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Hello Reader,

March is in full swing, and the fun is all around! As we welcome Spring, children can stay active and creative with exciting opportunities happening across the city. From hands-on workshops to outdoor adventures, there’s something for everyone.

Events Happening This Weekend

Keukenhof Gardens Opening Weekend!
​Join Keukenhof Gardens for the opening weekend Friday 19 March – Sunday 22 March! Find out more here.

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Diep Musical Performance at Meervaart
​Come along on Sunday 22 March at 15:00, and watch the story of fantastic luminous sea creatures, absurd scenes, and quick dialogues. Music composed by Gábor Tarján will be played live by percussionist Dirge Seçil Kuran. Find out more here.

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Meh at Black Cat Theatre
​Join Black Cat Theatre for Meh, a unique experience where a children’s performance, workshop, and concert are all rolled into one! Taking place Saturday 21 March and Sunday 22 March. Find out more here.

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Upcoming and Ongoing Events & Activities

Friday Sing-Along Special Playgroup at Robbeburg International Playgroup!
​Friday 27 March, 10:00–12:00, join Robbeburg for a very special playgroup and sing-along facilitated by Maya Felixbrot, founder of Muzaza! Find out more here.

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Mamapreneur Collective – Quarterly Connect: International Women’s Month Edition
​Join Mamapreneur Collective, Thursday 26 March, 15:00–17:00, for a relaxed and inspiring gathering designed for international mothers running a business, exploring entrepreneurship, or simply looking to connect with like-minded women. This child-friendly event blends guided networking, meaningful conversation, and community building, celebrating the journey of balancing motherhood and ambition. Bring your little ones and enjoy an afternoon of connection, reflection, and support with fellow mamapreneurs! Find out more here.

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Parents’ Corner

Roze Filmdagen (LGBTQ+ Film Festival)
​Join the 29th annual Amsterdam LGBTQ+ Film Festival at the Ketelhuis, Wednesday 18 March – Sunday 29 March. Find out more here.

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Botanical Watercolour Workshop (St-Art Amsterdam)
​On Sunday 22 March, 11:00–13:30, join artist Valeria Panina as she guides you through her interpretation of botanical watercolour art and design. Book your reservation here.

All materials are provided. Note, this workshop is best suited for those with prior painting experience, preferably in watercolour, and is not suitable for beginners.

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We endeavour to include everyone and are happy to mention events connected to all special holidays and festivities. Please email us with events or celebrations you want us to mention. AM will make the ultimate decision on what to publish.

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A team of volunteers compiles this newsletter, and we would welcome some new colleagues on the team. Are you interested and do you have a few hours to spare every few weeks? Please contact Amsterdam Mamas for more information at info@amsterdam-mamas.nl

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This Weekend Roundup was compiled by Shelly Lopez.

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The above information is given to the best of our knowledge and ability, but please check the event links to confirm details. These are often events that the Amsterdam Mamas cannot personally recommend from experience but are provided as a starting point to help you find activities that are a good fit for your family. If you have seen any upcoming events that we should know about, please let the newsletter team know by replying to this email. Thanks, and have a good weekend!

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The post Amsterdam Mamas Weekend Roundup 19 March 2026 appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

I know what it’s like to feel completely overwhelmed. After years working in the corporate world while raising small twins, I came close to burning out. It wasn’t until I made a major shift to the wellness world—becoming a Pilates instructor and a Functional Medicine Health Coach—that I began to take control of my health and life.

Looking back, I wish I had someone to help me navigate those years—someone who could help me make clear-headed decisions and prioritise my well-being. That’s why I’m so passionate about helping moms like you now.

Here’s how I can help:

• A personalized plan to support your unique health needs (movement, stress, sleep, and more).
• Practical guidance on managing your health while balancing the demands of daily life.
• Ongoing support to keep you on track, so you can make decisions that serve you and your family.

What is Health Coaching?

Health coaching is a partnership between you and a trained coach to improve your well-being through sustainable lifestyle changes. The coach guides you to reach your health goals by using evidence-based strategies.

How Does It Work?

Health coaching is client-driven. Coach helps uncover your motivations, create realistic plans, and provide ongoing support to achieve and maintain your goals.

Who Needs a Health Coach?

Anyone looking to improve their health, manage chronic conditions, or make lasting lifestyle changes can benefit. Coaches help you navigate challenges and stay on track.

You don’t have to burn out. You deserve to feel your best. Let me help you get there.

The post Solina Coaching 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

The post Boo! appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

Almere is a municipality in the province of Flevoland and is part of the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area (MRA). It is divided into Stad, Haven, Poort and Buiten. Almere’s location is quite convenient as it’s less than a 20 minutes’ drive to Amsterdam and it is very well connected to Schiphol, Amsterdam Central and Amsterdam Zuid by intercity NS trains as well as via buses. The great thing about Almere is the varied natural landscapes – Almere has multiple beaches, parks, woodlands and an abundance of waterfronts. Alongside the striking modern architecture and outdoor artworks, Almere Centrum has more than 400 shops, places of cultural interest and cinemas. Overall, Almere, like many other neighbourhoods in the Netherlands, is safe, peaceful and friendly. With rising housing prices in Amsterdam, more and more families who are looking for larger homes and family-friendly areas are moving to Almere due to attractive housing prices.

Housing

Almere is a new city, widely spread city over a polder, surrounded by fascinating places of natural beauty and with modern architecture. The land on which the city sits, the Southern Flevoland polder, was reclaimed from the IJsselmeer from 1959 to 1968. The first house was finished in 1976, and Almere became a municipality in 1984.

Since it is a suburb in Flevoland, Netherlands, the houses tend to be generally bigger than the houses in Amsterdam city while also being more affordable. In general, Almere offers multiple types of housing including connected houses, corner houses, big stand-alone houses along the canal and apartments. You can also expect to get your own parking spot in many houses.

The buildings are relatively new, and the architecture is different to the iconic canal houses in Amsterdam. Streets are larger with plenty of parking spots, and parking in most of Almere is free of charge.

Schooling

Almere is home to two international schools, two universities of applied sciences, 17 secondary schools and almost 100 primary schools. The city has public schools as well as schools that provide lessons based on a particular pedagogical vision or religious conviction. Examples of the former are the Dalton, Montessori or Jena-plan educational systems. There are also schools based on Catholic, Reformed, Protestant, Ecumenical and Islamic principles, along with schools that offer a high standard of special needs education. Here are the international schools in Almere:

• International Primary School Almere
• International School Almere

In order to accommodate the growth in the number of international students in the Amsterdam Area, Almere is building the International Campus. IPSA and ISA will move into this new building together. It will be built in the new neighbourhood Stadstuinen Poort with capacity for 700 students.

Places of Interest / Family Fun

City Estate de Kemphaan

The Kemphaan estate is located in a wooded area called Almeerderhout. It is a place where you can enjoy hiking, cycling or walking in the midst of wonderful nature, indulge in delicious pancakes, go climbing, visit the city farm, or stay in the luxurious estate accommodation or a camp site on the estate. The estate itself is open to visitors throughout the year, free of charge.

Oostvaarderplassen Almere

The Oostvaardersplassen is a national park which is host to thousands of geese and waterfowl, alongside Heck cattle, Konik horses, red deer and foxes. Start your walking or bicycle excursion from De Oostvaarders Nature Experience Centre or visit the Ecokar to discover the Oostvaardersplassen together with the guide from Staatsbosbeheer. Spot the animals in their habitat with Stad & Natuur’s impressive binoculars available for you to use.  With a bit of luck, you may see the rare white-tailed eagle!

Beaches in Almere

• Almeerderstrand is a spacious beach on the IJmeer. Enjoy sunbathing, walking, and watching the beautiful sunset in the summers with a drink at the Poort Dok beach pavilion or take a dip in the refreshing water by the beach all through the year. Explore the multiple events around culture, entrepreneurship and children organised by Strand Lab.
• Play to your heart’s content on the Lumiere beach on the Weerwater and enjoy a nice bike ride on the beautiful cycling path.
• Almere Haven beach is also great fun for the little ones. In addition to water and sand, this sandy beach also offers play equipment and a beach bar & brasserie (De Jutter).
• Fantasiestrand is another great beach, which offers water, sand and grass. Watch the cool stunts of the water skiers with the little ones or maybe take a chance at the water ski itself with your older kids at the Lido.

Almere Public Library

At the Almere Public Library you can borrow a book, study in peace or enjoy the youth theatre at the Nieuwe bibliotheek (The New Library) in Almere. With 4 different branches at Stad, Haven, Poort and Buiten, visit the library nearest to you. The library offers free membership to children until the age of 18 years old and an adult membership starts from 18 euros per year. Even non-members can use the library for a quiet place to read, or a cup of tea/coffee. The library regularly organises educational and fun activities for young and old. From free reading sessions for toddlers to youth theatre, workshops and new films every week, there’s always something to do! The library offers a Taal café education, explore different career paths and provide consultation on government benefits.

The neighbourhood is quite diverse and is a fair representation of Amsterdam’s cosmopolitan nature with plenty of restaurants serving different cuisines, cafes, sports clubs, ethnic grocery shops and few shopping areas.

– From the Mamas.

Daily Life

• Play Areas: There are many play parks for each block of houses in Almere–making the neighbourhood not only very green, but also very family friendly.
• Grocery stores are scattered across the neighbourhoods of Almere– Albert Heijn, Vomar, Aldi and Jumbo, are larger supermarkets but you also find several specialised stores like India, Surinami, Japanese, Middle Eastern etc. grocery stores as well.
• Farmers Market: Almere hosts a weekly Farmers market, every Wednesday & Saturday, at Almere Centrum and every Friday at Almere Stad Centrum from 9am to 4pm. The market carries fresh cheeses, eggs, vegetables and fruits, fresh meat, fish, and the freshly, hand-made Dutch stroopwafels!
• Shopping: You can find a wide variety of shopping stores at Almere centrum as well as Almere Stad. Explore the furniture shopping centre Doemere in Almere Buiten with stores like Swiss Sense, Leen Bakker, etc.

Sports

If you want to get active in Almere, you can choose from many indoor and outdoor sports facilities. Almere’s sports fields are spread over seven sports parks. In addition, there is a Top Sports Centre, six sports halls, eleven sports halls, gymnasiums, a dojo and three swimming pools. You can choose from a variety of sports including swimming, skateboarding, tennis, basketball, football and more. Explore the Sport en Cultuur website to learn more about various sport activities around Almere for both young children and adults.

Learning Dutch

BC “Before Corona!” most of the Dutch classes in Almere used to be in person, now you more easily find Dutch courses online. However, if you are looking for an in person experience you can always visit the Almere public library for their weekly coffee time to practice your Dutch speaking skills. Registration at the public library is free of charge for children and it costs a small amount for adults. For in person classes you can join Suitcase Talen, Taalbureau Symbol or De taal Brigade.

It’s green, safe and houses are lovely and of a good size.

– From the Mamas.

Kids-friendly activities

Almere government places a special focus on developing the culture and focusing on the overall development of children. Hence, there are multiple activities and initiatives around the city, many subsidised by the government. Here, I list a few of them:

• Kleur in Cultuur offer a range of activities for children between the age of 4 to 14 years. From fashion workshops to theatre, singing, dancing, visual arts and music, they have it all! The cost of the activities ranges from free workshops to a few euros per session.
• Mamacafe: JGZ Almere regularly organises Mamacafe for young mothers to connect with other mothers in the area. They regularly host workshops around variety of topics including breastfeeding, independent play, massage for babies, potty training and more which are completely free of cost!
• Droomspeelbus: The droomspeelbus organises different activities for multiple age groups. You can expose your kids to different activities like balancing, walking, rolling, climbing, etc. with gym classes or inspire them to try new sports like hockey or stake-boarding with free after school lessons.
• Kunstlinie Theatre: Kunstlinie theatre often hosts kid-friendly theatres and musicals for kids of all age groups. Join a Nijntje or Winnie the pooh musical, watch a youth theatre, explore an art installation or join a theatre workshop, Kunstlinie offers it all throughout the year!
• Kermis in Almere: All through the year, you can find different fairs at different locations in Almere. Enjoy the summer fair, join an Indian food festival or explore the Halloween feest at Almere centrum depending on what you like the most!
• Boerderij: Do your kids enjoy playing with the farm animals? Visit one of the 6 kids-friendly boerderij (farms) in Almere including Den Uylpark and de Beestenbende.

For a first-hand account, from fellow Mamas, about living in and around Amsterdam, check our Neighbourhood Guides Series.

The post Neighbourhood Guide: Almere appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

Oud Zuid

Oud Zuid is not as old as the canal belt and some areas of Oud Zuid can be downright new, but generally Oud Zuid is a large neighbourhood located between Museumplein on the north, Vondelpark on the west, the Zuider Amstelkanaal on the south and the Boerenweteringkanaal on the east. This location gives residents easy access to some of Amsterdam’s greatest resources: the vibrant beauty of the historic Canal Belt, the peace and quiet of the vast Amsterdamse Bos, and of course, Schiphol Airport!

Oud Zuid itself has lots of green space, open spaces, and quiet residential streets. There are plenty of playgrounds and athletic fields, excellent schools – both international and Dutch – and attractive shopping areas. It has tram service and subway service to downtown and Centraal Station and from Station Zuid one can get to virtually anywhere in the Netherlands.

Is it the proximity to Schiphol, downtown, or Zuidas that has made Oud Zuid popular with the international community? Or is it the international schools in the area? It is not clear what came first but for whatever reason, there is a large international community in Oud Zuid and it is not uncommon to hear English, French, Spanish, Mandarin, German, etc. mixed in with Dutch at the local playgrounds.

Housing

While they all have Oud Zuid on the street signs, there are basically three distinct neighbourhoods in Oud Zuid, each with its own feel – MuseumKwartier and Willemspark, Apollobuurt and Stadionbuurt. The most noticeable difference among the neighbourhoods comprising Oud Zuid is their architecture. There have been three major building waves in Oud Zuid, all with different styles but with the same intention: providing attractive and comfortable places for people to live.

• MuseumKwartier and Willemspark

  The first of the Old Zuid building waves began in the last quarter of the 19th century. Agricultural land was developed into the area now containing Museumplein and Vondelpark and its residential neighbourhoods. Muddy pastures transformed into tree lined streets full of elegant row houses loaded with decorative brickwork, charming balconies and idiosyncratic detailing, and with easy access to the newly built Rijksmuseum, Concertgebouw, and the city’s new park.

  While the horse-drawn carriages of yesteryear have been replaced by bakfiets (and Brios (!)), this neighbourhood still retains its air of elegance and exclusivity. Alongside the tourists and museums and stately consulates in Museumkwartier, there are plenty of families who call this area home and avail themselves of the family friendly resources in the neighbourhood.

• Apollobuurt

  

  Canal homes on Apollolaan

  The next large-scale development of Oud Zuid happened in the early decades of the 20th century. Amsterdam desperately needed housing for families and much care was given to designing neighbourhoods that would incorporate schools, shops, playgrounds, places of worship, and open spaces. A hundred years later, these neighbourhood designs still hold up. Housing is a mix of large, well-appointed apartments and attached houses; buildings usually max out at five stories. The architectural style of these neighbourhoods is pure Amsterdamse School – think brick, rounded organic shapes, decorative glass, and wrought ironwork. Sidewalks are generally wide and easily accommodate little ones on scooters or balance bikes.

  Amsterdam hosted the 1928 Olympic Games and many of the streets in the neighbourhood are named after figures in Greek  mythology and culture: Apollolaan, Minervalaan, Agamemmnonstraat, etc. Others are named after classical painters and musicians: Beethovenstraat, Bachstraat, Michelangelostraat, etc. Apollolaan, which forms the northern border of the neighbourhood, is a beautiful parkway lined with gorgeous  homes and even more gorgeous trees.

• Stadionbuurt

  The neighbourhood around the Olympic Stadium is called Stadionbuurt. Much of it, like Apollobuurt, was built in the 1920s but there has been a lot of new development lately. Luxury modern apartment buildings with underground parking and bordering the Schinkel waterway and its modern parks have gone up next to the Stadium and more are planned for a former industrial area across the Stadiongracht. Stadionplein – a large open area with bars and restaurants that also hosts farmers markets on the weekends is located across the street from Olympic Stadium and is bustling with shoppers and young people.One of the most attractive aspects of life in this newly developing neighbourhood is the truly special bike path that runs behind Olympic Stadium to the Amsterdam Bos, which is shared between Zuid and Amstelveen.

Living in Oud zuid is wonderful as you are surrounded by both history and culture and yet you also have a feeling that you live in a village! I often bump into people I know, which is a wonderful feeling when you’re away from home. Oud Zuid also has amazing coffee and food places around every corner!

– From the Mamas.

Family Fun – Places of Interest / Parks / Sports

Zuiderbad, an elegant indoor swimming pool next to the Rijksmuseum, has plenty of family swim times and swim lessons for the  kids, not to mention floats and toys for making pool time loads of fun.

The basketball courts and playground on Museumplein are frequented by local kids, as are the gardens and fountains of the Rijksmuseum. During the winter there is an outdoor seasonal ice skating rink on Museumplein that offers lessons to children.

Concertgebouw has children’s concerts, the Rijksmuseum has children’s programmes and the Van Gogh Museum can play host to your child’s birthday parties.

South of Museumplein, the buzz and busyness disappears. The entire neighbourhood is closely connected toVondelpark and there are entrances to the park on virtually every block. It is hard to overstate the importance of Vondelpark’s resources to the people (and dogs) of the area. There are playgrounds, a splashing pool, grassy areas for picnics and games, cafes, waterways, rose gardens, running and cycling paths. There is even a place for little ones to learn to bake their treats!

On the Apollolaan, the trees are joined every few summers by the temporary modern art installation ArtZuid, which is a wonderful way to introduce visual arts to kids. They even have a summer camp!

Another one of the main thoroughfares in Oud Zuid is Stadionweg which passes through Minervaplein and its organic Friday market, Olympiaplein and its football fields, and finally to the 1928 Olympic Stadium itself, which still hosts athletic events, including the Amsterdam Marathon.

In 10 minutes or less it is possible to cycle from the relative density of the city to a huge forest, Amsterdamse Bos, where one can kayak, ride horses, walk for hours, visit two farms, swim, and navigate a tree top obstacle course.

Schooling

Zuid has several good local, bilingual and international schools. The most popular ones are:

• International School of Amsterdam
• The British School of Amsterdam
• Amsterdam International Community School

For more information on local education and schools join the Amsterdam Mamas Dutch Education Group.

Shopping

The quiet residential streets of Oud Zuid empty into squares topped by chestnut trees where organic food markets set up on the weekends. The commercial streets – Koninginneweg, Cornelis Schuytstraat, Emmastraat – are lined with small cafes, chic boutiques, and gourmet grocery stores as well as the discreet Albert Heijn or Jumbo. The main commercial street of Apollobuurt is Beethovenstraat which is a mix of typical stores (Albert Heijn, Etos) and upscale boutiques and cafes. Two standouts for children are Boekhandel Van Rossum and MiniMarkt; Van Rossum’s has an extensive assortment of children’s books in both Dutch and English, and MiniMarkt has an eclectic and tasteful selection of children’s toys, clothes and home decor.

Calm and green streets very close to the city centre with lots of families and playgrounds. This is why I really enjoy living in Oud Zuid.

– From the Mamas.

For a first-hand account, from fellow Mamas, about living in and around Amsterdam, check our Neighbourhood Guides Series.

The post Neighbourhood Guide: Oud Zuid appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

History of Diemen

Diemen is a little slice of paradise, even though its name would suggest otherwise (I couldn’t resist sneaking in a bit of wordplay). The gorgeous neo-Romanesque tower of the Sint Petrus Banden kerk (church) is a prominent feature of the municipality and definitely one of the highlights of my walking route across Hartveldseweg, the main road connecting Diemen to the A10. Oud-Diemen in Diemen-Noord is another spectacle to behold. It used to be the centre of Diemen in the past and still contains the characteristic Dutch style gabled houses with painted wooden shutters, some going back to 1774.

Diemen was originally established as a fishing village along the river Diem, which is where its name comes from. It is also much older than Amsterdam, excavations revealing the first settlers to have arrived in the 11th century. It is a charming town with a bustling centrum complete with its Albert Heijn XL in Diemerplein, the main shopping centre. Diemerplein is surrounded by picturesque red-brick houses, a sun-dappled square on one side which becomes a sprawling terrace in the summer, and a basisschool on the other. The theatre can also be found on this road. The deep blue ‘Theater De Omval‘ building would be hard to miss. It’s a little gem, hosting jazz afternoons, serving coffee and drinks in a very charming and spacious café, and of course showing films and performances for all ages. The building is now also home to the OBA (library), newly renovated with a gorgeous interior and a separate reading/ play room for the youngest readers.

Diemen-Zuid is calm and green. The local schools are easily reachable by foot which is perfect for families with primary school-aged children.
– From the Mamas.

Public Transport

The proximity of the municipality to Amsterdam has made it very popular. Tram 19 connects you to Amsterdam Oost and eventually stops at Sloterdijk Station at the end of the line. The Sprinter takes you directly to Amsterdam Central Station in 10 minutes and Schipol Airport in 30. The metro in Diemen-Zuid also connects you to Amsterdam Central Station via Amsterdam Oost, along the Amstel. Bijlmer Arena Station is a 15 minute bus ride away. If you don’t have a car, it can feel inconvenient to have to rely on public transport all the time if you aren’t better connected. I live in Diemen-Centrum and still feel irked sometimes when I have to walk the ten minutes it takes to get to the nearest tram stop, while pushing a wailing toddler in her stroller. I can imagine someone living further away would feel even less inclined to walk that distance.

Activities and clubs

I was pleasantly surprised when I first moved here by the number of activities available for kids of all ages. A free playgroup for 0 to 4 year olds called the spelinloop is offered 3 days a week in Diemen-Centrum, Zuid and Noord. There’s another one starting soon in Holland Park. The Muziekschool Diemen is another hot favourite, offering classes for children as young as 8 months old. For children from 8 years old there are also horse-riding lessons at Manege De Eenhoorn. From football to dance classes, there’s something for every kid.

Schools

The schools here have generally good reviews, but waiting lists can be very long. The international school, AICS, is a 15 minute bus ride away from Diemen-Centrum. Swimming schools can also have long waiting lists.

Housing

The houses are a mix of the old and the new. Holland Park boasts some of the newest buildings, while the older parts of Diemen have the picturesque houses that, while pretty to look at from the outside, might be fixer-uppers or with low energy efficiency ratings. Information about housing prices and renting can be found on funda.nl.

Parks and other attractions

Diemen boasts a ‘nature’ playground, De Omloop in Diemen-Noord, which becomes a lively barbecue spot during the summer. Another lush green playground with a zip-line and a dedicated barbecue area has recently been inaugurated in Diemen-Centrum. Diemen-Zuid is dotted with playgrounds, big and small. Holland Park is also not far behind with three lovely playgrounds having recently sprung up. Diemen Sniep even has options for rainy days: Monkey Town and Street Jump. My kids and I are especially fond of visiting the little boerderij or petting zoo located next to the bridge which connects Diemen-Centrum to Sniep. The Diemerbos is also a favourite among both locals and non-locals. ‘House of Bird’ is located here: a gorgeous eatery with a playground right next to it, the winning combo. The kids can also follow a bird route and get a diploma when they complete the trail. Residents also get to enjoy having a Rataplan in the vicinity. It has a cosy café on the first floor where visitors can enjoy a hard-earned cup of coffee after browsing through the huge thrift store.

If you’re moving from the city (refer to our Amsterdam Neighbourhood Guide series), Diemen might seem a bit too quiet in the beginning. It differs from area to area, naturally. If you are a coffee snob living in Diemen might mean that you’d have to go to Amsterdam to get your fix. However, a new(ish) cafe in Holland Park DSTRCT DZ has reasonable coffee, complete with fancy latte art. Before I bought my coffee machine I took countless trips to Watergraafsmeer just to have a good cappuccino. Thankfully, that’s not too far from Diemen. Options for dining out are limited, although a couple of great Italian restaurants are located here. When I first moved to Diemen four years ago, there were hardly any food delivery options. Now, however, takeout options have expanded considerably.

As my family prepares to leave the Netherlands, heading further West, I look back at my time here, in Diemen, and can’t help but feel content.

For a first-hand account, from fellow Mamas, about living in and around Amsterdam, check our Neighbourhood Guides Series.

The post Neighbourhood Guide: Diemen appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

Amstelveen’s location is quite convenient in terms of proximity to Schiphol airport, to some international schools such as ISA, BSA and AICS, and to ‘downtown’ Dam Square, Amsterdam. But the best part about it is that it is surrounded by the Amsterdamse Bos – you can simply and swiftly access the Amsterdamse Bos from several neighbourhoods / wijken in Amstelveen by biking or by walking there! Overall, Amstelveen, like many other neighbourhoods in The Netherlands, is safe, peaceful, and friendly.

The neighbourhood is quite diverse and is a fair representation of Amsterdam’s cosmopolitan nature with plenty of restaurants serving different cuisines, cafes, sport clubs, grocery shops and a few shopping malls. I will list some of the more popular ones here, so keep reading!

Housing

Amstelveen is a suburb of Amsterdam, therefore houses generally tend to be bigger than the ones in Amsterdam city. In general, the types of houses in Amstelveen are called: connected houses, corner houses, apartment buildings and even some stand-alone houses.

The buildings are relatively new and the architecture is different to the iconic canal houses in Amsterdam. Streets are larger with plenty of parking spots, parking in most of Amstelveen is free of charge.

You can search for houses for rent or sale: Pararius, Funda, in addition to other platforms or with the help of a real estate agent (makelaar).

Schooling

Amstelveen has many public schools in its ‘littler’ neighbourhoods, in addition to a few international schools:

• International school of Amsterdam
• Amity International School
• Amstelland International School
• Florencius International School

In terms of nurseries, the majority of them are Dutch, apart from the nurseries in the above-mentioned international schools and Hestia Amstelveen, a bilingual English/Dutch nursery.

Places of Interest / Family Fun

• Amsterdamse Bos, especially Geitenboerderij Ridammerhoeve
  The Amsterdamse Bos is man-made forest  in the municipalities of Amstelveen and Amsterdam, though most of the park is located in Amstelveen. The forest offers many tracks for hiking, jogging and walking, in addition to other sports such as horseback riding and rowing. There are many cafes and restaurants in the forest. One of the more popular attractions is the goat farm where children can play with goats, feed them and watch other farm animals from a closer distance.
• Cobra Museum of Modern Art
  The Cobra Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Amstelveen. The collection consists of key works by artists associated with three art movements, Vrij Beelden, Cobra, and Creatie.  On Wednesdays, all Amstelveen residents have free admission to the museum, in collaboration with the municipality of Amstelveen.
• Clara Maria Cheese & Clog Farm
  This is a beautiful farm house where you can get fresh dairy produce, attend a cheese workshop and learn more about the cheesemaking process. The farm is also a place where you can buy the old Dutch wooden clogs.
• Amstelveen Public Library
  The Amstelveen public library is located right outside Stadshart mall. It offers free membership to children and an adult membership costs 20 euros per year. Even if you are not a member you still can use the library if you are looking for a quiet place to read, or enjoy a cup of tea/coffee. The library offers Taal Coach for those who want to earn Dutch and are looking for free of charge coaches to help. The library hosts many workshops every month for children and teenagers, and language story time for young children.

“During winter you can have a walk in the Bos and afterwards enjoy a nice cup of tea or coffee at any of the cafes in and around the Bos, Also, when it snows and it is really cold, the large lake behind the Gemeente Amstelveen freezes and often people can skate on it, IF the Gemeente puts up a sign that shows it is safe to skate here! Skating can also take place on the frozen canals and the large rowing canal in the Bos, depending on how frozen the water is.”
– From the Mamas.

Daily Life

There are many ‘mini parks’ for each block of houses in Amstelveen – making the neighbourhood not only very green, but also very family friendly.

Grocery stores are scattered across the neighbourhoods of Amstelveen – Albert Heijn, Jumbo and Vomar, are larger supermarkets but you also find several specialised stores like India, Surinami, Japanese, Middle Eastern etc. grocery stores as well.

Amstelveen hosts a weekly Farmers market, every Friday, at the Stadshart Mall from 9am to 4pm. The market carries fresh cheeses, eggs, vegetables and fruits, fresh meat, fish, and the freshly, hand-made Dutch stroopwafels!

On Tuesdays, the mall hosts an organic market “BioMarkt”, which though way smaller than the Friday market, carries only organic produce.

For shopping, Amstelveen has many small shopping centres, but you find the largest variety in the Stadshart mall.

“Don’t miss the fresh stroopwafels every Friday at the Friday Markt .”
– From the Mamas.

Sports

Amstelveen is packed with sport clubs where children and adults can practice many types of sports: at Sportlaan you can find several sports schools/clubs for football, baseball, tennis, basketball or swimming, to name a few. Most of the clubs accommodate non-Dutch speakers. There is also a Golf course in Amstelveen where you can rent to play or book lessons. They have classes for children as well as for adults.

“During summer you can always go canoeing or rent a boat and for little ones. Kids love the Groot Kinderbad and Klein Kinderbad, which are outside paddling pools for young children.”
– From the Mamas.

Learning Dutch

BC “Before Corona!” most of the Dutch classes in Amstelveen used to be in person, now you more easily find Dutch courses online. However, if you are looking for an in person experience you can always visit the Amstelveen public library to apply for one of their classes for Dutch, or join their weekly coffee time to practice your Dutch speaking. Registration at the public library is free of charge for children and it costs a small amount for adults. For in person classes you can also check Platform C for Dutch courses – it is located right next to the mall, the public library and Amstelveen central bus station.

Sustainability

As a neighbourhood, Amstelveen is top-notch in terms of sustainability – Most of the houses have solar panels and produce part of their own electricity; electric car chargers can be found in every corner (there are more than 100 electrical car chargers in Amstelveen); you find underground containers for garbage; and, in each block there is a block of 4 containers for Paper, Glass, Textile and PMD. There are frequent and consistent initiatives for ‘Green Amstelveen’ which help to make the neighbourhood become even more environmentally friendly. The Gemeente (municipality) of Amstelveen subsidies solar panels for houses and offers support to its residents to encourage the use of green and alternative energy. You can check the latest sustainability efforts at this link.

For a first-hand account, from fellow Mamas, about living in and around Amsterdam, check our Neighbourhood Guides Series

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If you consider Amsterdam Centraal Station as a starting point, then Centrum (or the city centre) radiates outwards from there in all directions. A bulk of the city expands southwards, east, west and includes a large area north of the Ij as well. The beautiful picture postcard canals, stately and romantic canals homes, narrow streets, red light district, Jordaan, Waterlooplein and the Plantage lie in what’s known as Centrum or the Canal Belt.

Surrounding Centraal Station are the iconic Negen Straatjes (The Nine Streets). These are the nine u-shaped streets that follow the inner canals—Singel, Prinsengracht, Herengracht and Keizersgracht. Like most parts of the city offer ‘mixed’ housing – some social housing, some on free market rent, and some ownership.

Some homes in the Canal Belt are ‘fancier’ then others even though they might be on the same street. The Canal Belt has canal facing homes, but you’ll find beautiful homes in the streets and alley that are not on the water as well. This historic neighbourhood is flooded with tourists and dotted with amazing restaurants, cafes, bars and stores.

Housing

The city centre is the oldest part of the city and has buildings dating back to around 1600. With that in mind, homes in Centrum are often:

• Old canal 4-5 floored houses, divided into apartments on each floor.
• In buildings that are up to 500 years old, and with that, come uneven, sloping floors, old floorboards and creaky stairwells.
• With heritage and age, many windows are single-paned (not great for energy conservation).
• Very steep, narrow, dark stairwells.
• Vermin is often an issue.
• Cobbled streets.

Search for houses for rent or sale: Pararius, Funda.

Schooling

There are some good schools, though not many international schools as yet.

Points of interest

Play areas: Herenmarkt
Park: Vondelpark, Begijnhof, Oosterpark
Zoo: Artis
Markets: Waterlooplein, Albert Cuyp, etc. etc.

Parking/biking

Being a more crowded part of town, parking of cars and bikes will be challenging, and you might not want to let your kids run around on their own when younger. The city is criss-crossed by trams, buses and metro.

From the Mamas:

We asked members of Amsterdam Mamas to share their experience of living in Centrum and here are some snippets of what they said:

• The best part of living in centrum is experiencing Liberation Day, overlooking over the Amstel.
• We love it because of the older canal houses with loads of history. Homes have lots of stairs but it teaches kids really early on how to use them safely.
• We can walk to the zoo from our home and frequently go there even just for an hour. We love shopping at Tinkerbelle for classic toys right up the street.
• Waterlooplein is a 5 min walk with metros and trams connecting in all directions.
• It is peaceful with lively shops, bars and parks.
• It is international and still has a lot of Dutchies.
• You should worry about secure bicycle parking (that it won’t get stolen).
• It is surprisingly family oriented and many neighbours have been living in the same canal house for 50+ years!
• Everything is within walking distance, parks, the Jordaan and Elandsstraat; it’s good for walking and for running and is about a 15 min walk to get to Vondelpark or Westerpark.
• Super convenient!
• Centrum has older historical apartments with narrow stairs. Most buildings are historical with facades that cannot be changed.
• It was difficult to get a feel of the atmosphere
• When looking for a house, avoid anything close to a bar/restaurant.

For a first-hand account, from fellow Mamas, about living in and around Amsterdam, check our Neighbourhood Guides Series

The post Neighbourhood Guide: Centrum 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.

This New York quick-guide is based on a trip I made in June 2019. I hope these tips will help parents to plan their family holiday to this incredible and diverse city.  To make your trip a memorable experience I highly recommend checking out www.newyork.co.uk.

PLAY!

A good way to balance the day with your kid(s) is to mix indoor and outdoor activities and fortunately New York has plenty of both.

Central Park There are many parks in New York. You probably will not be able to visit them all but you cannot miss Central Park. This immense park counts no less than 21 playgrounds and has numerous activities for everyone: you can walk, visit a zoo, bike, row, skate, and ice skate (depending on the time of year). It is also a perfect location for a picnic. You can very easily spend an entire day in this wondrous park. With little ones in tow, it may therefore be a good idea to split the visit over a couple of days, perhaps combining visits to the park with trips to the local neighborhoods surrounding it.

The High Line Park If you have time, the High Line Park, built on an old train track, is also worth a visit. It is a pleasant walk for some great photography. There is elevator-access to the park.

Chelsea Market Before hitting the park, you can take a look at the indoor Chelsea Market, located on the south side. Here, you will find many food stalls where you can buy take-away and easy-access picnic foods. There are also some beautiful, but expensive, little, crafty stores. Walking the park in the northern direction, you will arrive at Hudson Yards, the new district of Manhattan. There is a large shopping centre which houses The Vessel, a funky architectural piece of art. It’s free to visit and explore, but don’t forget to book your (free) tickets in advance. The structure is not pram friendly and therefore all prams and strollers will be required to be left in an unmonitored pram parking bay at the base of the structure. 

SEE!

Empire State Building A must-do is the Empire State Building. The view is breathtaking and will entertain the whole family! You can access the building with a pram but will be required to collapse it to pass the security checks in the lift and on the deck.

Flatiron Building & Grand Central Station While you are in Midtown, don’t forget to see the famous Flatiron Building and Grand Central Station. Both buildings have featured in many Hollywood movies and the kids will love being able to say they’ve stood in the same place as Iron Man or Thor from The Avengers (2012) or Spiderman (2002).

Hop on Hop Off Bus New York City is a very large city, with a population of over 8.6 million people. Distances can be deceiving and a great way to see the city with a minimum of effort and in a short amount of time, while resting the weary feet of your children (and yourself!), is to take the Hop-on Hop-off bus. There are different loops available, the rides are pleasant and the guides are very friendly! The busses can quickly become full so if you want to ensure a seat while enjoying the ride, be sure to hop-on at Times Square, the departing point of the Manhattan loop.

Another great way in which to accomplish some relaxed sightseeing is to take a Tourist Cruise. Some cruises are one, to one-and-a-half-hours, which makes it perfect for your little ones. You will be able to take some amazing photos of the Manhattan skyline and get closer to Lady Liberty.

 The Mets! If your kids are old enough, going to a sporting event in New York is both a fun and exhilarating experience. The atmosphere and the food are great! I went to see the Mets and had the best time even though baseball rules are a mystery to me!

The Broadway Another great indoor activity is to go to a Broadway show. Many Disney shows are played and there are enough choices to please everyone. There are shows every day of the week, both throughout the day as well as into the evening.

Museums New York City is home to some of the greatest museums in the world: Metropolitan Museum of Art, Guggenheim Museum, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), The Whitney Museum, The American Museum of Natural History, The Intrepid Sea Air and Space Museum, just to name a few. Some are more child friendly than others, so it is a good idea to see what is currently going on at any of these museums from a child’s eye perspective.

EAT!

You will easily find food everywhere in New York. Here are some good and practical addresses:

Ellen’s Stardust Diner: for an original breakfast/brunch where you will be served by professional singers! The food is not the best but the experience is amazing. You can’t book a table so be sure to go as early as possible.

Junior’s: for a slice of famous New York cheesecake. 

Carlos’ Bakery: for some amazing cakes! (And for lovers of TLC’s Cake Boss).

Magnolia’s Bakery: for when you are looking for something a tiny bit fancier.

John’s Pizzeria: for a cheap family meal. The pizzas are very large and delicious.

Planet Hollywood: is another good location for a great eating experience. The kids will love it.

If you wish to purchase groceries, Whole Foods Supermarkets offer a good range of products.

SHOP!

Most kids don’t like shopping. However, here are some places they will LOVE (Amsterdam’s Intertoys may look a little small and unexciting after a visit to these imagination wonderlands):

Disney Store

Lego Store

Fao Schwarz

American Girl Store

M&M’s World

GETTING AROUND

Walk: Pack some good, comfortable shoes as you will walk A LOT! Don’t forget to look up while striding through the city, water towers and fire escapes are beautiful!

Public transport: The metro is very practical. It is handy to have an idea of where you are heading geographically as you will take the metro direction of either “Uptown” or “Downtown”. Most stations are equipped with an elevator.

Taxi: Yellow cabs are great, and you shouldn’t miss the experience and pleasure of hailing one! You will be able to charge your phone, and even watch some New York television for the duration of your journey.

Looking for family-friendly accommodation in New York? Book your stay via booking.com/amsterdammamas and we’ll receive a portion of the reservation value. Find the perfect accommodation for your family and support Amsterdam Mamas at the same time!

Photo credits: Main banner image from Pixabay; all others copyright permitted by Julie Mills

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