Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam
City Guide
City Guide
City Guide
City Guide
City Guide
Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam
City Guide
City Guide
City Guide
City Guide
City Guide
Table of Contents
IN A NUTSHELL
Visit Rotterdam with Kids
Looking to visit the Netherlands with the kids? Rotterdam in the south of Holland can be a great family destination, offering a variety of activities for all ages. Some popular family-friendly attractions include the Rotterdam Zoo, the Maritime Museum, and the Euromast Observation Tower. The city also has numerous parks and playgrounds, as well as indoor play areas and family-friendly restaurants. However, as with any destination, it’s important to research and plan ahead to ensure that there are suitable activities and accommodations for your family’s needs and interests. That’s why Booking With Kids is here to help you plan your visit to Rotterdam with kids, making trips stress-free with your little ones.
For conscious travellers interested in innovation and sustainable concepts, Rotterdam is the destination of the moment. It is a city preparing for the future. A city where designers, artists and other change-makers are given all the space they need. Where they fearlessly tackle themes that cities worldwide are struggling with such as climate change, energy transition and social issues. New concepts are invented on the fly. Add to that the groundbreaking architecture, vibrant festivals and revolutionary restaurants, and visitors will be left speechless by this amazing city in Holland.
The Best Time to Visit Rotterdam with Kids
You can visit Rotterdam all year round. But. spring and autumn (like most European cities) bring around the best temperatures and they are also the prettiest of seasons. However, if you’re looking for good weather then your best bet would be visiting from June to September, with July and August being the warmest months.
©Iris van den Broek
How to Get to Rotterdam with Kids
People are encouraged to get to Rotterdam by train. Eurostar have a direct train from London and Paris to Amsterdam. This makes travelling easier and more fun on a train ride. However, it is also possible to get to Rotterdam with kids by plane, landing at the Rotterdam Airport or Schiphol (Amsterdam). Rotterdam only is 20 minutes away by train, if you’re landing at Schiphol.
Must Dos When in Rotterdam with Kids
These are our top must-sees when visiting Rotterdam with kids:
- Museumpark – This park is home to several of Rotterdam’s museums, including the Natural History Museum, the Kunsthal Art Museum, and the Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum.
- Kralingen – This neighborhood features the Kralingse Bos park, which is great for hiking, biking, and picnics. There is also a lake for swimming and water sports.
- Kop van Zuid / Katendrecht – A place full of history, culture and architecture.
LOCATION
Hotels in Rotterdam
Our Top Family-Friendly Hotels in Rotterdam
SS Rotterdam Hotel & Restaurants **** – This unique hotel was a former ocean liner and offers family rooms, a playground, and several restaurants. This is the perfect place for kids, if your children want to feel like they’re sleeping on a boat. Kids are greeted by Captain Kaap, and are invited to see the ship. The Sea Breeze Deluxe Tour is a great tour for kids at this hotel. There are also other activities for kids including the Playmobil room and the kids check-in. Discover more about staying at the SS Rotterdam with kids.
The Bellhop **** – Located in the Witte de Withstraat, Rotterdam’s most famous street. Their L-quad room is perfect for a family of 4, with a queen sized bed and 2 single beds. The quad room can also accommodate 4 guests, and it features a queen sized bed and a bunk bed. There is also a kitchen and bar on site.
Supernova **** – Their fab four room has 4 sleeping spaces and a sitting area. Their triple room is equipped with a king sized bed, a single bed and a sofa. There is also a shop on site selling local souvenirs and snacks.
Other fabulous family-friendly accommodations in Rotterdam
Cocondo – You should definitely consider Cocondo as a place to stay when booking your trip to Rotterdam with kids. Cocondo gives a new life to old bunkers along the Dutch coast. They do this in order to preserve cultural and historical heritage, and tell the stories behind it, and to help protect the surrounding nature. All the bunkers where transformed in a sustainable and ecological way to meaningful places to stay at. For example the Hoek van Holland which was an old German telephone bunker from 1943 was transformed in to a holiday home for two adults and two children. This bunker consists of: an underground bedroom for two adults, a box bed for one adult or two children, a fully equipped kitchen, a bathroom with shower and toilet, Wifi, toiletries, coffees and teas.
Wikkelboats **** – A stay on the Wikkelboat is truly a unique experience for families. All Wikkelboats are made from sustainable materials and are up to 3 times more environmentally friendly than traditional homes. In Rotterdam you will find Wikkelboats Wijnhaven and Wikkelboats Rijnhaven. Both Wikkelboats in the Wijnhaven can accommodate a total of 4 people. There are 5 different Wikkelboats in the Rijnhaven in Rotterdam. Some can accommodate 6-9 people.
©Guido Pijper
©Blijdorp
PLAY
Activities for children ages 0-5
Tiring our babies and toddlers whilst they absorb all that is around them.
Maritime Museum (Maritiem Museum) – This museum has a special section for children called Professor Splash, where they can learn about ships and the port of Rotterdam through interactive exhibits.
Rotterdam Zoo (Diergaarde Blijdorp) – The Rotterdam zoo has a wide variety of animals and it is a popular attraction for families with young children. They also have a playground and a petting zoo.
Blijdorp Zoo – Spend a fun hour here. There is a side dedicated to marine and the ocean and then you can also spot giraffes, elephants and flamingos.
Miniworld Rotterdam – This indoor attraction is a miniature version of Rotterdam, where visitors can see the city’s landmarks and trains in a small scale.
Plaswijckpark – A theme park in Rotterdam. The outdoor park features playgrounds, a petting zoo, a train ride, and other activities that are suitable for young children.
Ontdekhoek – A children’s amusement centre, with a large workshop allowing kids to do different experiments.
Wereldmuseum – Offering a range of activities for the whole family. You can take part in fun activities at the workshop, visit the interactive exhibition, experience some animal magic at Wereldmuseum for kids aged 4+ years, and take up some fun activities with you home.
Take a water taxi in Rotterdam – Get a water taxi to to cross the city’s water. Get ready for some great views!
Villa Zebra – Another children’s museum in Rotterdam focusing on visual art. Your little ones will come into contact with contemporary art. The five play-and-art installations of ZELF! were created in collaboration with artists for children of ages 3-6 years.
Belevenisboerderijk Schieveen – This farm is a great place for toddlers to see, as they can also give lambs bottles of milk. Kids also love playing in the hay here!
KunsthalLAB – Discover, learn, play and amongst all experiment! There is also a toddler morning for kids up to 4 years, where the little ones can build a marble track, build bridges, make a puzzle and much more!
PLAY
Activities for older kids
Keeping the older kids happy, entertained, and reducing the amount of times they ask for a screen or complain about being bored.
The Rotterdam Cube Houses (Kubuswoningen) – The unique architecture of the Cube Houses is a popular attraction for visitors to Rotterdam, and older children may appreciate the unusual design.
Euromast – This observation tower offers panoramic views of Rotterdam from a height of 185 meters and it also has a restaurant at the top.
Rotterdam Harbour Tour (Spido) – A boat tour around the port of Rotterdam offers a close-up look at the world’s busiest port and its massive cargo ships.
Pinball Museum – This will be a blast for kids and even for you. At the Dutch pinball museum there are over 100 pinball machines and the fun part of it all is that you can still get to play on most of them.
Villa Zebra – Another children’s museum in Rotterdam focusing on visual art. Your little ones will come into contact with contemporary art. The five play-and-art installations of ZELF! were created in collaboration with artists for children of ages 3-6 years. For older children, they can visit the De Moestuin (vegetable garden) exhibition. This is a pretty cool idea exhibit as it investigates how we humans would behave in the future.
Kunsthal – A fun workshop takes place every Sunday from 14.00 to 16.00 where you can draw, paint, colour, and much more. In the Ontdekhoek (Discovery Corner), children from 4 to 14 years can do experiments and make a sailboat.
Rotterdam Zoo (Diergaarde Blijdorp) – The Rotterdam zoo has a wide variety of animals and it is a popular attraction for families. There is also a petting zoo and a playground too.
©Iris van den Broek
©Tino van den Berg
PLAY
Parks & Playgrounds
When visiting Rotterdam with kids, there are various parks, playgrounds and zoos that your children will enjoy. Here at Booking with Kids, we have listed our top favourite ones.
Parks and Playgrounds in Rotterdam for Kids
Plaswijckpark – A recreational family park. This park has 3 different areas: Speelwijck which is a huge play area with different segments including a monkey playground with ropes and swings, a traffic playground and House in the Hill which is an indoor playground with various trampolines. Then there is Dierenwijck which is small zoo and Wandelwijck which is where you can walk, play or run around.
Kralingse Bos (Kralingen Woods) – A public park located in one of Rotterdam’s nicest neighbourhoods with green spaces, benches, and playgrounds.
Klimpark Fun Forest – For the adventurous kids who love the outdoors, this is a great climbing park.
Playgrounds can be found everywhere in Rotterdam. However, these playgrounds aren’t always free as some charge a euro for emtramce but be sure that there is plenty to have fun!
Playgrounds for kids include:
Just outside Rotterdam you can find Speeltuin De Kievit, a playground with swimming pools and a small petting zoo.
Zoos in Rotterdam
Rotterdam Zoo (Diergaarde Blijdorp) – The Rotterdam zoo has a wide variety of animals and it is a popular attraction for families with young children. They also have a playground and a petting zoo.
There are other children’s petting zoos in Rotterdam such as:
- De Kraal in the Kralingse Bos
- De Wilgenhof in Schiebroek
©Iris van den Broek
FOOD
Family-friendly cafés & restaurants in Rotterdam
Here are our top favourite cafés and restaurants that you should try when visiting Rotterdam with kids.
Juffrouw van Zanten – A great place for breakfast, brunch, lunch or for some coffee, tea and nice pastries. Kids can get toys to play with at the table.
Hotel New York – This historic hotel and restaurant offers a menu with a variety of options, including seafood, sandwiches, and salads. They also have a children’s menu and a play area for kids.
Vroesenpaviljoen – If you’re visiting in summer, this restaurant holds kids activities. They are open daily serving, breakfast, lunch and drinks.
By Jarmusch – The best go to place for a great breakfast, serving eggs, pancakes with different toppings, sandwiches, acai bowl and fresh juices.
Anne & Max – Serving breakfast, brunch, coffees, teas and cakes. They also have an innovative kids menu.
Little V – This is a Vietnamese restaurant open for both lunch and dinner.
Rotterdam’s Market Hall – A huge indoor market with several stalls. There are 15 food shops and 8 restaurants.
Arzu – Another great place to visit when in Rotterdam with kids. Arzu serves homemade chocolate bars and all kinds of Turkish dishes.
TRANSPORTATION
How to Get Around Rotterdam with Kids
Moving around Rotterdam with kids can be easy. You can explore the city on foot, by bike or via public transport.
On Foot
Walking over the bridges and admiring the beauty of the city, is part of the charm of Rotterdam. So, it becomes worth it to clock up some steps.
Cycling
If you’re travelling with older kids, then you can cycle around the city. You can rent bikes from some hotels or bike shops.
If cycling or walking aren’t the best options for you, then you can always opt to use Rotterdam’s public transport. Public transport in Rotterdam is very efficient and organised. You can get all over the city by bus, tram or metro. The metro is very well connected and it has 5 routes. All trams stop at the Central Station, making it n the best option to get on a tram. The RET provides several bus routes which connect the centre with several cities. You can also purchase a transport card being that of 24 hours, 48 hours or a longer card.
©Claire Droppert
TOYS
Toy Shops & Book Stores in Rotterdam for Kids
We’re listing our favourite children toy stores and book stores for when you are in Rotterdam with kids.
Our favourite children stores in Rotterdam
- De Kleine Kapitein – This bookstore specializes in children’s books and it has an extensive collection of children’s books in different languages and genres.
- Kinderboekwinkel De Geheime Tuin – This is another children’s book store in Rotterdam. This store also sells a few gifts ideas such as educational games, some toys and cards.
- Carrabas – This is a toy store selling baby toys and toddle toys. Some of these include building toys, horses, dolls and other accessories, doll houses, role play toys, puzzles, musical toys and other innovative ones.
- De Zonnewijzer – Selling cuddly toys, outdoor play toys, dolls, games, puzzles, books, craft packages and more.
Insider Tips
Explore the city with a buggy
Most of the city in Rotterdam is flat. This makes it very easy to navigate with a pushchair when visiting Rotterdam with kids.
A lovely, and quiet place, where you can swim, do a BBQ and enjoy yourself. The metro makes a stop here so it's even more convenient to get too.
TRAVEL TO ROTTERDAM
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Booking With Kids gives you family travel tips to inspiration on the best places to travel with kids, we’re here to help you make your next trip a positive one.
Booking With Kids gives you family travel tips to inspiration on the best places to travel with kids, we’re here to help you make your next trip a positive one.
