ArchiKids

During the art camp children are guided to build imaginary cities, houses, landscapes and many more… The variety of materials and exploration of the nearby park become the starting point of their creative projects. In English.

WOW Family Center 3 in1 Camp

The best of My Little van Gogh, Toddler Sense and Mini Professor all in one place, in Dutch and English.

ARTZUID Art Camp

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

Bikes, Obstacles, Skates

Griffioenoutdoor BMX

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

Cooking, Dance, Music, Theatre

BeatZone Dance Camp

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

Damoves Summer Camp

Three days of dancing together and working towards a performance on Wednesday afternoon. But also we will do a special kids session on all three days… Kids Yoga, a Reiki session, a kids proof Cacao Ceremonie and a Comedy Musical workshop. Maximum ten kleuters. We also play outside under supervision of two people every day on the playground around the corner.Bring: dance clothes, lunch box. Snacks and drinks are provided.

Kinderkookles

Cooking summer camp: 2025 theme: Amsterdam

Toverknol Theater Camp

Playful theatre workshops with various themes in Amsterdam and Utrecht.

Hockey

Panasj Hockey

Four day or week hockey camps at Hockey Club VVV, also suitable for beginners.

Sportways Hockey Camp

Intensive hockey camps at various Amsterdam hockey clubs AH&BC, Athena, HIC, Hurley, Pinoké and 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.

Outdoor Camps

Sport4Kidz

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

Fun Camp

The Base camp of the Outdoor Center borders the Stroombroek recreation area, an ideal place for swimming, beach volleyball and chilling. You will certainly not be bored at the Fun Camp!

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

The Science Camp

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

Sailing & Surfing

Aalsmeer Zeilschool

Learn sailing in Aalsmeer.

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

Football camps and clinics for kids of all ages and levels.

ProCamps

Day and week football camps at various locations.

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 various tennis clubs.

School Camps

Amity School Camp

Daily activities vary based on age and are always developmentally appropriate and captivating. Beyond our activities, each week is themed to bring together the supervisors and children in unifying and fun-filled experiences. Also open for children who do not attend Amity.

The post Summer Holiday Camps 2025 appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

The Netherlands

Don’t overlook the many beautiful destinations within The Netherlands itself: beautiful coastline, historic cities and towns, amusement parks, and forests.

Holiday Destinations Within The Netherlands

A Weekend on Texel

Summer Travels Near and Far

Stay in a Castle in Domburg

Spain and Portugal

The Iberian Peninsula is filled with glorious cities, stunning scenery, warm people, and delicious food.

Barcelona

Galicia

Lisbon

Seville

Algarve, Portugal

France

France has it all – mountains, beaches, castles, quiet country towns, glittering cities, and the je ne sais quoi that is so French.

Paris

Disneyland Paris

Brittany: Biking Holiday

Central Europe

Mountains, castles, charming cities, river valleys – the center of Europe has innumerable places to see and things to do …

Budapest

Berlin

Vienna

Prague

Zagreb

Poland: Stay in a kid-friendly palace

Romania: Stay in the Prince of Wales’ Transylvanian Guesthouse

Slovenia: Go Green in the Julian Alps

Italy and Greece

Sun soaked Mediterranean towns and beaches, ancient ruins, vibrant people, and loads of crowd pleasing food, you can’t go wrong visiting either of these ‘classics’.

Athens

Rome

United Kingdom and Ireland

Beyond the exuberance of London there is a vast and beautiful countryside and coastline filled with friendly, cozy, accomodations and people in the UK, and the Emerlad Isle lives up to its image of being green and friendly.

London

Ireland Glamping

Edinburgh

Scandinavia

Are you ready for a very long, beautiful, day? Go north and experience the natural wonders and beauty of Scandinavia in the summer!

Stockholm

Norway: Hiking

Denmark: Legoland Billum

Looking for family-friendly accommodation in Berlin? Consider booking your stay via booking.com/amsterdammamas. Find the perfect accommodation for your family while supporting Amsterdam Mamas at the same time! 

The post Quick Guide: European Summer Holidays appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

In the 1930s, the City of Amsterdam employed more than 20,000 people to create the Amsterdamse Bos, planting each tree by hand. Today, our city kids have a magnificent 1,000 hectares of nature to explore! Here are some great ways to enjoy all that space.

1. Walk a Trail

Adventurous children? Stop in the Boswinkel (visitors’ centre) and find out about the trails they are doing.

The Boswinkel is open Tuesday to Sunday, all year round.

2. Get Wet on Play Island

Play Island, on the Grote Vijver lake, is a great summer activity and is suitable for any child who can swim. Here you will find a wooden raft which children can pull to the island with the help of a rope. To get off the island you can take the rope bridge, swim in the lake or use the swing line to go back to the mainland. There are no lifeguards.

Open during the summer months. Free of charge.

3. Go Camping

Located at the southern tip of the Bos, the campsite is a great opportunity for our city kids to experience a bit of nature. There are power points available and free wifi if you still need a few home comforts. The camping shop sells groceries and other basic necessities. There is also a launderette and a small playground. The shower block has been recently renovated and includes baby changing facilities. Dogs are not allowed. If you don’t have a tent, you can rent a chalet or ecolodge and still enjoy some of the outdoor experience.

The camping season runs from April to October. 

4. Take Your Toddler for a Paddle

Want to cool off with your little ones in the summer? When the weather outside is above 20 degrees and dry, then the Bos’ two paddling pools are filled with water. The smaller pool is just south-west of the visitors centre, while the larger one is in the west of the park, between the goat farm and the canoe centre. Each pool has toilets and baby changing facilities, as well as a kiosk selling snacks.

Open from May to September. Free of charge.

5. Rent a Boat

Does your child want to be captain for the day? In the north-west corner of the park, you’ll find the Miniport, where you can rent a motorised mini boat and cruise around the Grote Vijver lake. The boats can seat 4 people, and ages 4 and up are allowed onboard. Boat rentals are charged per 15 minutes and the price includes the life vests.

For older children, head to the south-west corner of the Grote Vijver, where you can hire canoes and water bikes at reasonable hourly rates.

Open from mid-March to mid-October.

6. Climb Amongst the Trees

Fun Forest is a tree-high climbing trail for thrill-seekers aged between 4 and 14. There are ten trails, suitable for different ages and abilities. They charge per climber and online reservations are recommended. The trail behind the Fun Forest front desk is for 4-7 year-olds and is free of charge. Children walk on a tightrope from one tree to the next with the help of a parent.

Open from mid-March to November.

7. Visit a Goat Farm

Goatfarm Riddamerhoeve is a petting zoo in the heart of the Bos where you and your family can meet goats, lambs, chickens, pigs, cows and horses. For a small fee, children and adults can feed the little goats a bottle of milk. They offer organic food for lunch, and ice cream made from goat’s milk. When you’ve had enough farm action, follow the path North and explore the maze made of hedges.

Open all year round with every Tuesday closed. From November to February, they are also closed on Mondays. Entrance is free of charge.

8. Explore the Visitors’ Centre

The first floor of the Boswinkel, located in the north-east corner of the park, houses an engaging interactive exhibition on wildlife and nature. Interesting for both toddlers and older children, there is plenty to touch, watch, and hear and lots of nice educational content. A great place to dry out on a wet day. The coffee machine downstairs will help warm up Mum and Dad, while the kids draw what they have seen on the little tables nearby.

Open Tuesday to Sunday, all year round.

9. Go for Pancakes

Boerderij Meerzicht is a self-ordering lunch café, with attractive traditional Dutch architecture, which specialises in pancakes, including gluten-free. Located in the north-west corner of the Bos, it offers seating inside and outside. Children of all ages will enjoy playing in the large sandy outdoor playground and seeing the deer and peacocks that roam the farmhouse.

Open March to October from Tuesday to Sunday. From October to mid-February, open from Friday to Sunday.

10. Ride on a Vintage Tram

The 100-year-old trams run every Sunday between the Haarlemmermeerstation and Amstelveen. The tram picks up passengers at the main entrance of the Amsterdamse Bos and travels along the northeast edge of the park. There is a little shop where you can buy souvenirs and tram-related paraphernalia. See website for pricing. Mamas ride free on Mother’s Day and Papas on Father’s Day.

Tram season is from April to October, but you can also ride in December if you book a ticket with Amsterdam Mamas for the annual Vintage Santa Tram Ride.

photo credits: Speeleiland – Donna Bardsley

The post 10 Great Family Activities in the Amsterdamse Bos appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

1. Fun Forest 

Let the kids make like apes on the climbing trails at FunForest, sheltered under the shady bowers of the Amsterdamse Bos. Courses vary in difficulty, from a small, free-of-charge circuit suitable for 4+, to the challenging treetop ‘black gorilla’ for 14+.

2. Open Air Pools

Splash around in one of Amsterdam’s open air pools, scattered throughout the city. There are paddling pools for small children and larger pools with lane swimming and slides for the older ones.

3. Nemo Roof Garden

Visit the roof garden ‘Energetica’ on the 5th floor of Nemo, Amsterdam’s impressive science museum. Enjoy the sweeping panorama of Amsterdam and sip something refreshing in the chic café at the top while the kids play in the solar-powered fountains below. It’s free if you take the steps from the Oosterdok, and your kids might even learn something.

4. Pedalos

Rent a pedalo (canal bike) and explore Amsterdam’s 17th century waterways. When you’re too warm to pedal, linger under a canal bridge and enjoy the sudden drop in temperature. 

5. Beach

Take a paddle at the beach. There are city beaches in all four corners of Amsterdam. With their trendy cafés and sandy play areas, there is something for everyone.

6. Jeugdland and Woeste Westen

These outdoor adventure centres offer rugged, action-filled play in a natural setting; think rope swings, rafts, and stepping stones. If the water doesn’t cool the kids down, the mud will.

7. Ice Cream

Cheer up your frazzled family with an ice-cold cornet of something sweet and creamy. There are branches of the Dutch Ijscuype all around Amsterdam. If you really want to fill some time, take the kids to Montepelmo in the Jordaan. It will take them half an hour to pick their favourite from the myriad options, which include some surprising flavours, such as lime & basil or spicy strawberry.

8. Rijk’s Museum Fountain and Ornamental Gardens

Admire the sculptures in these elegant gardens set against the dramatic backdrop of the Rijk’s museum. The Children will love daring themselves to run into the middle of the timed fountain. The prettyTuinhuis kiosk has it sorted, selling prosecco and mini champagne bottles for the grown-ups and ice lollies for the children. When the kids have had enough, pop over to Museumplein and let them wade in the pond while you grab some shade and a cool drink at the Cobra café.

photo credit: Top image: Yay Images. Nemo, Rijk’s Museum: Deborah Nicholls-Lee. Pllek: Flickr.

The post 8 Ways to Cool Down with Kids in Amsterdam appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

When summer arrives in the city, Amsterdam’s pierenbadjes (paddling pools) start filling up. 

As a general guideline, the pools are open between May and September, although some are only filled on the days that the temperature goes above 21 degrees. All pools are cleaned and maintained regularly and are very popular on sunny days so arrive early to secure a place in the shade. We recommend taking a picnic and finding a spot beneath the trees to call your own for the day. Don’t forget your sunblock!

Some of the pools listed below are staffed and others are not, but in any case, parental supervision is required at all times.

Centrum

Water Splashing Wonder (Nemo): Set up on the roof of the Nemo Science Museum, the Water Splashing Wonder is a fun and busy water play area, teaching kids about solar power while offering spectacular views out over the city. The onsite restaurant provides food and drink and has toilet facilities.

Noord

Noorderparkbad (previously Floraparkbad): The winner of the Amsterdam Architecture prize 2016, the Noorderparkbad is a new and modern building which houses the most energy-efficient swimming pool in the whole of the Netherlands. In the warmer months, it also offers a great outside area with a full-sized swimming pool, a shallow kids pool and a paddling pool for the youngest visitors. The outside pools only open when the water is warmer than 19 degrees.

Oost

Flevoparkbad: Awarded the first prize in a survey of outdoor swimming pools conducted by Het Parool in 2015, the Flevoparkbad offers a water-lover’s paradise in the leafy-green setting of the Flevopark. In addition to the fully equipped paddling pool, it has a shallow pool with slides, a 50m heated swimming pool, a cafeteria and plenty of space to relax or play under the shade of the trees.

Pierenbad Oosterpark: A brand new paddling pool set amidst the beautiful setting of the freshly renovated Oosterpark. The pierenbad has water fountains and coloured lights as well as other nicely designed playthings for children to enjoy. There are public toilets next to the pool and plenty of cafés in the near vicinity. 

West

Brediusbad: Located in a green and tranquil part of the Spaarndammerbuurt, the Brediusbad is a fun and busy spot with something to offer for all members of the family. The paddling pool is equipped with a small slide as well as other fun playthings for the youngest visitors. Older siblings can make use of the shallow pool and those with a swimming diploma can take a refreshing dip in the 25m x 33m heated swimming pool. The covered changing rooms, warm showers and a kiosk for food and drink help to make this a very popular spot.

Pierenbad Gerbrandypark (Slotermeer): A clean and simple paddling pool but definitely worth a visit due to its setting amongst unusual pieces of artwork which were inspired by the local children. Although small, the Gerbrandypark also offers a playground and a kiosk.

Pierenbadje Gibraltarbad: Tucked away amidst blocks of apartment buildings, this well-maintained shallow pool provides a welcoming oasis among the hectic streets of the Bos en Lommer neighbourhood. Tall trees surround the pool, providing shady spots to escape the sun. Although there are public toilets on site, there is no kiosk or café so bring your own picnic to get the most out of a day spent visiting this hidden gem.

Sportplaza Mercator: Located in the heart of Amsterdam West the Sportsplaza Mercator is a super modern sports centre offering an outside area complete with a full 50m swimming pool, a shallow play pool and a brand new playground for small children to enjoy. The outside pools do not open during bad weather so if in doubt call ahead to confirm.

Sloterparkbad: One of the biggest swimming locations in The Netherlands, the Sloterparkbad offers an outdoor swimming pool and paddling pool in addition to a number of inside pools. The outdoor pools are set within 5 hectares of green space which borders the Sloterplas itself, in which it is also possible to swim. There is also a fun outdoor playground, perfect for young children, and a café on site for food and drink.

Pierenbadje Westergasterrein (Spartelvijver): This unusual but simple paddling pool is actually part of a river that runs through the heart of the Westerpark. Offering little more than a fun, clean and safe place for the smallest family members to splash around in, it is nonetheless a very popular and much-loved spot, perhaps due largely to the many other attractions that the park has to offer. If the kids get tired of the water then a short walk will take you to a variety of cafés, a petting farm and a number of fantastic playgrounds.

Zuid

Amstelbad: Located in the beautiful setting of Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, this outdoor pool is well known for its nice atmosphere as well as the wide range of attractions it offers. Visitors can choose between a deep swimming pool, a shallow pool, and a paddling pool as well as activities such as mini golf and table tennis. A sandy playground provides more opportunity to keep little ones busy, and there’s a kiosk for refreshments.

Kinderbadje Beatrixpark: Located right next to a playground and large sandpit, this clean and attractive paddling pool was voted by Het Parool as Amsterdam’s best Pierenbad in 2006. Situated in the monumental part of the Beatrixpark, the pool is well maintained and the water quality is checked regularly. A new building within the park provides public toilets and a kiosk for coffee and ice cream.

Mirandabad: Located in the South of the city, the Mirandabad is one of Amsterdam’s best-loved swimming pools. Most famous for its sub-tropical atmosphere, the complex offers a large variety of both indoor and outdoor pools, making it the perfect destination for a family day out. The youngest family members can splash around in one of the splash pools or play in the small playground while the older kids enjoy the excitement of the water slides and wave pools. 

♦ Honourable Mention, Best Swim School, in the Amsterdam Mamas Recommends Awards 2016 ♦

Pierenbadje Vondelpark: One of the best-known pools in the city, this very popular and busy pierenbad is located in the heart of the Vondelpark, surrounded by grassy fields and shady trees. Public toilets can be found right next to the pool and the Melkhuis café and playground are just a short stroll away.

Zuid-Oost

Waterspeelplaats Noord Gaasperplas: For those looking for something a bit different, the water play area in the North of the Gasperplaats offers a fun spot for little water lovers to enjoy during the warm summer days. Essentially a sandy and shallow part of the lake, this area is surrounded by trees and grassy fields. Public toilets can be found nearby, although there is no café so be sure to bring your own refreshments. The quality of the water is checked every two weeks to make sure that it is safe to swim in.

Amstelveen

Amsterdamse Bos Pierenbadjes: The Amsterdamse Bos has  two paddling pools for small children, and the water is regularly checked and refreshed. Both pools are within a short walking distance of a playground and a snack kiosk as well as public toilets with a baby change area. For those with older children seeking more adventure, check out the separate swim area in the Speeleilanden together with a cool adventure playground.

Meerkamp: A great destination for a family day out, Zwembad De Meerkamp in Amstelveen has something for all ages. The outside area has three pools, including a shallow pool and a paddling pool as well as a playground, a bouncy castle and a zip wire for older children. Sun beds and large grassy areas surround the pools and, if the weather turns bad, visitors can take cover and enjoy the inside pools instead.

photo credit: Top: Yay Images, Nemo, Oosterpark & Vondelpark: Deborah Nicholls-Lee, Zwembad Amsterdamsebos: Flickr

The post Our Favorite Outdoor Pools for Kids in Amsterdam appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

This information dates from 2021. Please check zwemwater.nl for the latest information.

A summer’s day at the beach is the best activity for families with kids, don’t you think? The sun, the water and sand make the perfect setting for hours of fun for the children and parents.

Luckily in the Netherlands, you are never far from the sea or a lakeside beach, many with picnic areas, playgrounds, and options for water sports. There are plenty of options for your family to enjoy.

Amsterdam City Beaches

Diemerpark If you’re looking for a small and cozy stretch of sand, Diemerpark is the place to go. Diemerpark is to the southeast of Centrum, east of Diemen. This quiet and beautiful natural park, twice as large as the Vondelpark, has a small beach (35 meters wide and 100 meters long) ideal for families with small children. map

Gaasperplas This beach in the south-east is equipped with toilets and showers, and has apparatus in the water for the children to play on.map

Hoge Dijk This town beach is located in the south-east of the city. map

Pllek This riverfront location, at NDSM in Noord, is an up-and-coming hangout with fabulous street art, galleries and cafes. It is also home to the popular monthly IjHallen giant flea market. An easy, free 20 min ferry ride from Centraal. While this is a sand beach, swimming is not allowed. map

Sloterplas A large, quiet beach in Nieuw-West. Tram 13 stops minutes away from the beachfront. map

Strandzuid This popular city beach lies between Beatrix Park and RAI Centre. map

Lakes, North of Amsterdam

Twiske Easy to reach by bike from Amsterdam Centrum, this 650-acre recreational area is located between Zaandam and Purmerend. There are 5 beaches, and plenty to do: swimming, diving, canoeing, fishing, sailing, and other water sports. There is also a water playground, a children’s farm, and picnic areas. map

Loosdrecht This village in the municipality of Wijdemeren is known for its beautiful lakes. Besides enjoying the beach, you can rent a canoe or rowboat, have a nice meal at one of the waterfront restaurants, go bowling, play golf, or visit the castle museum. map

Hemmeland  The Hemmeland area, about half an hour from Amsterdam by car or public transport, has three beautiful beaches appropriate for recreational swimming. This is a quiet spot with lots of space, so interesting for those who want to enjoy the beach whilst avoiding the crowds. map

Lakes, South of Amsterdam

Ouderkerkerplas This recreational lake in Groengebied Amstelland near Amsterdam is a haven for bird watchers. The lake has two beaches, a playground, and facilities for various water sports. You can also bike, hike, or go horseback riding. map

Vinkeveenseplassen The Vinkeveenseplassen is a natural and water sports area located northwest of Utrecht, where you can find 12 sand islands, four of which are accessible by the mainland. The beaches on the islands are well equipped for recreation, so you can swim and sunbathe to your delight, have a picnic at the picnic benches, buy a snack and let your kids enjoy the playground facilities. map

Gaasperplas This artificial lake created for recreational purposes south-east of Amsterdam has a beach with a great water playground and barbeque facilities nearby. You can choose between a variety of water sports, go for a hike or a bike ride on the woodland trails or just relax in the sun. There is also lots of room for parking and dogs are allowed. map

West Coast Beaches, from North to South

Texel This is the biggest and most populated of Frisian Islands, around 2 hours from Amsterdam by car or public transport, but well worth the trip. Besides the gorgeous beaches and dunes, a major tourist attraction is EcoMare, the seal sanctuary where you can witness the feeding of the seals, porpoises and fish. There are plenty of other interesting things for families with children to do in Texel, like swimming in the heated outdoor pool, riding ponies and visiting the local ice cream farm. map

Hargen aan Zee Recommended for being quiet, clean, and beautiful. map

Bergen aan Zee This family-friendly beach is just 9 km north of Alkmaar and popular with surfers. map

Egmond aan Zee This historical fishing village has wonderful beaches and dunes, plus a lot to explore for families that love history and art: several museums, an art gallery, a medieval chapel, the foundations of a castle, and the Jan van Spiejk lighthouse. map

Wijk aan Zee This is another local beach worth visiting, a kitesurfing paradise with a good choice of cafés. map

IJmuiden Belonging to the small town of IJmuiden, this beach is on the quieter side and popular with kite fliers. map

Parnassia aan Zee This is a peaceful beach in the lovely National Park de Zuid-Kennermerduinen. It features a self-service bio restaurant. map

Bloemendaal A popular beach location close to Amsterdam. The surrounding sand dunes are great for active kids and there’s a good selection of trendy cafés to choose from. map

Zandvoort There are regular buses from Centraal Station to Zandvoort, or if you prefer the train, its just a 30-minute train ride away. This beach is extremely popular and there’s a good selection of cafés and restaurants here. It is also surrounded by the National Park de Zuid-Kennermerland. map

Noordwijk Further down the coast from Zandvoort, Noordwijk is a family-friendly beach with a beach shuttle (so you can park for free outside Noordwijk) and a favourite with kite-surfers. map

Duindamseslag & Langevelderslag These are two unique beaches in Noordwijk aan Zee, an area that has been awarded the European Quality Coast mark. The Duindamseslag beach can only be reached by bike or on foot, whilst the The Langevelderslag beach has a large parking lot, shops and a restaurant. Along the beautiful dunes you can see foxes and deer, and there are paths for taking nice long walks. Both beaches have optional nude areas, sign posted.

Scheveningen This is one of two beachside resorts in The Hague. Scheveningen is a lively resort with a long boulevard, which is home to Sea Life aquarium, museum ship Hr. MS Mercuur and the Scheveningen Museum (with lighthouse). There are also plenty of pavilions and terraces. map

Kijkduin South of Scheveningen, a little quieter and includes a children’s carousel (June-September) and Atlantis play boat. map

Photo credit:
Main banner image, Diemerpark Mini beach © Marjolijn Pokorny, amsterdam&partners, all rights reserved.
Ijmuiden beach © Cris Toala Olivares, amsterdam&partners, all rights reserved.
Sloterplas beach © Maarten Brante, amsterdam&partners, all rights reserved.
Diemerpark Mini beach © Sara Cardona Garcia, amsterdam&partners, all rights reserved.
Roest beach © Amsterdam Roest, amsterdam&partners, all rights reserved.

The post Local Beach and Lake Destinations appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

Three years ago, while pregnant with my second child and living in a one-room apartment, my partner and I found ourselves faced with a dilemma: should we sacrifice space and any chance at a garden and stay in Amsterdam, or risk the provinces, gaining space but potentially sacrificing our image of ourselves as the worldly-wise urbanites we obviously thought we were?

When you live in the city, being outside of it is a scary prospect. What we actually found was more outdoor space and the welcoming town of Haarlem. There were even other international families on our street! We may have lost some of the hustle and bustle of the city, but we’ve discovered a new found love of the country.

Now that the holidays are here and your local paddling-pool is bursting to the brim, here is a quick round up of my favourite family day trips in my ‘adopted’ neck of the woods.

Nationaalpark Kennemerland

‘t Wed: A natural lake in the dunes, a friend of mine describes ‘t Wed as Ibiza for children (without the commercialism, banana-jet-skis or drug-fuelled full moon parties that is!) Being such a kids’ paradise, be warned it is always busy in the summer.

The lake is perfect for swimming, surrounded by sand, and the kids can dig to their heart’s content with no tide to destroy their tunnels and fortresses. Walk along to the furthest end for a quieter spot. I find it easier and safer to negotiate with small children than the sea.

There are beautiful walks through the dunes nearby and you can run back down from the highest spot skidding down through the sand into the water.

Bezoekerscentrum Kennemerduinen: A new building just next to ‘t Wed is finished, complete with a roof full of solar panels, and open Tues-Sun. It’s a favourite spot for children on a rainy day too. There is a child-friendly cafe, interactive exhibitions and information about local wildlife and a play corner with colouring and books.  And the best part is, it’s free!

Address: (car park) De Koevlak. Zeeweg 12, Overveen, towards Bloemendaal aan zee. 

Parnassia aan Zee

Beach/dune pavilion Parnassia aan Zee is in the National Park the Kennemerduinen. If you want a change from Zandvoort and Bloemendaal, take the exit just before you see Bloemendaal looming ahead of you towards Parnassia. The beach feels a bit wilder, more rustic and less crowded. You can escape a bit of the commercialism of Zandvoort and you notice the presence of nature with the Kennemer National Park encircling the beach. The huge Parnassia Pavillion (PaZ) serves decent organic pancakes and general beach food and in the evening you can eat around a cosy open fireplace, or sit at one of the giant windows for a view of the dunes. In front of the pavilion, there’s also a small but appealing wooden play structure.

Address: Zeeweg, Overveen 

Elswout

Elswout Forest is an 85-hectare estate on the edge of Overveen. It’s free to visit. There are deer in the centre of the park and some really picturesque walks through the forest. Rambling paths up and over wooden bridges, plenty of birds and other wildlife. If you go at the right time you might see spawning toads hop across the path into the water. Here and there you’ll find random wooden huts that look like ‘kabouter’ houses. In the car park, there is also a puppet theatre. The details of shows and timetable can be found on their website.

Address: Elswoutlaan 12a, Overveen

Kinderboerderij Groenendaal

Groenendaal is a brilliantly well-kept petting zoo in Heemstede. It’s less the cows, pigs, goats, ducks, chickens, rabbits, and guinea pigs that make it worth the trip than its lovely woodland location that kids can explore the forest paths on the ‘kabouter’ walk. Buy a booklet in the visitor’s centre and follow the route (in Dutch). There is also a playground just along from the kinderboerderij, but it is paid entrance. 

Address: Burgemeester van Rappartlaan 1, Heemstede  

Linnaeushof

This one feels like a cheat because I haven’t even been myself yet! I’m waiting for the day my youngest gives up the daytime nap, as it’s the only one of my tips you have to pay for. Still, it comes highly recommended and as I understand it you’d want to make a day of it. Linnaeushof is an enormous playground complex with everything you could wish for to entertain children big and small. Water slides, islands, bridges, helter-skelter, roundabouts, trampolines, train rides, the works. Check the website for pictures. Entrance is €12.50 online and €13.50 at the ticket desk. The complex opens from end of March to end of September, weather depending.

Address: Linneaushof, Heemstede

Boerderij Zorgvrij               

Situated in the beautiful recreation area of Spaarnwoude,  north of Haarlem, is this wonderful nature playground. It offers a variety of exciting activities perfect for a family day out, complete with treasure hunts, farm animals, interactive farming experiences, and a spider and play forest where kids can discover, climb, swing, and crawl.  Zorgvrij can even organise a stress-free birthday party.  Entrance is free.

Opening hours
1 March – 1 November: Tuesday to Sunday from 10.00 – 17.00 hours

Article updated for 2021.

photo credit: Pixabay. All other pics -Ellen Duckenfield

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