Highlights
- Enjoy a private boat tour through the canals of Amsterdam
- Visit interactive museums with exhibits designed for children
- Explore the great outdoors at Biesbosch National Park
- Cycle to the coast of the North Sea
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Amsterdam and Visit NEMO Science Museum | Amsterdam |
| Day 2 | Take a day-trip to Marken and See the Windmills at Zaanse Schans | Amsterdam |
| Day 3 | See the Country's Oldest City and the Windmills of Kinderdijk | Dordrecht |
| Day 4 | Visit Rotterdam's Maritime Museum | Rotterdam |
| Day 5 | Cycle Around the Hague and Detour to the Beach | The Hague |
| Day 6 | View a Miniature Version of the Netherlands at Madurodam | The Hague |
| Day 7 | Return to Amsterdam & Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Amsterdam and Visit NEMO Science Museum
Welcome to the Dutch Lowlands! After arrival at Amsterdam's airport, you'll continue on to your hotel in the city center, an amazing labyrinth of canals and small streets. From the canal closest to your hotel, you'll be picked up by a small private open boat for a tour of the canals. After about two hours, the boat will drop you off in front of the NEMO Science Museum, an interactive space for curious kids to learn more about the world around them.
Later, do as the Amsterdammers do and head to the Vondelpark to sit in the grass, have a drink, watch the laid-back locals, and soak up some sun. Nearby Westerpark also has a small children’s pool during the summer months.
For an adrenaline rush, check out the sky-high A’DAM Tower with a panoramic observation deck, rotating restaurant, and Europe’s highest swing.
Day 2: Day-trip to Marken and See the Windmills at Zaanse Schans
After exploring the rich culture of the capital city, it is time to check out some other Dutch icons: wooden shoes, fishing villages, cheese, and windmills! Today, you will experience the beauty of the countryside north of Amsterdam.
Begin in the picturesque village of Marken, located on an island in the Markermeer lake. Explore the small town and visit a wooden shoe factory. If there's time, squeeze in a visit to Sijtje Boes’ house, a charming cottage where you can see how locals traditionally lived — and buy souvenirs, of course. Then you'll catch the ferry to Volendam, Holland’s best-known fishing village. The quaint harbor is lined with cafés and fish vendors. It's a good place to sample local treats like kibbeling (traditional battered and fried fish nuggets). Kids usually love it, though the raw salty herring, also on offer, is a bit of an acquired taste!
Next, your guide will take you to visit the centuries-old cheese market area in Edam. The market happens on Wednesdays in July and August, but the market square and waag (weigh house) itself are very much worth a visit even outside those times. The last stop on your tour today is Zaanse Schans. During the 17th century, over 600 windmills were constructed in the area as part of an early industrial zone. The windmills were used to grind spices, produce paint, saw wood, and produce oil. A number of these windmills still exist and can be visited today, inside and out. After a busy day of sightseeing, you'll head back to your hotel in Amsterdam.
Day 3: See the Country's Oldest City and the Windmills of Kinderdijk
After breakfast, you'll head to Dordrecht, the oldest city in Holland. Located in a wetland area, it was an important merchant city primarily trading in wood and wine. The historic city center is full of monuments that have been repurposed as restaurants, museums, and theaters. Catch the waterbus (a public boat) to the famous area of Kinderdijk. The area features no fewer than 16 windmills from the 18th century. Until 1868, these mills pumped water away from lower-lying areas. Now electric mills do the same job. But Kinderdijk is special: nowhere else in the Netherlands can you see so many windmills together, all in such good condition. It's a wonderful photo opportunity.
Later in the day, travel by private boat to Biesbosch National Park, the largest freshwater tidal zone in Europe. Here, you'll find a wide variety of bird species, plus a population of around 300 beavers — the beaver is a symbol of the park. See this unique landscape on a boat tour or a guided canoe excursion. The latter, which is possible from April through November, is especially fun for older children.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 4: Visit Rotterdam's Maritime Museum
Welcome to Rotterdam, a short train ride from your hotel. It's a city of many faces, known for its rough-and-tumble port history, trendy nightlife, upscale shopping options, and lively art scene. Today you will visit the Maritime Museum, where you'll learn about the relationship between the sea and the city. It's a fun place to visit with children, as there are many exhibits especially for younger visitors — one focuses on sea monsters — and interactive programs where kids can learn to tie knots or see what's it like to work in the harbor.
In the afternoon, take a speedboat to the harbor area to check out the massive cargo ships that anchor here. Or enjoy an excursion to the Euromast, an observation tower with a glass elevator, and sweeping views over the city.
Day 5: Cycle Around The Hague and Detour to the Beach
Your next destination is The Hague. Known to the Dutch as Den Haag, it's the seat of the Dutch government and home to one of the most magnificent paintings in the country, Johannes Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring. You'll have a chance to view it in person while visiting the Mauritshuis. The museum features a few of the 37 paintings Vermeer created during his life, as well as works by Rembrandt, Jan Steen, and Frans Hals.
After your museum visit, you'll go on a short bicycle tour around the city, then pedal over to nearby Scheveningen Beach. The coastline and the long pier are wonderful for walking, and there's plenty of space for children to play. Relax over a seafood dinner before heading back to town.
Day 6: View a Miniature Version of the Netherlands at Madurodam
See all of Holland in just one day? It’s possible in Madurodam. This miniature version of the Netherlands is located in The Hague and makes for a wonderful outing with kids. You can walk among the tiny windmills, cheese markets, bridges, and waterworks, all Dutch highlights built to scale. There are hands-on elements, too. Kids can operate the storm surge barrier, load cargo ships, make an airplane take off from Amsterdam's airport, and much more!
Finally, the itinerary takes you to Delft, a charming city full of quaint canals and monumental buildings. The great painter Johannes Vermeer lived here in the 17th century. Visit the Vermeer Center, where you can see reproductions of his work and tour his studio, then stop into nearby workshops where the world-famous blue and white Delft Blue pottery is made. First introduced as a cheap alternative to Chinese porcelain, it's still produced according to age-old techniques.
Day 7: Return to Amsterdam & Depart
Your family-oriented explorations of the Netherlands end here. Head to the Amsterdam airport or train station to make your way to your next destination. Safe travels!
More Great Netherlands Itineraries
Looking for more inspiration for your trip to the Netherlands? Check out these other Netherlands itineraries, including a 5-day Family Tour of Holland, a 7-day Best of Holland & Flanders trip, and a weeklong Highlights of Holland adventure.