Travel Destinations

A spring trip to the Netherlands with children

I have visited the Netherlands many times before. It’s a country I love for its beautiful architecture, amazing museums and friendly people. We took our son to Amsterdam to celebrate his first birthday but this was our first trip as a family. And we decided to go big with 11 days traveling around on an epic spring trip to the Netherlands with children and seeing as much as we could. If you’re looking to spend spring in the Netherlands then this is the post for you. We were in Amsterdam in March and the Netherlands in April and had a wonderful, if slightly (and probably unseasonably) chilly trip.

A spring trip to the Netherlands

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We started our trip in the capital city of amsterdam, the city made for wandering.

The canals were beautiful with the spring sunshine on them and as the bicycles glided past us I remembered what a great city this is for families.

I took the older two children to Anne Frank’s house. We have been reading about Anne so it felt right to take them to the building she spent two years hiding in.

Anne Frank House, Amsterdam
Anne Frank House, Amsterdam

We also loved our time at the fantastic NEMO science center where we sought refuge as spring rain fell (and fell).

NEMO - Amsterdam
NEMO, Amsterdam

Amsterdam is one of our favorite cities but with so much more of the country to explore we knew we had to head out.

We went south to one of my favorite spots at the Heksenwaag, or the Witch’s Weigh House. Here you could stand on the 15th-century scales and receive a certificate to declare you not to be a witch.

It was slightly creepy and the history felt incredible as the scales swung slightly backwards and forwards.

Heksenwaag, Witches Weighhouse, Oudewater, Netherlands

Art and culture were not in short supply, particularly in The Hague which was unexpectedly beautiful. Packed with its squares of grand houses and wide streets.

We spent ages marveling over the amazing art of Escher. But the highlights has to be the breathtaking ‘Girl with a pearl earring’ in the Mauritshuis. This was better than I could have ever imagined it to be.

Mauritshuis (and a visit to the 'Girl with a pearl earring'), The Hague, The Netherlands

Out in the countryside, we visited some fantastic UNESCO World Heritage windmills at Kinderdijk. These creaked in the sunshine and brisk winds.

It felt as if we’d gone back in time to see this community of windmills. They were absolutely beautiful.

kinderdijk windmills
Kinderdijk windmills

It wasn’t all culture (and witches) though.

We spent a day at Efteling, the Dutch theme park based around folklore and legend which was brilliant fun, if a little chilly, when we visited.

Efteling

Perhaps my favorite time was spent at the beach at Scheveningen. Watching the waves crash and storms rage, it was a beautiful part of Holland and one we really want to return to when it’s a little warmer.

And as we were visiting the Netherlands in Spring we had to take a trip to the World famous Keukenhof Gardens to see the tulips.

Keukenhof tulips

We ate well in the Netherlands too, from pancakes in Amsterdam.

The Pancake Bakery, Amsterdam

To a fantastic meal at The Penthouse on the top of the Hague’s highest tower.

The Tower, The Hague

Our spring trip to the Netherlands was one where we packed so much in. The Netherlands is such a diverse country and has so much to offer families that there is still so much to see.

We loved our time there and can’t wait to return. Check out our huge post on everything to do in the Netherlands with kids.

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