Traveling to Europe as a family is an exhilarating experience, not least because it will open everyone’s eyes to a wealth of history and culture, as well as offering the chance to explore important European features from bygone days. It’s also fun, because European cities are very diverse. They all have a lot to offer when it comes to opportunities that are both educational and entertaining.
London, England and Paris, France are often the first destinations that spring to mind when moms are thinking about planning trips because both have well known attractions as well as a significant cultural heritage. It might come as a surprise to learn, therefore, that the city of Amsterdam in Holland is becoming increasingly popular as a favorite destination for family vacations. Here are some of the reasons why.
Cruise the canals
It’s not necessary to go to Venice to find a fascinating network of canals in the middle of a city – they’re all right there in Amsterdam and taking a boat trip is a great way to see the sights. In fact, in 2010, UNESCO declared the canal network in the city a world heritage site, which is a mark of its historical importance.
Working windmills
Holland is, of course, famous for its windmills as well as its tulips and the manufacture of wooden clogs. There are eight mills located in and around Amsterdam so if the family decides to go windmill spotting look out for the word molen’ which is the Dutch word for windmill. A trip to a working windmill (they were once used to mill grain or remove water from the lowlands) makes for a wonderful outing.
Viewing the tulip fields is spectacular indeed, and mid-April is said to be the best time to do that. It happens, however, that the area known as Kop van Noord-Holland features the largest area where bulbs are grown continuously. Drive time is just thirty minutes from Amsterdam. Most tourists buy a pair of wooden clogs when souvenir shopping and, be warned, they come in children’s sizes as well as adult ones so bear this in mind when budgeting for the trip.
Guided tours
There are plenty of options for guided tours, including daytime family-friendly ventures with walking and biking, and romantic evening trips for those who are lucky enough to have a babysitter lined up. That’s not as far-fetched as moms might think, as there are companies that can sort out a sitter no matter what part of the city you’re staying in, or whether you’re staying in a hotel or a holiday apartment, such as those offered by Amsterdam serviced apartments.
Cultural gems
When traveling in Europe, it’s good if the kids get to enjoy a taste of European culture, and you can do this in Amsterdam by visiting some of the city’s museums. The Van Gogh Museum, for example, has the world’s largest collection of artworks by the famous painter, while the Rijksmuseum houses masterpieces from every corner of Europe.
A more sobering experience, but a valuable one for young people, is a trip to Anne Frank House, where kids can learn about the brave teenager who kept a diary during the second world war. The Resistance Museum is another second world war experience that should not be missed.
When to go
Normally August is the warmest month in Amsterdam, June has the most hours of sunshine while September and November see the most rainfall. Temperatures in the city vary from 63F (17C) in August to only 37F (3C) in January. A trip in May, June or July or in early September offers reasonable temperatures and quite probably some rain so it’s wise to pack clothes to suit the climate.
The Dutch are multilingual and most people speak English. Local guides are available to take guests to some of the best places to eat and drink in the city, as well as on a walking or cycling tour. Dutch cheeses and Dutch apple pies are particularly popular. The local guides explain the history and origins of certain types of food as the tour proceeds.
Amsterdam is truly a laid-back city and the local people welcome visitors all year round.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
I want to visit the Netherlands so badly that it makes me want to cry. I’ve been studying the Dutch language for a couple of years (though I have little proficiency) and it’s my dream to visit the canals of Amsterdam.
I have wanted to go for a while, but have never had the opportunity. It looks so beautiful!
I have never been to any of those places, but would love to visit someday! It looks so beautiful!