a piece of Dutch heritage, the palace is a vibrant, living building that is still utilized today as the official reception palace of the Dutch royal family. Not only beautiful, it’s also very family-friendly offering a fantastic audio guide and puzzle for the children you may have brought with you. Whether you’re tracing the footsteps of royalty or uncovering the stories of its majestic halls, or just looking for the best things to do with kids in…
