Amsterdam
Museum Quarter
Van Gogh Museum - Don't miss the Van Gogh Museum, chock full of van Gogh's most famous paintings. Van Gogh is an artist that seems to resonate with kids - find your favorite scenes of the homey yellow house, Vincent's bedroom, sunflowers, gardens and fields.
Be sure to pick up the excellent children's audio tour of the Van Gogh paintings, or the self-guided treasure hunt from the front desk. The treasure hunt is good for older kids.
After you've looked at all the Van Gogh's, there's also Renoir, Monet, Gaugin and Pisarro paintings on the upper floor.
Behind the Van Gogh Museum is a big grassy area, small playground, little pond and snack bars with ice cream, waffles and cold drinks. Rijksmuseum - Also a "must see," here kids will discover the the biggies of Dutch art, especially the painters Vermeer and Rembrandt (at the top of the list is Rembrandt's incomparable The Night Watch).
Kids will also like "food paintings," still life works with good Dutch cheese and bread, or heroic paintings of sea battles. Don't miss the exquisite doll houses from the 17th century and ships models.
Tip: The Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum are right next to each other, but don't go from one to museum to each other. Each museum is so rich; plan your visit to each museum as a separate outing.
Vondelpark - The Vondelpark is a large area with grass, trees, ponds and flat pathways (perfect for bikes or strollers). This is a great spot to bring toddlers, also to take a bike ride. I have a vivid memory of the kids biking through the Vondelpark, speeding along smooth paths like leaves blown on the wind.
