Family and kids in Noord | I amsterdam (2024)

See what's on at Tolhuistuin

Image from Koen Smilde

Tolhuistuin is Noord’s dynamic new cultural hotspot and a sanctuary for all art forms, with a lot to suit different ages. Check the agenda for dance lessons, theatre shows, concerts, a hip-hop school and a children's art centre.

Experience some WONDR

Now something for those social media savvy types: a new phenomenon in Amsterdam is the array of interactive museums that have popped up recently, transforming the city into an artistic playground. WONDR, located just a short walk from IJplein, is a joyful museum that celebrates the art of play. Experience a variety of impressive picture-worthy installations where you can dive into a pool of pink marshmallows, write on the walls, get lost in an extraterrestrial jungle or dance under a glittering sky.

Splash around in Noorderpark

Image from Koen Smilde

Noorderpark is a great place to swim, one of the best in the city in fact. The Noorderparkbadis an award-winning swimming pool complex that is as fun to look at as it is to dive in. Diving boards, tubes and child-friendly locations mean kids both young and old can take part. Just a short walk away, the cafe terrace at Pompetwith a large playground opposite is the perfect spot to recharge after all that action. And if you really need to cool down, IJskoud de Beste is one of the best ice cream parloursin the city, located just outside the park.

Swing 100m above the ground

Image from Pauline Arkesteijn

Daredevils take note, A’DAM LOOKOUTis not your average rooftop observation deck. As well as offering sky-high city views from the 360º Sky Deck, you’ll also have the opportunity to dangle your feet over the edge and feel the adrenaline rush from Europe’s highest swing - 100 metres above the ground! (Bare in mind that you’ll need to be at least 120cm to hop on). On top of that, you’ll find the ultimate rollercoaster experience at the Amsterdam VR Ride where you can experience racing over a track through all the city highlights, and plenty of dining options for families.

Time flies when you’re having fun!

Image from This is Holland

Located directly beneath A’DAM LOOKOUT, the This is Holland 5D Flight Experienceis great fun for kids and grown-ups alike. Marvel at special effects projected on a huge domed screen that gives you the breathtaking sensation of flying over the Dutch landscape. Voyagers will get an overview of how this extraordinary low-lying country was reclaimed from the sea using mounds, dykes, windmills and polders. The experience is suitable for ages 4 years and up and you’ll need to be taller than 100cm to ride.

Meet the pigs at a petting zoo

If farmyard animals and that faint whiff of manure is your thing, Amsterdam Noord is something of a hotspot for petting zoos. Dierenpark De Buiktuin(Noordhol Kanaaldijk 19) is a long-established city farm run solely by volunteers. There you’ll find animals great and small - from pigs and donkeys to fluffier critters like guinea pigs and rabbits - and a great playground. Not far away is Buurtboerderij 't Dierendok (Tegenhouderstraat 92) is a small farm with more pigs, goats, sheep, chickens and a range of smaller animals.

Get out on two wheels

Image from Koen Smilde

As you inch further away from the trendy hotspots of Noord, you'll find yourself quickly immersed in tranquil Dutch landscapes dotted with quaint little villages, canal locks, recreational areasand all the windmills you could hope for. The best way to explore this exceptionally flat area is on two wheels and you’ll find dozens of signposted bike paths to help you along the way. Alternatively, these cycle seeing routesare a great starting point for deciding where you want to set off together. Various styles of bikes are available for hireat locations across the city for all ages (including those kitted out with child seats).