ARTZUID Art Camp

Work like a mini artist at the ArtZuid camp, studying the masters, making your own work and finishing with an exhibition.

WOW Camp

Art, Science, Music & Movement are offered in this versatile 3- in-1 holiday camp.

Bikes, Obstacles, Skates

Griffioenoutdoor BMX

Ride BMX bikes and learn the ropes at the Griffioen outdoor centre in Ookmeer.

Cooking, Dance, Music, Theatre

Amsterdam Youth Theatre School’s May Make Days

A variety of day workshops ranging from K-Pop, Filmmaking, Improvisation, Comedy & more

BeatZone Dance Camp

A different style of urban dance every day and a mini performance at the end of the week.

Sterk In Eten

It has become a tradition: during the May holiday “Sterk In Eten” opens the city’s most delightful pop-up restaurant. In two days, the children prepare a complete restaurant menu where everything — absolutely everything — is homemade.

Toverknol Theater Camp

Discover acting in a playful way by attending one of the daily workshops with various themes.

Hockey

Panasj Hockey

Hockey camps at hockey club VVV, also suitable for beginners.

Sportways Hockey Camp

Intensive hockey camps at Amsterdam hockey clubs Athena and AMHC Westerpark.

Multisports

Little Star Fitness

Have fun while learning fundamental athletic skills and a healthy lifestyle in this multi sport camp, which has been happening since 2014.

Stichting Manege Waveren

The horse riding school is on the edge of the city, bordering fields and parks. The kids will take care of the ponies and also take them for small excursions.

VROG Camps

Trampolining, free running, mini football and basketball are all on offer at VROG’s two-day camps near Waterlooplein

Outdoor Camps

Sport4Kidz

A variety of water- and outdoor sports activities, held at Watersport Jeugdland in Amsterdam Oost.

Terragon Nature Camp

All-weather activities camp on a 2.5 acre nature reserve in Amsterdam.

UP Events Kids

A wide variety of outdoor fun and games.

Science and Technology

CoderMinds

AI, Programming, Robotics & Science are the name of the game at this STEM focused camp in Amstelveen

The Science Camp

One full week of experiments, STEAM activities, practicing engineering and outside play. Pure fun!

Sailing & Surfing

Sport4Kidz Sailing

A week of sailing in an Optimist, combined with other fun outdoor activities like campfires or building rafts at Jeugdland.

Surfkamp Zandvoort

Juvigo offers multiple water sports and hockey camps. Perfect place for teenagers to enjoy water sports camps like kite surfing, surfing, and sailing.

Football

Ajax Camps

One day themed soccer clinics for kids of all ages and levels, with special clinics for girls and keepers, at the Ajax facilities next to the famous Johan Cruijff ArenA.

ProCamps

One day themed soccer clinics for kids of all ages and levels, with special clinics for girls and keepers, at the Ajax facilities next to the famous Johan Cruijff ArenA.

Tennis

Drive ITT Tennis Linnaeushof

Tennis camps at different levels, combining fun and competition, at the tennis club Linneaushof right in the middle of Watergraafsmeer.

Tennis op Maat

Lots of tennis mixed with other fun and games at the Kattenlaan tennis park in Vondelpark or Haarlem.

The post May Holiday Camps 2026 appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

Amsterdam Halloween 2024

Join a Halloween Parade!
Amsterdam Mamas Spooktacular is back! On Sunday 27 October gather together in your best costumes and parade around Beatrixpark with fellow ghosts, goblins, wizards and superheroes! Information and tickets available through our website. For the littlest monsters, up to age 8.

Trick or Treat!
What could be more fun for kids than going door to door in costume, with a goodie bag, ringing the doorbell, shouting “Trick or treat!” and (hopefully) receiving candy?

Trick or treating is NOT tradition in the Netherlands so the trick or treating that happens is privately managed. There are neighbourhoods in Zuid, Buitenveldert and Steigereiland Noord in Ijburg that have active trick or treating. Here is a map of homes participating in trick or treating this year. Consider becoming a host home yourself! It is really fun to decorate the house and see all the creative costumes and happy children. Speaking of which…

Dress up and Decorate!
Whether you are hosting trick or treaters or your own Halloween party, here are some popular local businesses ready to supply you with all your Halloween gear:

• Kinderfeestwinkel: This children’s party store in De Pijp has everything you need for a Halloween party or any other party throughout the year. Warning: if your child adores big, flouncy, tutu style skirts you may not leave the store without one.
• Witbaard: Oodles of Halloween stuff – both scary and fun. Check out the huge collection of children’s costumes upstairs! Witbaard is also located close to Duikelman in case you need to visit an amazing culinary supply store for Halloween-themed cookie cutters or sharp knives for carving pumpkins.
• Louis Wittenburg, around since 1901, knows its business and is ready to supply all of the Halloween needs of our Centrum dwelling families.
• Dam in Oost has an incredible array of Halloween and many other holiday items. You can shop in-store or order online.

Carve a Pumpkin!
There are pumpkins in many grocery stores this time of year, as well as in garden centres. Don’t limit yourself to classic orange pumpkins – green, white, and yellow gourds add to the fun. Here are some ideas for beginners and more advanced carvers. Alternatively, for those who prefer not to have pumpkin flesh and seeds on the kitchen floors, consider joining a pumpkin carving workshop for children.

Get a Fright!

Halloween can be enjoyed out on the town as well.

For younger children, The Science Camp is hosting a Haunted House on Saturday 2 November. Adolescents or teens will be thrilled at the Amsterdam Dungeon which has extended hours on Saturday 26 October as well as Halloween itself. Reserve tickets now as they sell fast. Older teens (16+) can try to escape from the Amsterdam Catacombs – this escape room only minutes from Central Station will be sure to give chills and thrills.

Further afield is Walibi, a theme park about an hour’s drive from Amsterdam. During the weeks up to and just after Halloween, Walibi hosts Fright Nights for children over 12 and Spooky Days for children up to 12.

Watch a Movie! My kids are either bored or terrified by the movies I remember from my (admittedly long ago) childhood. Thankfully, there are guides for kid-friendly Halloween movies and where they are streaming. Popcorn, costumes, and a good spooky movie—you’ve got this Halloween covered!

When the kids go to bed, all of you Dutch learners/scary movie aficionados might consider watching the Dutch film The Vanishing (available for rent on Apple TV) based on the story The Golden Egg by native Amsterdammer Tim Krabbé (brother of actor Jeroen Krabbé). It was made into a Hollywood film (with a very young Sandra Bullock) but the original is much scarier – Stanley Kubrick called it the scariest movie he’d ever seen. And it’s good practice for your Dutch!

Halloween Travel in Europe

For many people, Halloween 2024 falls in the middle of Herfstvakantie. If you’re heading out of Amsterdam, consider traveling to some spooky destinations throughout Europe. Amsterdam Mama’s contributor Mary Petiet compiled a list of spooky Halloween destinations all over Europe, including two from here in the Netherlands

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Embrace the Orange Spirit Together: During King’s Day, orange isn’t just a colour — it’s a symbol of celebration. Dress your family in orange clothes, hats, crowns, or even face paint to join in the fun and show your enthusiasm for the festivities. It’s a great way to blend in with the locals and create lasting memories together!

Navigating King’s Day: First things first, plan your travel wisely. If you want to reach Amsterdam from outside the city, trains are your best option but keep in mind there won’t be any trains to Amsterdam Science Park and Amsterdam RAI. Since the city centre shuts down and people take over the streets, public transport is nearly impossible, metro and walking are your best bet, leave your bike at home or be prepared to walk with it when required. You can conveniently plan your trip right before leaving by using the planner in the GVB app which is also available in English. Don’t forget public transportation is not free during King’s Day.

Market Magic: The city transforms into a ‘giant market’ on King’s Day. From 6:00 to 20:00, you can join the hustle and bustle of endless street markets, spread across the city (and country) where people sell and buy mostly second hand tidbits, homeware, clothes, toys and so much more! There are also special kid-friendly zones where your little entrepreneurs can shine. In fact, children have already begun to mark out their ‘spots’ in the neighbourhood so they are all booked and ready for them to sell their wares on King’s Day, sans competition.

Vondelpark Adventure: Vondelpark is THE place to be for families on King’s Day. Doors will close at 20.00 the night before and open at 9 am, so arrive early to snag a spot for your kids to sell their toys or entertain the crowd with their talents, such as singing, dancing, playing an instrument etc. Don’t forget to bring some spare change for all the goodies you’ll sell or find!

Vondelpark isn’t the only hotspot for family fun… Explore other kid-friendly areas like Amstelveld, Noorderpark, Rembrandtplein, Artisplein, Middenweg or the Westerpark. And if you want to avoid the crowds, steer clear of busy spots like Westerstraat in Jordaan. Check out the designated areas for children on this website (in Dutch).

King’s Day Festivities: The celebrations aren’t limited to the city centre. Check out in the East/Oost, the Bredeweg Festival for street theatre performances, a free market, music, dance, puppet shows, and live music. This year the festival will also go across the water; the Oranjevrijstraat Square and part of the Oranjevrijstaatkade. Check the times for the performances here: schedule. Or head north to NDSM Vrijhaven for the biggest children’s flea market in Amsterdam, packed with live music, entertainment, workshops, and a variety of food and drink options. Admission is free, so put on your orange outfit and join the fun! If you want a stand for your kid to sell, get a ticket.
For the ‘West crew’, Erasmus Park promises a vibrant atmosphere with a flea market and live music. Throughout the day, visitors can explore the flea market for children and enjoy the live music which begins at noon, check the programma here.

Giving Back: After the festivities, look for kringloop containers throughout the city to donate unsold items to charity shops. It’s a great way to spread kindness and declutter your home at the same time!

Staying Home, Staying Festive: If you prefer to celebrate indoors, don’t worry… Be sure to hang the Dutch flag outside your house or on a window, stock up on some orange tompouce or bitterballen, and watch the King on TV. There are plenty of exciting ideas and activities to keep the King’s Day spirit alive at home. Check out some fun suggestions here.

Fun fact: Traditionally, King’s Day is celebrated every April 27th since Willem Alexander became king. However, in 2025, King’s Day falls on Saturday, April 26, because King’s Day never competes with a Sunday’s festivities!

Take into account that most shops will be closed during the day, but you can expect large and small neighbourhood supermarkets to be open for business.

Get ready to paint the town orange and create unforgettable memories with your family this King’s Day!

The post King’s Day: A Family-Friendly Orange Party! appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

DIY Upcycling: Make Your Own Bird Feeder

One of the best ways to celebrate Earth Day is by repurposing everyday items to create something new and useful. A simple and enjoyable DIY activity for kids is making their own bird feeders using recycled materials. Not only does this activity teach kids about going green, but it also encourages creative thinking and gives an opportunity for children to connect with nature. Hearing the birds chirping outside is a great way to increase biophilic responses, as nature sounds are found to have positive impacts on our health and wellbeing.

Supplies needed:

• One tin can, clean and label removed.
• Paint of assorted colours (acrylic/water resistant) or decorative paper
• Paint brushes (if using paint)
• Ribbons/ strings
• Bird Seed
• Sturdy stick to act as a perch for the birds.

Instructions to put it together:

• Take the paper off of your tin can and paint the can in the desired colour. Leave it to dry and add another coat of paint if needed. You can also use decorative paper to wrap up the tin can instead of painting.
• If using paint, let the paint dry and add whatever other decorative elements you want using other colours.
• When the paint is dry, cut a long piece of ribbon about 18 to 24 inches long and tie it around one end of the tin can, leaving the two long edges at the top. Tie the two ends together to loop over a branch for hanging.
• Repeat this on the other end of the tin.
• Glue the stick into the can to function as a perch.
• When the glue is set, fill the can about halfway with seed and hang it sideways from a branch.

Your Earth Day craft is finished! Now hang it in the balcony or garden and sit back and watch the birds come in for a snack with your kids! Sometimes it can take a week for the birds to discover and start feeding from this new feeder so be patient.

Books to Inspire Young Environmentalists

Reading together is another wonderful way to introduce children to important environmental concepts and here are four recommended books to read to/with their kids this month:

1. “The Lorax” by Dr. Seuss: This classic tale tells the story of the Lorax, who speaks for the trees, and teaches children about the importance of conservation and protecting our natural resources.
2. “Wangari’s Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa” by Jeanette Winter – Based on the true story of Wangari Maathai, this book tells the inspiring tale of how she empowered her community in Kenya to plant trees and restore the environment, ultimately leading to her winning the Nobel Peace Prize.
3. “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein: It is a cautionary tale about human exploitation of nature and the consequences of taking more than we give back.
4. “The Earth Book” by Todd Parr: In this colorful book, Todd Parr highlights different ways children can help take care of the Earth, such as conserving water, planting trees, and recycling.

Hope these activities are able to instill appreciation for the earth at a young age and empower our children to become stewards of the earth.

Let’s make every day Earth Day!

The post We Only Have One Earth appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

Presenting the winner of the category Best Museum for Families in Amsterdam:

Nemo Science Museum

NEMO, the 2016 and 2017 winner of Best Museum for families, is back. This unique museum in Amsterdam’s harbor continues to promise family fun for all ages. Bring the kids to create huge soap bubbles, make computers talk, learn how a phone works, watch a chain reaction demonstration, push buttons and pull levers to find the relationship between action and reaction. As the Netherlands’ largest science museum, NEMO packs five floors with scientific and technological wonders and a hands-on interactive approach to captivate kids with the fascination of science. The roof terrace at the top of the building makes for a nice break for lunch or a snack.

The runners-up were:

ARTIS – Amsterdam Royal Zoo

Rijksmuseum

Het Scheepsvaartmuseum

Look for the Mamas Recommend window sticker, certificate, or online logo around the city, and you’ll be sure that the business or service you are using is tried and trusted by the Amsterdam Mamas community!

Photo credit: All images © Roel Baeckaert, amsterdam&partners, all rights reserved.

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Presenting the winner of the category Best Group/Class for Older Children (Eight Years and Older) in Amsterdam:

Naya Nature 

Naya Nature programs are designed for all children with weekly immersive experiences in the woods and meadows of the Beatrixpark. Naya Nature emphasizes sensorial races and games, tree climbing, arts and crafts, dance, theatre, yoga and mindfulness, eco-squad sustainable missions, and lots of free imaginative play allowing children to create, develop, and reflect upon the synergies between humans and the natural world. Naya Nature also organizes gardening sessions in the Beatrixpark, and parents can enjoy precious family time with their children during their Saturday morning classes.

Honourable Mentions:     

Little Star Fitness

The Science Camp    

The Little Gym    

Look for the Mamas Recommend window sticker, certificate, or online logo around the city, and you’ll be sure that the business or service you are using is tried and trusted by the Amsterdam Mamas community!

Photo Credit: Naya Nature

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Presenting the winner of the Best Baby Class (0 to 2 years old) in or around Amsterdam:

Baby Sensory and Toddler Sense 

Gone are the days when a baby would just eat, sleep, poop, repeat. Nowadays, there are an incredible number of activities that our tiny humans can try out and explore from the very first weeks of life. And Baby Sensory knows the perfect way of guiding you, the parent, through them! You won’t just learn how to nurture your little one’s potential, but also how best to guide them on their explorative journey while creating a beautiful parent-child bond.

Slowly getting babies accustomed to more than the sounds of the womb alone; letting them see and hear an array of experiences; introducing sensorial discoveries; letting them interact with various toys and objects; choosing and reading first books: these classes will prove an incredible educational tool to guide children from the first days of life all the way to school age.

Honourable Mentions:

Jacaranda Tree Montessori

Lo Stivaletto

The Little Gym

Look for the Mamas Recommend window sticker, certificate, or online logo around the city, and you’ll be sure that the business or service you are using is tried and trusted by the Amsterdam Mamas community!

The post AMR Awards 2018: Best Baby Class (0 to 2 years old) appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

Presenting the winner of the Best Younger Child Class (4 to 8 years old) in or around Amsterdam:

Friends Call Me Jim 

There comes a time when your precious little bundle grows up and wants to begin exploring the world.  Friends Call Me Jim is a wonderful and new innovative space for children aged between 2 and 7 years that aims to help kids use their imagination as they discover the joy of motion all the while gaining confidence in skills they can grow and use in their active, busy lives.  The Jim team combines adventure story-telling with play, movement, and technology to provide children with a magical experience while learning essential movement skills.  The Jim studio contains two separate play and learn spaces developed with both children and parents in mind, each containing soft sports flooring, high-quality custom made equipment and a glass wall so that parents can enjoy watching their children play while they enjoy a coffee.

Honourable Mentions:

Naya Nature   

Little Star Fitness   

My Little Van Gogh   

Look for the Mamas Recommend window sticker, certificate, or online logo around the city, and you’ll be sure that the business or service you are using is tried and trusted by the Amsterdam Mamas community!

Photo Credit: Friends Call Me Jim

The post AMR Awards 2018: Best Younger Child Class (4 to 8 years old) appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

Presenting the winner of the category Best Swim School in Amsterdam:

Waterbabies    

Waterbabies teaches water confidence and safety skills to babies and toddlers in Amstelveen and Amsterdam Noord and West. Their half-hour long classes are great for making new friends, helping enhance the bonding process, having fun, and the utter thrill of seeing your little one gliding underwater toward you. The highly-trained instructors make the serious business of teaching your child to swim a fun process and get great results from even very young babies.

Honourable Mentions:

Mirandabad    

Marnixbad    

De Oerbron    

Look for the Mamas Recommend window sticker, certificate, or online logo around the city, and you’ll be sure that the business or service you are using is tried and trusted by the Amsterdam Mamas community!

The post AMR Awards 2018: Best Swim School appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

Presenting the winner of the Best Toddler Class (2 to 4 years old) in or around Amsterdam:

Friends Call Me Jim 

There comes a time when your precious little bundle grows up and wants to begin exploring the world.  Friends Call Me Jim is a wonderful and new innovative space for children aged between 2 and 7 years that aims to help kids use their imagination as they discover the joy of motion all the while gaining confidence in skills they can grow and use in their active, busy lives.  The Jim team combines adventure story-telling with play, movement, and technology to provide children with a magical experience while learning essential movement skills.  The Jim studio contains two separate play and learn spaces developed with both children and parents in mind, each containing soft sports flooring, high-quality custom made equipment and a glass wall that provides parents with the opportunity to enjoy watching their children play while they enjoy a coffee.

Honourable Mentions:

Monkey Moves    

Black Cat Theatre   

Little Star Fitness   

Look for the Mamas Recommend window sticker, certificate, or online logo around the city, and you’ll be sure that the business or service you are using is tried and trusted by the Amsterdam Mamas community!

Photo Credit: Friends Call Me Jim

The post AMR 2018 Awards: Best Toddler Class (2 to 4 years old) appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.