Amsterdam, Netherlands is a vibrant city full of cheese, culture, and fun. We’re sure that both adults and children alike will enjoy it.

This is a destination guide, intended to provide assistance for you as you plan your own visit to Amsterdam, Netherlands. We paid for all attractions out of our own money and do not have any relationship (financial or otherwise) with the operators of the services described below. That allows us to give our honest feedback about what we did and did not like.

How long to stay?

The right length of time to stay here ultimately depends on what it is you’re looking to do. There are quite a few museums and historical sites in Amsterdam if you’re up for making it an educational trip. You could also use the city as a base for exploring the neighboring countryside (and see those windmills). We ultimately stayed here three nights, which was good to get a taste of the city. If you wanted to remain within the city of Amsterdam, 3-4 nights is good. If you wanted to venture outside the city, tacking on an extra day or two isn’t unreasonable.

There is a well-known red light district here but I’ll say we didn’t experience it at all. Being here with a child, you would probably guess that we didn’t go that route. But I should say that if you have children, don’t feel afraid to bring them to this city because of the red light district, We didn’t get any vibes that the city was seedy or sketchy.

Top Things to Do in Amsterdam

Anne Frank House

Link to official site: https://www.annefrank.org/en/
Good for ages: 8 and up
Nearest rail station: Westermarkt (1 minute walk)
Stroller-friendly: No

The Anne Frank House is a deeply symbolic location that speaks to the horrors of World War II. If you’re a history fan, this is place might hold great symbolism for you. Expect plenty of crowds to be gathered around here.

If you’d like to visit the site, entrance fees are quite affordable (€16.50 for adults, €7 for children 10-17, and €1 for children under 10). However, do note that while it’s cheap for young ones, much of what you’ll find inside might not be well-comprehended.

We took Alex here when he was still and infant, and we felt a bit out of place in doing so. There are many rooms where everyone is silent, but an infant has problems with understanding that concept. I’d recommend not bringing very young children here but they won’t be turned away. Those with younger children interested in this history should instead go check out the Verzetsmuseum (Verzets Resistance Museum).

Canal cruises (Blue Boat)

Link to official site: https://www.blueboat.nl/en/canal-cruise-amsterdam/
Good for ages: All ages
Nearest rail station: Leidseplein (3 minute walk)
Stroller-friendly: No

What’s a visit to Amsterdam like without taking a ride through the canals? This is a very popular thing to do, though admittedly it’s also very touristy. Many companies offer up tours and they do vary based on itinerary, comfort, and quality of commentary. Our experience has been with Blue Boat, which is fine. It’s a relaxing trip through the canals that lasts about an hour.

You’ll see plenty of architecture as you cruise along. One of the things we love the most about Amsterdam is just how cute all the Dutch houses look. And going on this cruise just brings them all out.

You could take a cruise dedicated for kids, but honestly we didn’t find much difference. Both kid-focused cruises and adult-focused cruises are practically the same. You might get some extra worksheets for the kids to do on a kid-focused cruise, but if your child is too young to enjoy them anyways, just stick to what you want to do as adults.

NEMO Science Museum

Link to official site: https://www.nemosciencemuseum.nl/en
Good for ages: All ages
Nearest rail station: Plantage Parklaan (12 minute walk)
Stroller-friendly: Yes

At first glance, you might think of NEMO as a science museum that’s only meant for children. While you’d be correct that the focus is more for the younger crowd, it doesn’t mean that it’s exclusively for them. Us adults can have lots of fun here too. In fact, I’d argue I had just as much fun here as the kids had.

Each floor of the museum has a different focus, ranging from the human body and outer space to physics and reactions. There is a science lab where you can get hands on with experimentation and plenty of construction.

On the first floor, you’ll even find a large display full of chain reactions big and small that culminate in launching a rocket. I don’t think I’d want to be the one to have to set it all up again for the next show, but it’s impressive just sitting there in the audience.

There are multiple cafes scattered throughout the museum. The cafe with the most options is on the top (you don’t need to have a ticket to dine here). The food is better than your average museum cafe but come right at lunch and it might be a little tough to find a seat.

ARTIS Royal Zoo

Link to official site: https://www.artis.nl/en
Good for ages: 0 to 9
Nearest rail station: Artis/Holocaustmuseum (1 minute walk)
Stroller-friendly: Yes

We also found our way over at the ARTIS Royal Zoo. It’s pretty convenient that the zoo is inside the city, making it easily walkable from other main attractions. It’s not a large zoo, but it does call itself one of the five oldest in the world. There are a number of animals awaiting you inside, including at the petting zoo. This a good stop to consider if you have children with you, but I can’t blame you skipping over it if you don’t. For what it’s worth, I feel the zoo in Copenhagen is superior.

Yes, we also saw cows while here at the zoo. Surprised that an animal would be there? Well, this was actually the petting zoo where you get to say hi up close and personal. Overall, not a bad place to spend some time, but this one works better if you have kids in your party.

Van Gogh Museum

Link to official site: https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en
Good for ages: 15+
Nearest rail station: Museumplein (1 minute walk)
Stroller-friendly: Yes

Do you have an art fan in the group? It might be worth it to check out the Van Gogh Museum (€25 for adults, free for those under 18). Compared to other art museums, this one felt on the smaller side, but that’s because the museum itself is designed to celebrate the work of a single artist. However, you might find works in here celebrating other impressionists.

We weren’t here for too long–we lasted about an hour–I’m sure true art fans could spend more time. If you’re not an art fan, don’t feel bad skipping this one.

Heineken Experience

Link to official site: https://www.heinekenexperience.com/en
Good for ages: 18+ (children no longer allowed)
Nearest rail station: Amsterdam, Weteringcircuit (2 minute walk)
Stroller-friendly: No, since no children are allowed

For what feels like a complete 180 from the prior activity, you could be like us and want to check out the beer scene in Amsterdam. One of the largest producers in the world (Heineken) is found here and they have an experience you could try out. Inside, you’ll go through the beer-making process, look through decades of memorabilia, and end with drinking some beer.

How much beer will depend on both the ticket you purchase and your companion’s capacity to drink. There is a tour that ends at the rooftop that includes three beers (€29.95) and a tour that doesn’t include the rooftop but includes two beers (€24.95). Clearly, if you value one beer at more than €5, you include the rooftop.

What about the children? Well, kids used to be able to get inside the tour (they just wouldn’t get beer). But the rules these days now require everyone to be aged 18+ to get in the door. That’s a bit unfortunate as it probably locks us out of a return visit if we end up back in Amsterdam with the kids.

Stroopwafel cooking class

Link to official site: https://www.stroopwafelworkshop.com/
Good for ages: 2 and up
Nearest rail station: Frederiksplein (9 minute walk)
Stroller-friendly: Yes

You might recognize stroopwafels from the assortment of snacks on a United Airlines flight. Wouldn’t it be fun to make your own? This stroopwafel workshop is located at the Albert Cuyp Market. As the banner states, it’s great to be happy for no reason.

The 45-minute cooking class will give you some history of the stroopwafel and guided instructions on how to make it. It’s a small class (roughly 20 people in total) and mostly full of adults when we went. It’s a good idea for date night, family reunions, and just bringing the kids. The instructions are simple but if you’re a fan of sweets, this isn’t a bad spot to check out.

Henri Willig Cheese Tasting

Link to official site: https://henriwillig.com/en/our-experiences/tasting/
Good for ages: 2 and up
Nearest rail station: Rembrandtplein (2 minute walk)
Stroller-friendly: No

You can’t come to Amsterdam without taking a moment to sample the local product (cheese). While there are several choices for cheese tasting, we settled on Henri Willig. They’ve been making cheese since the 1970s, and it’s quite delicious. There are several locations to do a tasting within the Amsterdam city limits, and we went to the location at Rembrandtplein.

Boy, was this a large assortment of cheeses and dips! It’s one thing to try the fresh cheeses but it’s even better to also sample the accompanying sauces that do a great job bringing out the flavors of the cheese. Come hungry because you will most definitely feel stuffed after getting through this long smorgasbord. And don’t forget the two included (alcoholic) drinks as well.

Rijksmuseum

Link to official site: https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en
Good for ages: 15+
Nearest rail station: Museumplein (4 minute walk)
Stroller-friendly: Yes

Looking for some historical culture on your trip to The Netherlands? The Rijksmuseum might be up your alley. This museum boasts over 800 years of history in its walls, including works of art from some of the most famous Dutchmen: Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Van Gogh. Entry is only €25 per adult and is free for those 18 and under.

You’ll probably get a couple of hours in here just wandering around the halls looking at the art. We’d say if you have kids, expect them to be bored. But for adults, it’s nice to come here and pay respects.

Day trip to Zaanse Schans

One classic thing to do when you go to The Netherlands is check out the windmills. There are multiple types of windmills in the Dutch countryside, ranging from grinding to sawing wood to pressing oils. Some might even say seeing the countryside is a must-do and we’d tend to agree. There is far more to do just outside the city that enables you to appreciate what life is like out here.

Check out our dedicated post where we go into far more detail on Zaanse Schans and everything you can see in the neighboring cities.

What about more activities in Amsterdam specifically focused around children?

If you’re interested in checking out more on what we did in Amsterdam with a bit more focus around kid activities, check out our dedicated post to what to do in Amsterdam with kids.

Where to Eat in Amsterdam

We thought it would prudent of us to point out all the restaurants we ate at to help you decide on what you might want to try. In no way do we have the opportunity to try every restaurant in the city, but I think we’ve tried a good variety.

Omelegg

Link to official site: https://omelegg.com/
Good for kids:Yes
Nearest rail station: Centraal Station (4 minute walk) for the City Centre location
Reservations needed: No, not possible

I’ll be honest, the food we ate at many breakfast shops in Amsterdam was fresh and delicious. The first place we ate at was Omelegg, which we had as a very late brunch. As you can imagine, the place specializes in omelets and eggs, which is perfect for what we were looking for. In fact, breakfast is available all day long here, so if you get that urge in the early afternoon, you know where to go to satisfy your cravings. Sadly, the restaurant isn’t open for dinner.

It’s a family-run business and one that I would recommend if you’re looking for good omelets. They don’t take reservations, so there could be a short line to get in the door.

Bakers & Roasters

Link to official site: https://bakersandroasters.com/
Good for kids: Yes
Nearest rail station: Artis/Holocaustmuseum (7 minute walk) for the City Center location
Reservations needed: No, but possible

One other breakfast place we enjoyed was Bakers & Roasters. The food here was absolutely fresh and delicious. That holds true whether you’re going for something more familiar like eggs, sausage, and bacon, or a seasonal special.

Prices are a little more expensive here than they are at Omelegg, but we were still quite satisfied.

De Carrousel Pannenkoeken

Link to official site: https://www.decarrouselpannenkoeken.nl/
Good for kids: Yes
Nearest rail station: Vijzelgracht (2 minute walk)
Reservations needed: No, not possible

You’re going to think this list of restaurants is dominated by breakfast options–and you’d be right–but no one looks at you funny when eating breakfast later in the day. We had to make our way over to the famous De Carrousel Pannenkoeken restaurant. Not only do they specialize in pancakes and other breakfast items, but the restaurant really gives that awesome vibe of being in a carousel. The unique nature of the restaurant makes it worthy of a visit.

Fitting with the carousel theme, you can also check out the horses in the center of the restaurant.

If I’m being perfectly honest, the food–while still good–wasn’t as good as the other breakfast options we had in the city. It wasn’t anything to be disappointed about, but I think it speaks more to the overall plethora of good options you have to choose from.

Still, it’s a guilty pleasure coming here and we’re happy to have given it a chance. How often can you say you dined in an old carousel?

The Pantry Amsterdam

Link to official site: https://www.thepantry.nl/en/
Good for kids: Yes
Nearest rail station: Prinsengracht (3 minute walk)
Reservations needed: Yes, highly recommended

Popular and tasty, that’s what we can say about this place. From all of our visits to Amsterdam, this ranks as one of the best meals we’ve had. You’ll want to secure a reservation because otherwise you’ll be in for a lengthy wait. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Just about everything we ate here was homely goodness. That’s especially true if you’re here on a cold day and need some warmth in your stomach. Give it a try and I’m sure you’ll agree with us. It’s the home cooking we never knew we needed.

For more details on The Pantry, check out our dedicated post on our visit.

Smelt

Link to official site: https://restaurantsmelt.nl/en/9-straatjes/
Good for kids: Yes, if your kids don’t mind the strong cheese smell
Nearest rail station: Rokin (8 minute walk)
Reservations needed: Yes, highly recommended

In the mood for some cheese fondue? You’re in a city that specializes in cheese, so it only seems natural to eat cheese for dinner. Much like The Pantry, Smelt is a fairly small restaurant so you’d do well if you grab a reservation in advance. But fair warning when you walk inside: the cheese fumes are quite strong and noticeable as soon as you enter. If you have anyone sensitive to strong smells (like younger children or those with dairy allergies), you might want to skip this one.

But if you stay to dine here, all we can say is “yum”. There are several different cheese fondues to choose from, so do yourself a favor and choose a couple of them so you can get some variety with all the breads and veggies you’ll be dipping. After your meal ends, don’t forget to crack an egg into the remnants so you can polish off with cheese scrambled eggs. This ranks among some of the best cheese fondue we’ve had in ages.

For more on Restaurant Smelt, check out our dedicated post.

Albert Cuyp Market

Link to official site: https://albertcuyp-markt.amsterdam/?lang=en
Good for kids: Yes
Nearest rail station: Albert Cuypstraat (9 minute walk)
Reservations needed: No, not possible

Want something more casual? The Albert Cuyp Market is full of small shops and restaurants six days a week (not open on Sundays). If you’re in the area already (perhaps for the stroopwafel cooking class), it can make sense to also grab a bite to eat here.

You won’t just find Dutch classics here, but food from all cultures. I stopped by to grab a wrap from a falafel place, which was tasty. Part of the appeal of stopping by different stops is the ability for everyone in their party to find something they prefer. On top of that, you’ll find plenty of desserts and stroopwafels (or perhaps some souvenirs to bring home).

Where we stayed

Hyatt Regency Amsterdam

Link to official site: https://www.hyatt.com/hyatt-regency/en-US/amsra-hyatt-regency-amsterdam
Good for kids: Yes
Nearest rail station: Weesperplein (3 minute walk)
Points needed: 17,000 to 23,000 Hyatt points per night

The Hyatt Regency Amsterdam is located in a decent spot, a simple walk to public transportation and in a fairly calm and relaxing part of town. It wasn’t all that close to attractions, but it wasn’t so far away that it was inconvenient.

We found the service here to be absolutely excellent, with staff that was excited to go above and beyond. As just one example of the hospitality here, the lounge attendant was absolutely thrilled to see us and we frequently got into a conversation with her. She became absolutely enamored with young Alex. During our last night, she sent along a special gift for him: a plate full of all the fruits he loved the most from the lounge. Indeed, I found the hotel catered to infants quite well, with a proper crib, slippers, and toiletries.

When we arrived at the Hyatt Regency, we didn’t have Globalist status. Instead, I had Explorist status, which at the time came with some club access awards. I used one of them for our stay here, which gave access to the excellent lounge. However, the expectation at the time was that most people accessing the lounge would be Globalists and so not much was offered for breakfast in that lounge. That would explain all the breakfast restaurants we checked out here in the city.

This hotel became a favorite of ours in Europe, in large part because of the excellent service.

Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht

Link to official site: https://www.hyatt.com/andaz/amsaz-andaz-amsterdam-prinsengracht
Good for kids: Yes
Nearest rail station: Rokin (10 minute walk)
Points needed: 30,000 to 40,000 Hyatt points per night

Sticking with Hyatt, an arguably fancier hotel choice for you is the Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht. This will cost you more than the Hyatt Regency above, but some might argue it’s worth it. The service level is just as good but it’s a little closer to the city center than the Regency. Part of which hotel you think is ideal is going to be based on where you want to be.

Rooms are comfortable with excellent bedding and connecting rooms are available. The bathrooms are more interesting since there isn’t much of a divider from the bedroom, so I hope you like who you’re staying with. We still had a pleasant stay overall here.

If you dine with them for breakfast, taking advantage of Globalist status benefits or a Guest of Honor award, you’ll find it’s an excellent buffet. There are plenty of options, including some local choices, and it comes with an egg dish. We still think longingly back to our stay here, especially the excellent start to the day here at breakfast.

For more on our time at the Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht, check out our dedicated post on the hotel.

Sample 3-day Amsterdam itinerary

If you only have three days in Amsterdam, what should you do? Our recommendation would be the following:

Day 1

• Morning: Stroopwafel Cooking Class
• Midday: Albert Cuyp Market
• Afternoon: Henri Willig Cheese Tasting
• Evening: Walk along the canals

We don’t advocate doing more than two major attractions per day as it can feel rather cramped. That’s why we only recommend admission to two attractions in this itinerary. This particular day will be a little more heavy on the eating. Isn’t that what you came to Amsterdam to do? Both the cooking class and the cheese tasting are walkable and positioned in a way to give you a pleasant stroll between them.

Eating at the Albert Cuyp Market seems like a logical choice. You might not have much of an appetite to eat too much between the stroopwafels (which you can save for later) and the cheese tasting (which you can’t save for later).

In the evening, we like the thought of just walking along the canals. You can’t really go wrong anywhere, but the intersection of the Reguliersgracht canal and the Herengracht canal is one of the more famous in the evening, Feel free to take a canal tour if you want, but we just like wandering around town. 

Day 2

• Morning: Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh Museum
• Midday: Bakers & Roasters
• Afternoon: Heineken Experience
• Evening: Observe the red light district?

If you’re anything like us, you’d like the thought of going to a museum but you don’t want to dedicate a full day to it. Thus, we would only recommend one of either the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh Museum. However, since they’re right next to each other, you can certainly adjust if you’re more into the art than we are.

From there, a Bakers & Roasters is a quick walk away, which makes for a great lunch stop.

In the afternoon, perhaps it’s a nice idea to let off some steam at the Heineken Experience? This won’t work if you have kids in your party, since they’re not allowed, but if it’s just adults, it’s your excuse to go let loose a bit. Continuing on with the adults-only theme, perhaps you might have interest in walking by the red light district? It’s perfectly safe and sterile to walk by during the day, but in the evening, it could make for some interesting observations.

Day 3

• All day: Day trip to Zaanse Schans

We loved our time checking out the Dutch countryside, starting with Zaanse Schans and crossing over to places like Edam, Volendam, and Marken. If you like seeing cute Dutch houses, you’re going to love this area, with plenty of cute towns to check out. Public transportation is a bit tougher out here depending on how far out you go, but buses still run. Consider either booking yourself a tour or rent a car for a day.

Either way, I think you’re going to be a fan (insert dad joke about windmills and fans).

Have you been to Amsterdam? What do you like to do there?

Suggested reading:

• Destination Spotlight: Copenhagen, Denmark
• Pro Tip: Exchange Currency at Your Destination
• The Travel Gadgets That Make Our Travel Easy