10 Things to Do on a Hot Day in Amsterdam with Kids 😎
Top 10 Things to Do on a Hot Day in Amsterdam with Kids 😎
Last hot weekend of 2023? We've got you covered!
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Tip: For all these hot day places and activities, we recommend going in the morning, before they get too busy and hot.
1. Kiddie Pools 💦
Shallow, clean water pools for little kids, with grassy and shady spots for parents.
Our Top 3:
- Vondelpark Kinderbadje: nice but can get packed, go early to avoid the craziness
- Bellamy Square Park: a nice little one near Foodhallen
- Westerpark Kids Pool: very clean, bigger, and not as busy as the others (our top pick 👇)
2. Proper Pools 🏊♂️
- Zuiderbad: central, 1920s charm, never busy
- Sloterparkbad: whirlpool, waterslide, outdoor pool (in Summer)
- Mirandabad: wavepool, multiple waterslides, domed roof, tropical vibes
3. City Beaches ⛱
- Sloterplas Beach: nice little sandy beach, far West of Amsterdam
- Nieuwe Meer: long beach with swimming areas, next to Amsterdamse Bos
- Marineterrein: good for older kids who can swim, go early to avoid the crowds and party-vibe
4. Go to a Real Beach 🏖
- Zandvoort: the closest real beach to Amsterdam by train, big and sandy, full of beachside bars and restaurants (Hippie Fish is our fave 👇)
- Wijk aan Zee (Timboektoe): a cool spot, where the Ij meets the sea, windmills, remote feeling
- Noordwijk aan Zee: similar to Zandvoort, but smaller and nicer
All these beaches are less than 40mins drive from Amsterdam (without traffic). We use MyWheels and Sixt Share to rent cars - get discounts with those links.
5. Lakes near Amsterdam (where Kids can Swim) 🛶
- Ouderkerkplas: sandy beach, shallow, playgrounds
- Het Twiske: with a bunch of spots for taking a dip, you can also rent canoes and little boats here
- Stadstrand Hoorn: newly built, the countries largest city beach, on its largest lake (30mins by train)
Read more about Hoorn with Kids
6. Rent a Boat ⛵️
We’ve rented our own boat in Amsterdam a bunch of times from different companies. For the mix of price, comfort, and ease of use (a steering wheel rather than rudder at the back), we’ve found Mokumboot to be the best, 7 locations
7. Parks & Playgrounds 🛝
- Amstelpark: mini train, mini golf, mini playground, (mini) farm animals
- Westerpark: lots of nice (food & drink) options for parents too
- Erasmuspark: with Terrasmus cafe right next to the playground, you can bring your coffee, juice, or beer to watch your kids play
8. Forests and Nature Playgrounds 🌲
- Amsterdamse Bos: playgrounds, goat farm, tree top climbing, paths through trees that are perfect for cycling and walking
- Natuurluur: nature combined with play areas and activities, far West
- Woeste Westen: similar to above, at the back of Westerpark
9. Museums 🏛
- NEMO: great interactive science museum, a hit with kids of all ages
- Scheepvaartmuseum: maritime museum, board a real ship, voted #1 museum in Amsterdam
- Move: hidden gem no one seems to know about, especially fun for kids who like cars
10. Go for Ice Cream 🍦
Our Top 3:
- Monte Pelmo: quality traditional Italian ice-cream (our fave), Jordaan
- Massimo Gelato: really good gelato, but be prepared to line-up on a hot day, Oud West, De Pijp, Oost & Zuid locations
- Miuz: run by an Italian dude, Overtoom
