Bicycles
There are now so many places to rent bicycles in Amsterdam, it's probably easiest to rent one from the closest place to where you are staying. Our favourite company is MacBike www.macbike.nl - their bicycle repair guys are trustworthy and know their stuff. They also rent children's bikes seats and bikes.
For a list of other bicycle rental companies and some useful tips on riding bicycles in Amsterdam, see www.amsterdamsights.com
Boats
Boats
Seeing Amsterdam by open top boat is a completely different experience of the city and very enjoyable. It's not suitable for young children I find, because they have to sit still and get bored quite easily. If you do plan to take them, keep it short and bring a picnic. Or go for one of the canal cruises instead. It is recommended to use a life jacket with children who do not have a swimming diploma. With older children it can be a lot more fun.
Canal Bike www.canal.nl/bike is a lot of fun, especially if your kids are big enough to pedal you around the canals of Amsterdam.
St. Nicholas Boat Club www.amsterdamboatclub.com offer rides on an old Dutch tuindersvlet (a boat originally used to carry produce between markets and farms) for a voluntary donation. They are a non-profit group that restores these antique vessels and rely on donations to fund their work. The only catch is you need to go to Kerkstraat 134, 1017 GP to see the boat schedule and sign up. A unique experience.
Canal Bike www.canal.nl/bike is a lot of fun, especially if your kids are big enough to pedal you around the canals of Amsterdam.
St. Nicholas Boat Club www.amsterdamboatclub.com offer rides on an old Dutch tuindersvlet (a boat originally used to carry produce between markets and farms) for a voluntary donation. They are a non-profit group that restores these antique vessels and rely on donations to fund their work. The only catch is you need to go to Kerkstraat 134, 1017 GP to see the boat schedule and sign up. A unique experience.
There are several city parks. Those listed here are the most child-friendly in my experience.
Amstelpark www.speeltuin-amstelpark.nl has a little train, playground, children's farm, rides, tennis courts. There is also an 18 hole midget golf and putting green, suitable for children 6 years and older www.midgetgolf-amstelpark.nl
Amsterdamse Bos www.amsterdamsebos.nl is a large forest on the outskirts of the city. There are plenty of walking and cycling routes to explore. Do you fancy visiting the goat farm where you can feed the goats and try goat ice cream? There are canoe boats for hire, two playground areas with paddling pools, a pancake house, a climbing park www.funforest.nl and even a campsite all year round.
Artis Royal Zoo http://www.artis.nl since Spring 2011 is enjoying a baby boom. There is a baby elephant, a baby gorilla, a lion cub, two baby sea lions, a baby giraffe and 4 scimitar oryx calves (a kind of African antelope which is now extinct in the wild).
Oosterpark www.amsterdam.info has a couple of playgrounds and plenty of space for a picnic. We like to go there after a trip to the Tropenmuseum round the corner.
Vondelpark www.zuid.amsterdam.nl is our local park and we love it here. There are several play grounds; one with a paddling pool, one at the Groot Melkhuis cafe www.grootmelkhuis.nl, one at the southwest entrance of the park with a big slide and sand pit. My boys like to play at the fallen tree. There are plenty of spots for a picnic, to play football or rollerblade. Other cafes include Vertigo and the Blauwe Theehuis.
Westerpark www.westergasfabriek.nl is our other favourite park. There is a children’s farm, a paddling pool, playgrounds, tennis courts, many cafes and plenty of places for a picnic.
Swimming
See my blogpost: swimming-at-mirandabad-or-not
Useful Links (in Dutch)
www.buitengidsvoorkids.nl is the Staatssbosbeheer www.staatsbosbeheer.nl children's website with loads of ideas for outdoor activities in nature: forests for climbing in, ponds for playing in, treasure hunts and other games.
