Netherlands Archives - Family Friendly Adventures

Wild Amsterdam Parks and the Artis Zoo

by Lindsay Racen

Wild Amsterdam at the Artis Zoo

Travel Tip >> Take time to reflect and capture the memories you’re making along your journey and appreciate those you’re sharing the experience with.

After our long day of traveling, we took some extra time to sleep in to rest off the jet lag which was wonderful and worked like a charm. We got up feeling refreshed late in the morning, picked up our transit cards and headed out the door. Our apartment was on the main street of Overtoom where a trolley stop easily brought us down through the city to Amsterdam Central. From there we set off to get lost in the canals which were just as beautiful in person as they are in all the pictures. We found the Anne Frank Huis which offers a wonderful learning opportunity for the kids but boasts lines longer than we’ve seen in Disneyland.

The weather was surprisingly pleasant, if not just a few degrees too hot for as much walking as we had done, so we stopped at a local café for a break. By that time we found our way to Artis Zoo, which came recommended by our substitute Air BnB host for being somewhat historic to the city but recently modernized and upgraded. It had been so long since either of us had been to a Zoo, even living so close to LA and San Diego, that it sounded like a really fun activity for the day and it was. The grounds were beautiful with tulip gardens and finely kept pathways and of course an array of exotic animals including

Giraffes
Reindeer
Exotic birds
Reptiles
Big Cats
Sea Life
Monkeys

Your family will have a wonderful time wandering around the wild animal park. We even welcomed a new member to our travel family. Keep an eye out for Rooney our new traveling gnome who was born at the Artis zoo and will adventure all over the world wish us!

Some Favorite Family Green Spaces

Travel Tip >> Take in the artistic culture of the city and enjoy live musicians and performers or just basque in the sun in Rembrandt Square.

We recommend enjoying the live music and eateries around Rembrandt Square which offers a relaxing and enjoyable break from the hustle and bustle. You’ll enjoy street performers as the kids dance to the music and take in the local culture as families lounge with friends and family on a beautiful Amsterdam day. We sat at a cafe called Escape which offers some great appetizers and some nice spirits for mom and dad looking for a little refreshment.

Travel Tip >> Take some time to enjoy Voldenpark which has some of the less busy iAmsterdam signs where you and your family can snap some photos without fighting the crowds.

Voldenpark allows pets and most people take time to just lay on the beautiful grounds and enjoy the scenery. It’s a perfect place for the runner in your life to let off some steam while the family enjoys some hang out time or picnic. There are beautiful features in the park like the Voldenpark Gazebo which is a great spot for your next family photo. You’ll often see people biking, playing Frisbee or simply laying about and we encourage you to take part in this fabulous recreational green space.

Travel Tip >> “Sh-ee-ple” – A crowd of people being herded around a popular attraction. Sometimes you just have to learn to embrace being part of the sheeple or you’ll let others bring down your fun.

The Rijksmuseum also offers a beautiful open green space that families can enjoy as they venture into one of the most impressive museums in the world. We walked through Voldenpark to get there and once inside keep a close eye on the kids because it truly can get extremely busy as defined by the sheeple effect. Here you will gawk at classic Rembrandts, Van Gogh’s “Self Portrait” and some interesting art pieces from the rotating exhibits. Keep in mind sometimes there can be interpretive yet liberating pieces that may not be family friendly so be sure to review the exhibit areas prior to bringing the kiddos to a few.

The Hague: Foodie Finds and Family Friendly Scheveningen Beach

by Lindsay Racen

Our time in Den Haag was entirely devoted to what we love most – family time and some much needed R&R. The Hague is the capital city of the South Holland province, less than an hour train ride from Amsterdam. The city is home to the Dutch government and over 150 international organizations and the International Criminal Court. As we set off toward the Hague, we peered into the countryside through the window of our train to find fields of tulip beds and the iconic windmills that you find on nearly every postcard of the the Netherlands. We were lucky enough to visit this destination with family who actually lived

Foodie Finds

Travel Tip >> Try the raw herring. If you down this delicious fish in three whole bites you can basically consider yourself a local!

If you don’t remember anything from this post remember this: GO TO PASTANINI. It is by far the best pizza we’ve had, and even rivals its native homeland of Italy. Just think of pasta and panini and combine to help you remember. It’s on “The Fred,” or Frederik Hendriklaan street, like almost all establishments in this part of the Hague are. Although the menu isn’t featured online, our favorite pizza is was made of a spicy meat that was utterly to die for. Mom here rarely eats the crust, like the kiddos, and that was even good enough to devour at this restaurant. We aren’t naturally food critics so it’s difficult to find the words to describe how amazing this pizza was, but believe us, its pretty mind blowing!

If your family loves dim sum like ours check out Chinees Indisch Restaurant Walong. It came on a recommendation from our talented sister-in-law who is a talented nutritionist and chef. Her insight certainly did not disappoint so we pass the recommendation right back your way. It was definitely worth the trip.

The final full day of our trip we decided to venture out to Scheveningen Beach on the North Sea, which is where we were introduced to the local favorite: Raw Herring. Often served straight with onions, or sometimes sandwiched between a simple piece of bread, its told that to be a true Dutch citizen you can eat the entire thing in less than three bites. We came pretty close and our niece showed us up by enjoying every last bite. Taste-wise it was good. Very fishy of course and overall quite buttery. Mom loves exotic foods though and adding it to her weird foods list right below alpaca and guinea pig! When in The Hague right? Life goal: eat with Andrew Zimmerman.

Scheveningen Beach

Travel Tip >> Rent a bike but don’t be timid. Unlike America two wheelers, trikes and bikes with side wagons often have the right of way in this town. A family of four can easily get around without a taxi or trolley ride.

It is Holland’s most famous seaside resort towns and is the go-to weekend escape for many citizens in and out of the country. The icon for luxury travelers is the Kurhaus hotel which looks like a huge royal palace just sitting on the beach like a giant sand castle. There are also options for family hotels with magnificent views. It was off-season while we were there so the vast shore was surprisingly empty and seemed to stretch for miles. During peak travel months there are huge pavilions that are set up along the boardwalk where people can eat, drink, watch the ocean and simply make the most of their vacation.

We set up shop at one of them where we enjoyed a tea made of two ingredients – hot water and a full bushel of mint. It was just so refreshing and pure it was absolutely perfect. One of our favorite things about the region is that they are extremely family-friendly. We loved that you could sit and enjoy some quality adult-time while easily watching your children hang out on nearby beach playgrounds within eye and ear shot. The city makes it so easy to enjoy quality time with those who are most important in our lives.