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.

Liberation Day in the Netherlands is a joyous national holiday that marks the end of the German occupation during World War II and celebrates the country’s freedom. Observed annually on May 5, it’s a day of various events like concerts, parades, and ceremonies honouring the sacrifices made for freedom. It’s a day when the Dutch unite to celebrate their past and renew their commitment to peace and democracy, fostering a sense of community and joy. ​

It is a special occasion where Dutch and international artists celebrate freedom through the Liberation Festivals. You can also visit ​Open Jewish and Resistance Homes​ situated in the heart of Amsterdam to hear about personal wartime experiences, watch films and enjoy music. There are Freedom Feasts, where communal meals foster unity, and children’s events are organised to educate them about freedom, providing an enriching and worthwhile experience for the young.

Multiple activities are available in the city to celebrate Liberation Day for families with kids. The complete agenda is available ​here​​ (in Dutch). ​

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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.

How much more Dutch can I be if I manage to do this AND survive? 

The idea of jumping in icy water on New Year’s Day, surrounded by thousands of people and be filmed for public television in my bathing suit, never appealed to me. But, according to the Dutch Iceman Wim Hof, cold exposure, along with meditation and breathing exercises, relieves stress, depression and improves your mental health. So, when registration for the 2020 Nieuwjaarsduik (New Year’s Dive) popped up on my Facebook page, I could not resist. How much more Dutch can I be if I manage to do this AND survive? And what a cold, I mean cool, way to welcome the new decade. I signed up for the 61st edition of the Zandvoort Nieuwjaarsduik, along with 4500 other fans. I even rallied my family to join, but they unfortunately did not share my enthusiasm. My teenager quipped, “You’re going to catch a cold and be sick, Mum”, and my other child agreed, “It’s way too cold!”.  None of my Dutch in-laws had done it. “You’re very brave! “, they all responded. During the Christmas holidays, eager to drum up some support, I chatted to two Dutch friends, who were immediately keen. “What a great way to start the New Year!”, they enthused. Within two weeks, word got around. We were a group of four adults and three teenagers (not mine, unfortunately) ready to take the freezing plunge.

On 1st January 2020, a total of 60000 people took part, across 229 locations.

On New Year’s Day, we arrived around noon at Beach Club Tien in Zandvoort, which gave us just enough time to recover from New Year’s Eve celebrations. The Nieuwejaarsduik was not scheduled until 14:00. We first collected our UNOX (official supporters) hats and stayed warm with hot drinks, until the 13:45 musical warm-up on the beach started. We positioned ourselves in the middle of the crowd close to the starting line. The trick was to slowly undress while dancing, to retain body heat for as long as possible. When the gong went, I just ran into the water and kept going until the water reached my neck, and then ran back to my spot on the beach, joining the choir of screams, squeals and laughter. With hindsight, the worst part of the experience was getting numb feet on the icy cold sand. Running back and forth to the sea, and dipping myself in four degrees water, was exhilarating. Dressing as quickly as possible, with wet, sandy feet, while holding a towel with cold, numb fingers felt a bit clumsy, but I did it. The cherry on the cake: the hearty erwtensoep (pea and sausage soup) and the Duikheld (Diving Hero) certificate from UNOX. Such an invigorating experience to start the new decade was, for me, better than 1000 new resolutions. Unforgettable!

“What a great way to start the New Year!”

Practical Tips

• Travel by train to Zandvoort-aan-Zee, and then walk for 10 minutes to Beach Club Tien.
• If you arrive by car, there are parking spaces on the street and open-air parking close by.
  • Parking Watertoren; Rob’s Parkeerservice – €5 cash for the dive/ €7,50 per day
• Kindly ask someone to join you to look after your clothes and belongings on the beach. Make a mental note of where that person stands.
• For the truly courageous, naked New Year Dives also exist!
• Be selfish: choose a spot in the middle of the crowd and avoid the edges where the cold wind blows harder, although the ring of spectators around also provides protection.
• Do not take young children, there were hardly any. Keep your teenagers close to you.
• No prior training with icy cold showers at home is required if you’re running into the water. However, if you have to jump into a canal or a lake, then prepare, the week before, with a cold shower every day.
• Only take part in the Dive if you feel fit enough.
• It is strongly advised not to plunge headfirst into the water.
• Wear your UNOX hat, it looks great and really helps to keep your head warm. More importantly, these bright orange hats make you more visible to the life-and-coastguards on duty.

Fun Facts

The tradition of swimming in icy cold water on New Year’s Day originated in Canada. On 1st January 1920,  Peter Pantages, a Greek immigrant, convinced his friends to plunge into the freezing Vancouver waters. This bold act inaugurated the Polar Bear Swim tradition. While Polar Bear Swims are held to celebrate the new year in Canada, they often serve to raise money for charities in the United States. The first Nieuwjaarsduik took place in Zandvoort in 1960 and was initiated by Ok van Batenburg, a swimming coach, testing the icy seawater on the second Christmas day of 1959. A year later, on New Year’s Day, 28 people ran into the water. The now-famous Scheveningen Nieuwjaarsduik at Den Haag was started in 1965, by Jan van Scheijndel, a Dutch marathon swimmer who crossed the English Channel, along with seven other participants. New Year’s Day Dives are now organized in many countries around the world but The Netherlands has the most Nieuwjaarsduik sites and the most significant number of participants. On 1st January 2020, a total of 60,000 people took part, across 229 locations. Scheveningen draws a record number of participants, with somewhere between 7000 and 10,000 running into the sea each year.

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