The Netherlands, or as many colloquially call it, Holland, is always a hit for us as a family. Short distances, relaxed atmosphere, child-friendly infrastructure, and that mix of sea, nature, and really good amusement parks is simply unbeatable.

Here are our very personal highlights, tested by us as a family, for your family vacation in Holland.

🚢 By ferry to Texel – Island adventure from the first minute

Even the crossing to Texel is a real experience for children. The ferry departs from Den Helder and takes you to the island in just about 20 minutes. On Texel, you can expect:

• 🏖️ Endless, wide sandy beaches perfect for digging, running, and flying kites

• 🦭 Ecomare Seal Sanctuary where injured seals are nursed back to health. Children can observe the animals up close and learn about marine conservation at the same time. A real highlight for our kids!

• 🌿 Beautiful hiking and cycling trails through dunes and nature reserves

Texel is wonderfully laid-back and ideal for families who love nature and still want enough variety.

🐑 Petting Zoo Dierendüntje – Small, charming, special

Sometimes it's the small places that are the most enchanting. The Dierendüntje petting zoo is exactly one such place.

A lovingly run small farm where children can:

• feed sheep

• pet goats

• observe rabbits

• get up close to animals

Everything is manageable and relaxed – perfect for smaller children too. Admission is even free, but donations are requested, which we were very happy to give!

🎢 Amusement Park Duinrell – Action & Water Fun

If your kids love action, then Duinrell is an absolute highlight. The park combines:

• roller coasters

• carousels

• play areas

• and a huge water park with spectacular water slides

The swimming pool with its slides was the highlight of the day for us. Plan a whole day here – it's worth it!

🚴 Cycling through the dunes – from Egmond to Bergen

Cycling in the Netherlands is simply a dream, especially with children. Our favorite route leads from Egmond to Bergen through the dune landscape. 

What makes this route so special:

• Well-developed cycling paths

• Beautiful nature and if you're lucky, even wild horses!

• Forests & sand dunes

• Perfect picnic spots

With a bit of luck, you might even spot wild horses along the way. We saw them, and our children were absolutely thrilled! You can rent bikes virtually anywhere, and they are always of very good quality, including children's bikes or cargo bikes.

Tip: Be sure to pack snacks and a picnic blanket – there are so many beautiful spots for a break.

🏖️ Beach Clubs – Relaxation for Parents, Freedom for Children

What we love about Holland: These casual beach clubs right on the sea.

While the children play in the sand, fly kites or collect shells, parents can:

• enjoy a relaxed coffee

• have lunch with a sea view

• simply take a breather

The atmosphere is usually very family-friendly and relaxed – no stress, no dirty looks because of sandy feet.

Our favorite beach clubs in Holland:

Evi Beach (Egmond),

Nautilus (Egmond),

Deiningaanzee (Castricum),

Noord (Bergen),

Hippiefish (Zandvoort),

Tulum Beach Club (Nordwijk)

🪁 Flying a kite

The North Sea almost always provides enough wind for one of the simplest and most beautiful beach pastimes: flying a kite.

It doesn't take much – a colorful kite, a bit of space, and you'll have shining children's eyes. For us, it's always a little highlight.

🧱 Lego Playground in Scheveningen, perfect for rain

Should the weather not cooperate (which can certainly happen on the North Sea), then the Lego Playground in Scheveningen is a bullseye.

Our children could have spent hours there building, playing, romping, and admiring the Lego landscapes. The Lego Playground is suitable for all ages, even the very youngest.

Especially on rainy days, it's an absolute savior, and honestly, it's very popular even in good weather.

🎡 Amusement Park De Goudvis - Fun in any weather

Our children still talk about it today and can even remember its name. De Goudvis is a great mix of indoor and outdoor play options:

• Trampolines

• Slides

• Carousels

• Large play areas

Ideal when the weather is unpredictable. The combination of outdoor fun and indoor play makes the park particularly relaxed for families.

⚓ Haarlem with kids – Canals, boats & relaxed vibes

Haarlem totally surprised us as a family. The city is smaller and more relaxed than Amsterdam, but just as charming. I would a thousand times recommend staying there with kids instead of Amsterdam.

🚤 Boat trip through the canals

An absolute highlight was our boat trip through Haarlem. From the water, the city looks completely different. For children, it's a small adventure to cruise through the canals and pass under bridges. Watch your head, some of them are really VERY low!

Tip: It's best to rent a small boat yourselves! Of course, there are also larger boats where you can just sit and enjoy. But with kids, we found it much more exciting to take the helm ourselves. You don't even need a license for it, the boats only go very slowly. Pack snacks and celebrate the trip as a small family event.

🌳 Haarlem in general with kids

• Many small cafes

• Car-free areas

• Pretty alleys

• Playgrounds scattered throughout the city

The atmosphere is relaxed and child-friendly, perfect for a stress-free stroll through the city.

 

🌸 Linnaeushof – Europe's largest playground

What a highlight! Why don't we have this in Germany! If your children love playgrounds, then you absolutely must visit Linnaeushof.

Here you will find:

• huge climbing structures

• water play areas

• slides

• boats

• trampolines

• play equipment for every age

It's not a classic amusement park with rides, but truly a huge play paradise where children can be active themselves. Ours could easily have spent the whole day there.

Our Conclusion: Why the Netherlands are perfect for families

The Netherlands achieves something we particularly value on vacation:

• Nature & sea united

• Action & amusement parks for plenty of variety

• Relaxation & stylish beach clubs

• Cities that work well with children

Everything is close by, well-organized, and incredibly family-friendly.

For us, Holland is a destination we would visit again and again because it has something for everyone. Adventure and lots of outdoor time for the kids, and relaxation for the adults.

Our top recommendations for family-friendly accommodations in Holland?

Here we reveal our favorite accommodations in the Netherlands.