Summer vacation means six weeks off for the kids. And well deserved, too! But what to do?
A holiday day camp is a great option for kids to have fun and learn some new skills while parents get some work done. And the summer vacation has an amazing selection of camps, from arts to sports, and from cooking to free running. We update this list as much as possible when we find out about new camps or cancellations. To check for updates, also see Mark's website.
Arts & Crafts
3-in-1 Camp
The best of My Little van Gogh, Toddler Sense and Mini Professor all in one place.
Location: Rivierenbuurt (new location)
Ages: 4-7 years
Dates: 18 - 22 July, 25 - 29 July, 1 - 5 August, 8 - 12 August, 15 - 19 August, 22 - 26 August, 9:00 to 17:00
Cost: €375 per week
Space and Sound Club: ArchiKids
Kids design their own cities, houses, imaginary hideouts, and landscapes and develop creativity, spatial thinking and understanding the role of various senses in art and architecture.
Location: Vondelpark
Ages: 5-10
Dates: 8 August - 11 August; 9:00 - 15:30
Cost: €350 per week (€330 sibling discount); €83 per day (€73 sibling discount)
ArtZuid
Work like a mini artist at the ArtZuid camp, studying the masters, making your own work and finishing with an exhibition.
Location: Zuid (new location)
Ages: 6-12 years
Dates: 18 - 22 July, 25 - 29 July, 1 - 5 August, 8 - 12 August, 15 - 19 August, 22 - 26 August, 9:00 to 17:00
Cost: €365 per week
Lo Stivaletto
An educational camp with lots of arts & crafts and sports, all in Italian.
Location: West / Zuid (two locations)
Ages: 4-9 years
Dates: 18 - 22 July, 9:30 to 17:00
Cost: €295 per week
Textile Arts/Fashion
Explore the world of fashion sustainability through mini-lessons, drama, and textile arts!
Location: West
Ages: 11-14
Dates: 18 July- 22 July, 9:00-15:00
Cost: €330 including drinks and snacks every day, catered lunch on Friday and all materials
Bikes, Obstacles, Skates
Griffioenoutdoor BMX
Ride BMX bikes and learn the ropes at the Griffioen outdoor center in Ookmeer.
Location: Nieuw-West
Ages: 7-16 years
Dates: 18 - 21 July, 25 - 28 July, 15 - 18 August, 22 - 25 August, 9:00-17:00
Cost: 4 days from €155
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.
Location: West
Ages: 4-14 years (minis, regular, talents)
Dates: 18 - 21 July, 18 - 21 July, 22 - 25 August, 22 - 25 August, 09:30 - 16:00
Cost: €239 for four days
Kinderkook Lab
Learn how to cook in an old nursery in Amsterdam West with veggies from their own garden where possible.
Location: West
Ages: 7-12 years
Dates: 18 - 22 July, 25 - 29 July, 15 - 19 August, 22 - 26 August
Cost: €315 per week
Interacting
This non-profit theatre school, affiliated with Boom Chicago, for young people with autism offers a week of theatre, acting, vlogging and storytelling.
Location: Boom Chicago, Centrum
Ages: 12-22
Dates: 22 August - 25 August, 11:00-14:30
Cost: €180, including lunch
Toverknol Theater Camp
Discover acting in a playful way by attending one of the daily workshops with various themes.
Location: Center and Zuid
Ages: 5-9 years
Dates: 18 - 22 July, 25 - 29 July, 15 - 19 August, 22 - 26 August, 18 - 22 July, 25 - 29 July, 1 - 5 August, 8 - 12 August, 15 - 19 August, 22 - 26 August, 9:30 to 17:00
Cost: €60 per day, €350 per week
Dutch Language
Young Expat Services / Sportways
A summer camp where kids learn the Dutch language and play hockey and other sports.
Location: Amsterdamse Bos
Ages: 5-16 years
Dates: 10/11 - 15 July, 09:00 - 17:00 (also sleepover option)
Cost: €429 per week (€629 with sleepover)
General
Amity International School Summer Camp
A summer camp packed with excitement, discovery and adventure, where kids explore themes through hands-on projects and daily activities.
Location: Amstelveen
Ages: 4-12 years
Dates: 27 June - 1 July, 4 - 8 July, 11 - 15 July, 18 - 22 August, 09:15 - 15:15 but early bird English lessons start at 08:00 for an additional fee
Cost: €400 per week
Hockey
Kids Aktief Hockey
Kids Aktief is teaming up with hockey club FIT in Noord for this 3 day hockey camp.
Location: Noord
Ages: 6+ years
Dates: 18 - 20 July, 22 - 24 August, 09:00 - 16:00
Cost: €150 for 3 days
Nationale Hockeykamp
Three days of hockey at HV Myra in Amstelveen and HC Hurley in the Amsterdamse Bos.
Location: Amsterdamse Bos, Amstelveen
Ages: 6-16 years
Dates: 18 - 22 July, 8 - 12 August,, 9:00 to 17:00
Cost: €339 / €439 per week
Panasj Hockey
Three or four day hockey camps at hockey club VVV, also suitable for beginners. They have clinics, too, during the Easter and Ascension weekends.
Location: Amstelveen
Ages: 5-12 years
Dates: 18/19 - 21/22 July, 18+19 Aug, 22+23 Aug, 23 - 26 August, 9:30 to 12:30 (minis) / 16:30
Cost: €79 minis for 2 days - €319 top per week
Sportways Hockey Camp
Intensive hockey camps at Amsterdam hockey clubs AH&BC, Athena, HIC, Hurley, Pinoké and Westerpark
Location: Amsterdamse Bos, Amstelveen, Watergraafsmeer, Westerpark
Ages: 5-13 years
Dates : 18 - 20/22 July, 15 - 19 August, 22 - 24/26 August, 9:00 to 17:00
Cost: €195 for 3 days - €335 per week
Multi Sports
Kids Aktief
Indoor mixed action camp with lots of different sports from boxing to dancing.
Location: Noord, Zeeburg
Ages: 4-12 years
Dates: 18 - 20 July, 25 - 27 July, 15 - 17 August, 22 - 24 August, 09:00 - 16:00
Cost: €150 for 3 days
The Little Gym
Gymnastic themed camps combining fun, sport and creative activities.
Location: Buitenveldert
Ages: 3-12 years
Dates: 18 - 22 July, 25 - 29 July, 1 - 5 August, 8 - 12 August, 15 - 19 August, 22 - 26 August 9:00 to 12:00 or 13:00 to 16:00
Cost: €38 per day for three hours, €76 per day for six hours, lunchtime €5 per day
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.
Location: Zuid
Ages: 4-12 years
Dates: 18 - 22 July, 25 - 29 July, 1 - 5 August, 8 - 12 August, 15 - 19 August, 9:00 to 15:00 or 9:00 to 17:00
Cost: €280 for a week of short days, €355 for a week of full days
Monkey Moves
Eleven different sports and lots of fun at the Goudsmithal in Amstelveen.
Location: Amstelveen
Ages: 4-10 years
Dates: 18 - 22 July, 25 - 29 July, 15 - 19 August, 22 - 26 August, 09:00 - 17:00
Cost: €275 per week
Sportivun
Improve your kids motor skills and spend a lot of time outside.
Location: Amstelveen
Ages: 3-12 years
Dates: 18 - 20 July, 20 - 22 July, 25 - 27 July, 27 - 29 July, 22 - 24 August, 24 - 26 August, 09:00 - 17:00
Cost: €114/129 for 3 days, €199 per week
Ponies
Boerderij op IJburg (fully booked)
A pony camp for everyone, including young kids and beginners. The kids will ride on the ponies, but also care for them and have lots of play time.
Location: IJburg
Ages: 5-11 years
Dates : 18 - 22 July, 25 - 29 July, 1 - 5 August, 15 - 19 August, 22 - 26 August, 8 - 12 August, 9:00 to 17:00
Cost: €230 per week
De Hollandsche Manege
A five-day pony camp in the historical horse riding school right next to Vondelpark. Kids will care for the ponies, ride them and do lots of play. They have lots of other activities also including birthday parties, pony afternoons, and excursions.
Location: Vondelpark
Ages: 5-11 years
Dates: 18 - 22 July, 25 - 29 July, 15 - 19 August, 22 - 26 August, 9:00 to 17:00
Cost: €350 per week
Stichting 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.
Location: Bijlmer
Ages: 6-14 years
Dates: 18 - 22 July, 25 - 29 July, 1 - 5 August, 8 - 12 August, 15 - 19 August, 22 - 26 August, 9:00 to 17:00
Cost: €300 per week
Outdoors
Het Woeste Westen
Daily adventure days around themes like building rafts, making slingshots, climbing trees or lighting big bonfires at the adventure playground behind Westerpark.
Location: Westerpark
Ages: 7-12 years
Dates: 18 - 22 July, 25 - 29 July, 22 - 26 August, 10:00 to 16:00
Cost: €275 per week
Licht en Lucht TVB
A wide variety of outdoor activities in the dunes in Kennermerduinen such as swings, slides, trampolines, tree climbing and playing fields.
Location: Kennermerduinen, Overveen (pick up from various locations in Amsterdam)
Ages: 5-12 years
Dates: 18 - 22 July (fully booked), 25 - 29 July, 1 - 5 August
Cost: €85 per week (Stadpas €20 per week)
Sport4Kidz
A variety of water- and outdoor sports activities, held at Watersport Jeugdland in Amsterdam East.
Location: Zeeburg
Ages: 6-12 years
Dates : 18 - 22 July, 25 - 29 July, 1 - 5 August, 8 - 12 August, 15 - 19 August, 22 - 26 August, 9:00 to 16:00
Cost: €234 per week
Terragon Nature Lab
A playground where kids are free to explore and connect with nature at their own pace and ways in a safe but wild environment.
Location: West
Ages: 4-10 years
Dates : 20 - 24 June, 27 June - 1 July, 4 - 8 July, 11 - 15 July, 18 - 22 July, 25 - 29 July, 1 - 5 August, 8 - 12 August, 15 - 19 August, 22 - 26 August, 09:00 - 14:30
Cost: €316 per week
UP Events Kids
A wide variety of outdoor fun and games.
Location: West
Ages: 8-13 years
Dates 18 - 22 July, 25 - 29 July, 1 - 5 August, 8 - 12 August, 15 - 19 August, 22 - 26 August, 08:45 - 17:15
Cost: €60 per day
Science and Tech
Chalk and Duster
A great mix of indoor and outdoor activities around the STEAM (STEM + arts) themes in Amstelveen.
Location: Amstelveen
Ages: 4-16 years
Dates: 18 - 22 July, 25 - 29 July, 1 - 5 August, 8 - 12 August, 15 - 19 August, 22 - 26 August, 09:00 - 18:00
Cost: €300 per week
Coderminds
Robots, SCRATCH programming, Minecraft and much more
Location: West
Ages: 6-14 years
Dates: 19 - 22 July, 09:30 - 16:00
Cost: €249 for 4 days
Kid-Oh
A camp designed to inspire kids in many ways from science to creativity, from circus to magic, held in a well-designed location right in the middle of De Pijp.
Location: De Pijp
Ages: 4-16 years
Dates: 18 - 22 July, 25 - 29 July, 1 - 5 August, 8 - 12 August, 15 - 19 August, 22 - 26 August,, 09:00 - 15:00/17:00
Cost: €300 per week (short days), €350 per week (full days)
New Tech Kids
Learn the basics of computer programming while building robots during workshops at the central library.
Location: Center
Ages: 7-11 years
Dates: 18 - 22 July, 25 - 29 July, 1 - 5 August, 8 - 12 August, 15 - 19 August, 22 - 26 August, 10:00 to 14:00
Cost: €284 per week
The Science Camp
The Science Camp explores the world through the lens of earth and physical science.
Location: De Pijp
Ages: 5-10 years
Dates: 18 - 22 July, 25 - 29 July, 9:00 to 15:00
Cost: €295 per week
Young Engineers Lego
Build complex Lego models and learn about the engineering behind them.
Location: Bos en Lommer
Ages: 7-11 years
Dates: 18 - 22 July, 25 - 29 July, 15 - 19 August, 22 - 26 August, 09:00 - 16:00
Cost: €280 per week
Sailing
Nieuwe Meer Zeilschool
Location: Amsterdamse Bos
Ages: 7-12 years (optimist), 11-14 years (Laser Pico II), 15-16 (Laser Pico I)
Dates : 18 - 22 July, 25 - 29 July, 1 - 5 August, 8 - 12 August, 15 - 19 August, 22 - 26 August, 9:00 to 16:30
Cost: €400 per week (Laser), €380 per week (optimist)
Sport4Kidz Sailing
A week of sailing in an Optimist, combined with other fun outdoor activities like campfires or building rafts at Jeugdland.
Location: Zeeburg
Ages: 8-12 years
Dates : 18 - 22 July, 25 - 29 July, 1 - 5 August, 8 - 12 August, 15 - 19 August, 22 - 26 August, 9:00 to 16:00
Cost: €279 per week
Soccer
Ajax Clinic (fully booked)
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.
Location: Zuidoost
Ages: 6-12 years
Dates : 11 - 15 July, 18 - 22 July, 25 - 29 July, 1 - 5 August, 16-Jul-2022, 31-Jul-2022, 6-Aug-2022, 30-Jul-2022, 23-Jul-2022, 9:15 to 16:00
Cost: €99 per day, €489 per week
Kids Aktief Soccer
Kids Aktief is teaming up with soccer club T.O.S. Actief in Watergraafsmeer for this 3 day soccer camp.
Location: Watergraafsmeers
Ages: 6+ years
Dates: 18 - 20 July, 09:00 - 16:00
Cost: €150 for 3 days
Voetjebal
Playful soccer camp for the youngest kids.
Location: Amstelveen
Ages: 3-6 years
Dates : 19 - 21/22 July, 18 - 23 August, 9:30 to 12:30 (half days) / 16:30 (full days)
Cost: €79 (2 half days) to €239 (4 full days)
Swimming
Kids Aktief
Work towards your swimming diploma during the vacation.
Location: Noord
Ages: 5-12 years
Dates: 18 - 22 July, 8 - 12 August, 22 - 26 August, 09:00 - 11:30
Cost: €320 for 5 days
Tennis
Amstelpark tennis
A sporty holiday full of tennis and fun at the entrance of the Amsterdamse Bos.
Location: Amsterdamse Bos
Ages: 5-18 years
Dates: 18 - 22 July, 25 - 29 July, 15 - 19 August, 22 - 26 August, 9:00 to 16:45
Cost: €385 for 5 days
Drive ITT Tennis Linnaeushof
Tennis camps at different levels, combining fun and competition, at the tennis club Linneaushof right in the middle of Oost.
Location: Oost
Ages: 6-12 years
Dates: 18 - 22 July, 25 - 29 July, 22 - 26 August, 9:00 to 17:30
Cost: €259 for 3 days, €359 per week
Higgins Tennis
Tennis & Art camp for 4-6 year olds, tennis camp for 7-12 year olds at Club Triaz in Amsterdam Zuid, just north of Amstelveen.
Location: Amsterdam Zuid
Ages: 4-6 years, 7-12 years
Dates: TBC, 9:15 to 11:15 or 9:15 to 13:15
Cost: €149/€199 for 2 hours week long, €249/299 for 4 hours week long
Tennis op Maat
Lots of tennis mixed with other fun and games at the Kattenlaan tennis park in Vondelpark or Sloterplas tennis club.
Location: Vondelpark, Sloterplas, De Meer, IJsbaanpad
Ages: 5-17 years
Dates: 18 - 22 July, 25 - 29 July, 22 - 24/26 August, 9:00 to 17:00
Cost: €209 for 3 days - €390 per week
This list was compiled by Mark Schiefelbein, an Amsterdam Papa whose kids have attended many camps and who also maintains vakantiekamp.amsterdam, an easily searchable list of all vacation day camps in Amsterdam. Mark started blogging in 2007, serving the best Amsterdam restaurant recommendations to foodies at dutchgrub.com.
