It’s time to discover the winners of the Amsterdam Mamas Recommends Awards 2018!
Over 330 businesses, events, and services were nominated by the Amsterdam Mamas community and over 1300 community members cast their votes for the winners. Nominated by parents and voted for by parents, these are the most genuine recommendations you can find for the things families love best in and around the city.*
This year we have included a Google Map tool where you can find the location of all the nominated businesses, services,and events. Click on the icon in the upper right of map to expand and see the different Award categories. You may edit what you see on the map by select/unselecting categories – if you want only to see the “Most Child-Friendly Restaurant of Cafe”, select that category only and the pins on the map will only show the restaurants/cafes nominated by our Amsterdam Mamas community. Click on an individual item to see its location.
Enjoy the Mamas’ Best of Amsterdam!
[accordions][accordion title=”Best Baby Class (0-2 years old)”]
WINNER! Baby Sensory & Toddler Sense
Honourable Mentions: Jacaranda Tree Montessori, Lo Stivaletto and The Little Gym
Nominees: Bouncy Bunch, De Muziekzolder Gebarenstem, Little Lollipops, Little Notes, Luistergoed, My Little Van Gogh, Naya Nature,
Robbeburg International Playgroup, Sportfondsenbad Baby Swimming, Swim4Survival, Waterbabies Amsterdam
[/accordion][accordion title=”Best Toddler Class (2-4 years old)”]
WINNER! Friends Call Me Jim
Honourable Mentions: Monkey Moves, Black Cat Theater and Little Star Fitness
Nominees: Aapjeskooi, Amsterdam Kids Drama & Dance, Bouncy Bunch, Damoves, Jacaranda Tree Montessori, Little lollipops, Little Notes,
Lo Stivaletto, Lucky Beat, Luistergoed, Mariposa Vlinder, My Little Van Gogh, Naya Nature, Robbeburg International Playgroup,
Sportfondsenbad Baby Swimming, Swim4Survival, The Little Gym, Toddler Sense, Waterbabies
[/accordion] [accordion title=”Best Younger Child Class (4-8 years old” icon=”]
WINNER! Friends Call Me Jim
Honourable Mentions: Naya Nature, Little Star Fitness and My Little Van Gogh
Nominees: Amsterdam Kids Drama & Dance, Art Lab Workshops by Julia Mandle, Damoves, JEM performing arts, Jeugdland, Kinderdans,
Lo Stivaletto, Lucky Beat, Mariposa Vlinder, Memotion, Mini Disco Amsterdam, Mini Professors, Sanne fit together,
Swim4Survival, The Little Gym, Voetjebal
[/accordion][accordion title=”Best Class for Older Children (8 and older)”]
WINNER! Naya Nature
Honourable Mentions: Little Star Fitness, The Science Camp and The Little Gym
Nominees: Amsterdam Kids Drama & DanceArtis Atelier, BeatZone, Capoeira Malungos, Happy Melons, JEM Performing Arts,
Lucky Beat, New Tech Kids, Nieuw Vocaal, Scouting Nederland
[/accordion] [accordion title=”Best Swim School”]
WINNER! Waterbabies
Honourable Mentions: Mirandabad, Marnixbad, and Oerbron
Nominees: AGO Zwembad, Aquakidzz, Bubbels, David Lloyd, De Watervrienden, Meerkamp Amstelveen, R&A Sports and Swimming, Rob’s Zwemschool, Sportfondsenbad, SportPlaza Mercator, Swim4stars, Swim4Survival, Van der Wal Sport & Zwemacademie, Zuiderbad, Zwemschool Vogel
[/accordion][accordion title=” Most Child Friendly Restaurant or Café”]
WINNER! Blender Amsterdam
Honourable Mentions: Boerderij Meerzicht, Bagels and Beans, and Dignita
Nominees: Aan t spit, Anne & Max Zeeburg,Cafe Cliche, Cafe Jaap, Cafe Mok, Cafe Restaurant Amsterdam, De Kleine Parade, De Prael Westport,
Drover’s Dog, Forno, Ginger & Ale, Happy happy joy joy,Happy Italy, Hartje Bos-Bos en Lommer, Ijsland Ijs, Kinderkookcafe, Kleine valk, Leuk Amsterdam,
Loetje, Lucca, Lucky House, Lunchroom Lastig, Margherita tutta vita, McDonald’s, Melksnoor Familie Cafe, Meneer Howard and Mevrouw Rosa’s Kindercafe,
Mini Markt, NAP – Ijburg, Pannenkoekhuis Weteringschans, Piqniq, Pizza Heart Bar, Pizza Taxi da Paolo en Seba, Pllek, Restaurant As, Spirit Amsterdam,
Stadscafe De, Pannenkoek Amstelveen, The Happy Bull, Vandaag, Vondeltuin, Wagamama, Wiebke’s Brotzeit Amstelveen
[/accordion] [accordion title=”Best Museum for Families”]
WINNER! NEMO
Honourable Mentions: Artis, Rijksmuseum, and Het Scheepvaartmusuem
Nominees: Amsterdam Historisch Museum,Eye Filmmuseum, Joods Historisch Museum, Micropia, Onze Lieve Heer op Solder, Sloten Windmill,
Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam,Tropenmuseum, Van Gogh Museum
[/accordion][accordion title=”Best Event for Families in Amsterdam”]
WINNER! Sinterklaas Intocht (arrival)
Honourable Mentions: Koningsdag (Kings Day), Children’s Concerts at Concertgebouw, Keukenhof
Nominees: Boatrides, Bostheater, Carnival at Lo Stivaletto, Cherry Blossom Festival, Cinekid, De Parade, JEM Performing Arts & Little Lollipops Extravaganzas,
Kindermuziekfestival Ruigoord, North Market, Pure Markt, RABO family day at the Stedelijk museum, Rolling kitchens, Roots Festival, Sint Marteen,
Summer nights at Artis, Sunday Market Westerpark, TCS Marathon, Uitmarkt
[/accordion] [accordion title=”Best Soft Play/Indoor Playground”]
WINNER! Candy Castle Speelparadijs
Honourable Mentions: Monkey Town, Tun Fun, and Ballorig
Nominees: Blender, Chimpie Champ Aalsmeer – Speelparadijs, Clip and Climb, Jump Skilz, Jumpsquare, Klimhal, Lo Stivaletto, Sport4Kids, Wow Centre
[/accordion][accordion title=”Best Day Out (indoors) for Families”]
WINNER! NEMO
Honourable Mentions: Candy Castle Speelparadijs, Nijntje Museum, and Kinderkook Cafe
Nominations: Aqua Mundo de Eemhof, Chimpie Champ Aaslmeer, Gelderlandplein, Hans en Grietje (Zeewolde), Jump XL, Klimhal, Lo Stivaletto, Melkhuis,
Micropia, Monkey Town, Muiderslot, Naturalis, Orchideenhoeve, Ruigoord, Spoorweg Museum, Tropen Museum, Tun Fun
[/accordion] [accordion title=”Best Day Out (outdoors) for Families”]
WINNER! Amsterdamse Bos
Honourable Mentions: Artis, Amstelpark and Geitenboerderij
Nominations: Amsterdamse Bos – Canoeing, Amsterdamse Bos – Kabouter Pad, Beach – Kennemerduinen, Beach – Zandvoort aan Zee, Beatrixpark, De Natureluur,
Durgerdam, Efteling, Het Twiske, Hoge Veluwe, Keukenhof, Kinderboerderij de Pijp, Linnaeushof, Naya Nature Camp, Oud Valkeveen, Sloterpark,
Speelboerderij Elsenhove, Speeltuin Wittenburg – Brunch & Spelen,Vondelpark,Vondeltuin, Westerpark, Woeste westen, Zaanse Schaans
[/accordion][accordion title=”Best Local Shop for Babies and Children”]
Honourable Mentions: De Boezemvriend, Wijs West, and Broer en Zus
Nominees: Archive Store, Azzuro Kids, Big en Belg, Blender, Blitskikker, De Kinderfeestwinkel, Gekaapt, Goochem, Hebbes in Speelgoed, Hola BB,
Imagine Cadeauwinkel en Kinderkapper, Jun Jun, Knotsknetter, Knutsel Frutsel, Lino en Moos (Wollepop), Little Pink Riding Hood, Minimarkt, Minisown,
Moon Sling, Old West Amsterdam, Otis en de Wolf, RecycleKid, Stitch, Teuntje, The American Book Center, Wiebkes Brotzeit Amstelveen, Zaailing
[/accordion] [accordion title=”Best Children’s Hairdresser”]
WINNER! Wendy’s Kinderkapsalon
Honourable Mentions: Wijs West, De kinderkapperamsterdam (Blitskikker) and Knotsknetter
Nominees: Barber, Blender, Francesca Bombardi, Gena’s Kapsalon, Haare Majes (Lunah), Linda Knipt Amstelveen, Minimarkt, Paddington Station,
Rollende Kappers, The Building AMS, Westerstraat Kapsalon
[/accordion][accordion title=”Best Party Services Provider”]
Honourable Mentions: The English Cake Lady, Cakeaholic Amsterdam, and Little Star Fitness
Nominees: AJTS, Baby Sensory & Toddler Sense, Feesttantes, Kidz Club Entertainment, Little lollypops and JEM events, Lucky Beat, Mariposa Vlinder, Mej & Design,
Melksnor Familie Cafe, Mini Professors, My Little Van Gogh, Natuureluur, Naya Nature,Robbeburg International Playgroup, Spyctive Kinderfeestje,
Sweet Alchemy (Cakes), Sweet Celebration, The Little Gym, Woeste Westen
[/accordion] [accordion title=”Best Children’s Party Location”]
WINNER! Amsterdamse Bos
Honourable Mentions: Geitenboerderij, Candy Castle Speelparadijs, and Jeugland
Nominees: Ballorig, Blender, Buurtcentrum de Havelaar, Buurtkamer op Da Costaplein, De Gibraltar, De Vergulde Eenhorn, Jumpsquare, Kinderkookcafe,
Leuk, Little Lollipops, Little Star Fitness, Lucky Beat, Melksnor Familie Cafe, Monkey Town, My Little van Gogh, Robbeburg International Playgroup,
The Little Gym, Wachterliedpavillion, Wendy’s Kinderkapsalon, WOW/Baby Sensory/Toddler Sense/Mini Professors Amsterdam
[/accordion][accordion title=”Best Family Photographer”]
WINNER! Egac Photos – Emily Rocha
Honourable Mentions: Asha Pradeep, Luciana Blair and Philippe Bro
Nominees: Anita Perminova, Ascensui Amersfoort, Bruna Pereira De Souza, Elma Coetzee, Geneviève Chasse Portrait, Melody Rae, Natalie Carstons Photography,
Nili Photography, Pablo Cajina, Rachel Photography, Rudi Wells, Sjoerd Booij, T.K. Roberts Film and Photography, VioletART Photography
[/accordion] [accordion title=”Best Workout Studio or Class for Parents”]
WINNER! David Lloyd
Honourable Mentions: Chasse Dance Studio, Delight Yoga, and Mom in Balance
Nominees: Active Health Center (Lillith Turk), Amsterdamsche Boksschool, BBB Health Boutique, Bodyvita, Bodyworks, Dance District, Dans Dansen, Equal Gym,
Ettaki Gym, Fit Family, Gym Republic, Kensho, Kops Gym, Pilates13, PLTS, Studio 191, Studio Anna Mora, Trainmore,Vondelgym Oost, Yogalino
[/accordion][accordion title=”Best Hairdresser for Parents”]
WINNER! Gleiton Pedro Studio
Honourable Mentions: Haartheater, Cosmo, and Francesca Bomardi
Nominees: Angeline Martin, Assort International (Ritsuko), Day and Night Hairdressers, Gena Kapsalon, Haare Majes, Hans Douglas, Hoofdbureau, House of KAROSA,
Kapsalon In De Jordaan (Sieko), Karma, Kinki Kappers, Koffijberg, Linda knipt, Lorenzo Coiffures, Lysandro en Cilicia, Oggi Kapers Rivierenbuurt,
Oh You Pretty Things, Pierot, Redz Haircare, Salon B, Scissorhands, September Tokyo, The Building, The Parlour, Velanti,
Westerstraat Kapper, Wild Romance
[/accordion] [accordion title=”Best Relaxation/Spa for Parents”]
WINNER! Spa Zuiver
Honourable Mentions: Conservatorium, Doctor Feelgood and Amstel Hotel
Nominees: BBB Health Boutique, Blush, City Street Spa, Five City Spa, Hotel Jakarta, Karma, Koan Float, Senses Lifestyle, Vitalite
[/accordion] [accordion title=”Best Language School”]
WINNER! Dutch Courses Amsterdam
Honourable Mentions: Top Taal, Taalhuis Amsterdam, and Talencentrum
Nominees: Dutch and Such, Koentact, L’Ecole de Francais, Rubio Dutch
[/accordion] [/accordions]
*The Amsterdam Mamas Awards process is as follows: We place voting forms in our Facebook group and website homepage for a two week period for our community to nominate. We control the categories, but people can nominate whomever they want; it is a genuine reflection of what the community finds important to highlight. The voting stops on a previously advertised date and the team works to collate all the nominations into a voting format, which can be a surprisingly complicated process. Once the nominations have been collated into the voting forms, they are released into the community again. Voters then select the nominee of their choice, in any or all of the categories, to be ‘Best’. The nominee with the most votes wins, and the closest three runners up receive an Honourable Mention.
