NOVEMBER 2025

I am always on the hunt for activities that are fun for kids as well as adults. We try to do activities that are not too-overstimulating and we prefer outdoor activities. If an activity is aesthetic as well, it gets bonus points 😉 In this blogpost I have included my recommendations for activities all throughout the Netherlands. If I find new gems, I will add them to this blogpost. If you have any recommendations, I also would love to know!

My favorite activities

Hans & Grietje Pannenkoekenhuis

In Zeewolde there is a fairy-tale themed pancake-restaurant, with an amazing playground. If you visit in summertime you will find fresh flowers everywhere, surrounding the playgrounds. Hugo loves the area with the bikes/scooters and can play on his own for hours. The interior looks great as well, though it can get loud, so I prefer to sit outside. You do not need to pay an entrance fee, you just need reservations for the restaurant. Besides pancakes they have some healthier options as well. Make sure to reserve on time as this is a popular activity. It is best to visit on a weekday as it can get crowded on sunny weekend days. I wish we lived closer, so I could visit more often.

Naturalis Leiden

Naturalis is one of the kid-friendliest museums in the Netherlands. The building itself is lovely and consists of many levels. On each level you will find a different activity which is great for kids as well. The true highlight of Naturalis is the taxidermy collection, it is organized beautifully and it feels like you are in an artsy zoo. Don’t forget to book a timeslot, as Naturalis can sell out.

Vlieland

A weekend on Vlieland is a great activity with kids. The island is carfree, so kids can roam around freely. Beaches and forests everywhere you look. You can go seal spotting. It is one of the most unspoiled locations in the Netherlands. Read my full blogpost on Vlieland here.

Madurodam

Madurodam is a true classic Dutch daytrip. In Madurodam several areas of the Netherlands are rebuilt in miniature. Lots of little canals where you can spot boats, a small Schiphol, cuteness all around. They have a few attractions as well, but nothing too crazy. If you visit during the summer season all the flowers are in bloom.

Almere Jungle

Almere Jungle is a crossover between a zoo and a botanical garden. Most of it is located in a greenhouse, they have created different zones with different climates. Seeing the animals surrounded by beautiful plants was a great sight. It’s a great activity for when the weather’s not great. It is smaller scale and more intimate than the large zoos, making it a less exhausting activity.

Beach clubs

In the West of the Netherlands you will find a lot of cool beach clubs (restaurants on the beach). Usually these beach clubs are informal enough to host kids. My favorite beach club is Tulum in Noordwijk, which is not particularly kid-friendly, but it has sand, which is enough. I recently discovered Strandpaviljoen Zuid near The Hague, which had a great kids area with a trampoline and a climbing frame.

Winter Efteling

I grew up going to the themepark Efteling so this is a nostalgic one for me. I find it especially magical during the Winter Efteling, when the Christmas theme is installed. The ice skating rink is lovely and there are cute foodstalls and firepits everywhere. It generally is less busy than during the summer season, even though not all attractions are usually open.

Intratuin Kerstshow

Most garden centers have a “Christmas show” leading up to Christmas. In these shows they present miniature houses and decor with lights. I even know a garden center that has a merry-go-round. I am a big Christmas fan myself and I have infected my son. We love going to a Christmas show together.

Keukenhof

Though I found the Keukenhof a bit too busy myself, my son loved playing hide-and-seek between the tulips. Besides the pretty gardens, the Keukenhof has lovely play areas as well. You can read my full blog post on the Keukenhof here. Another great child-friendly spot between the tulips is Tulip Experience Amsterdam.

Ice skating rinks

Over the years ice skating rinks started popping up over the Christmas period. We love doing active things with Hugo, so we took him as soon as we figured he could skate. We went to Magisch Den Bosch, which was fun, but a bit too crowded. The IJzeren man in Vught had a great skating rink, with a part indoor and outdoor. The cafe nextdoor also had typical winter dishes, such as Kaiserschmarrn.