Amsterdam is always a good idea. The town that moves on bicycle wheels is great during any season and it’s awesome for kids.
We’ve been to Amsterdam many times, we have our favorite hotel and our favorite shopping and restaurants. And this town never gets old or out of style.
The Hotel:
We always stay at the Hard Rock American Hotel, which is located close to Vondelpark. Even before it joined the Hard Rock chain, this hotel stood out for it’s spacious rooms and beautiful pre-war building.
We absolutely adore it. Walking down the halls, sitting for breakfast in it’s lavish dining hall, having coffee or a drink in the bar, or just waiting by the reception area, one always feels like they are on the set of a 1920’s movie. The new décor of various rock and pop star outfits, that comes with the territory of any Hard Rock establishment only adds to the property’s style. The rooms are so spacious and decorated so nicely it truly makes the guests feel like rock stars.
Moreover, the breakfast offers such a variety and is so generous it makes the guests feel truly welcomed.
The gym is well equipped and spacious, it’s just fun to work out. I especially love the music playing throughout the hotel’s structure. It may be a minor detail but it adds to the ambiance.
Things to do about town:
Amsterdam offers so many options for a family trip, it really is a treat just to walk or ride a bike through its streets. You can start your day trip in Vondelpark, where you can easily spend a day of watching the tulips, playing in the playground or walking around the vast rolling green lawns. On especially hot days,there is even the pond, that despite it’s shallowness, offers a great cooling down option. It is a small pool, located right at the center of the park, where all the kids can play and splash water around.
Another great plus of this pool is the fact that it, like the rest of Vondelpark is totally free.
Moco Museum:
Although not a free excursion, it is a great treat for kids. The modern art experience this small museum offers is enchanting, no less. There are light installments, various Banksy graffiti paintings, and the exhibition as a whole is nothing short of magnificent. It is a must.
Biking:
All over town, and even at the hotel, you can rent bikes. It’s a great way to explore the town and it’s streets. So I highly recommend you go ahead and rent them. General tip: it is usually cheaper to rent them in the various biking stores on the streets then at the hotel. FYI.
Shopping:
We love vintage shopping. And the area known as Nine Streets is a fabulous option for vintage shopping. Stores like Zipper, Episode and more are a treasure for vintage lovers. There are a bunch of antiques stores to explore in Amsterdam as well, but they are usually more pricy. If you’re on the hunt for designer vintage, there are a number of stores that offer such goods, but these also usually come with a hefty price tag. Other stores I would recommend are Waterstone’s and The American Book Center, where you
can find many English book titles. These are not vintage or antique stores but still treasures.
You can find all the regular shopping attrections in the streets around Damn Square, where everything from Zara to H&M, exist.
Food:
There are a gazillion good restaurants, moderately priced around town. But the street food is to die for. There is a fresh fish stand right outside Waterstone’s, off Damn Square, that offers herring and lux sandwiches that are simply lovely. Also in that area, across the street, there is our favorite bar-restaurant called: Dante. It serves everything from Dutch traditional dishes to burgers and fries. Go there even to enjoy a glass of wine in the early hours of the afternoon.
Of course you cannot talk about Amsterdam without mentioning it’s coffee shops. Our favorite is The Dolphin, look it up. It’s small coffee shop a little further from the noisy center of Damn Square. It’s slightly more peaceful than the more famous Bulldog, for instance.
In general, I recommend going to the coffee shops located off of the main streets for a more enjoyable experience.
Going out in Amsterdam:
My all time favorite is hands-down the bar at the W Hotel. It is a rooftop bar with a terrace that entertains a heated pool. First off, the view from the terrace is remarkable as it overlooks all the other rooftops in the area. Second, the bar serves magnificent cocktails and snacks, has an in-house D.J. and hosts the best crowd. You can’t go through a night in that joint without running into good-looking, well-dressed, fun people who will chat you up all night long. Make sure to make a reservation if you are going on a
weekend evening ‘cause there’s a line outside!
(I have to admit I skipped the line as I said I was meeting people upstairs who had a reservation, a bold lie, I know).
As long as we’re talking about the W Hotel Amsterdam, I will take the liberty to recommend their Mr. Porter restaurant. It’s a steak house, one of the best in town. It’s a bit pricey but it’s so yummy, I think it’s worth it. And you can go there with the kids.
Other than the coffee shops, you can pretty much go anywhere with the kids in Amsterdam, which is, of course, a great plus. It’s a town that many perceive as adults only, but it will surprise you with how welcoming it is for children of all ages.
Another activity that is great with kids is going on a horse carriage ride through the narrow streets. Not only will it give your feet some much needed R&R, but also you’ll enjoy the town from a different angle.
All in all, Amsterdam is a lovely spot for a family vacation. Go ahead and enjoy!
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