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jul & aug 2014
KIDS & FAMILY ATTRACTIONS AMSTERDAM DUNGEON The Amsterdam Dungeon brings 500 years of dark history to life with 11 shows, seven actors and one terrifying experience. Rokin 78, www.the-dungeons. nl. Open daily 10.00-18.00 (last tour), €22, ages 4-15 €18
ational area is situated in the north of Amsterdam. In addition to large playgrounds, a beach and plenty of green space, you can rent canoes, rowboats, pedal boats and sailboats. www.hettwiske.nl
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KINDERKOOKKAFE The ‘Kids Cook Café’ is a unique restaurant where children (ages five to 12) do absolutely everything to help run the restaurant, including cooking, serving, bartending, tidying up and running the cash register. Vondelpark 6b, www.kinderkook kafe.nl. Open daily 10.00-17.00, various prices
AMSTERDAMSE BOS (AMSTERDAM FOREST) Amsterdam’s largest park and recreational area is home to a goat farm (with a petting zoo), a ‘FunForest’ climbing park, a vintage tram, a botanical garden and a rowing lake. Bicycle, canoe, LOVERS POWERZONE kayak and pedal boat rental are Strike it big at one of the six glowavailable. In the year the park turns 80, there’s a programme of in-the-dark bowling alleys or pit yourself against the enemy on the extra special events. laser tag battleground. www.amsterdamsebos.nl De Ruyterkade 153, ANNE FRANK HOUSE www.loverspowerzone.nl. Various times & prices This is the hiding place where Anne Frank wrote her diary MADAME TUSSAUDS during World War II. Quotations AMSTERDAM from the diary, photographs, Step into the amazing world of films and original objects – inMadame Tussauds. The colleccluding Anne’s diary – all serve to tion of wax figures include the illustrate the events which gorgeous Brad Pitt, the outraoccurred here. Suitable for chilgeous Lady Gaga and the dren over ten. brilliant Einstein. Prinsengracht 267, www.anne Dam 20, www.madametussauds. frank.org. Open daily 09.00nl. Open daily 10.00-18.30, €22, 22.00, €9, ages 10-17 €4.50 ages 5-15 €18, under-5s free ARTIS ROYAL ZOO MIRANDABAD Admire the tropical fish in the SWIMMING POOL Aquarium and travel through Subtropical swimming pool time in the Planetarium. See complex with a beach, palm trees, giraffes galloping amongst the several indoor and outdoor pools, zebras, springboks, oryx and wave machines. and wildebeests. De Mirandalaan 9, Plantage Kerklaan 38-40, www. www.mirandabad.nl. artis.nl. Open daily 09.00-18.00, Various times & prices Saturdays until sunset, €19.95, ages 3-9 €16.50 PANCAKE BOAT BLIJBURG Choose from a number of cruises every week and, for a set price, Feel the sand between your toes everyone can eat as many panwithout leaving the comfort of cakes as they like with a wide the city at this trendy, familyvariety of tasty toppings. friendly urban beach on IJburg. Ms van Riemsdijkweg opposite Muider Avenue 1001, www.blijburg.nl, phone ahead for nr 38, www.pannenkoekenboot. nl. Various times & prices opening times BOVENNEMO During the summer months, NEMO museum’s roof transforms into an urban beach, decked out with sand pits, lounge chairs, a giant chess set and a ‘Splashing Water Wonder’ attraction. Sit back and enjoy drinks, lunch, ice cream and a breath-taking view of the city. Oosterdok 2, www.e-nemo.nl/en. Open daily 10.00-19.00, free entrance
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SCHEEPVAARTMUSEUM (NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM) There are a variety exhibitions designed just for kids. Moored just outside the museum, the Dutch East India Company ship Amsterdam is a hit with visitors of all ages. Kattenburgerplein 1, www.scheepvaartmuseum.nl. Open daily 09.00-17.00, €15, ages 5-17 €7.50, under-5s free
the park home. Most days a supervisor is present, meaning kids can play freely while parents kick back. Westerpark, www.woestewesten. nl. Playground supervisor is present Mon, Tue, Thur & Fri 13.00-18.00, Wed, Sat & Sun 11.00-18.00
EVENTS VONDELPARK OPEN AIR THEATRE During the summer months the Vondelpark welcomes a wide variety of entertainers to a special open-air stage. Vondelpark, www.openlucht theater.nl. Fri-Sun until midSept, various times, free ZOOMERAVONDEN, SUMMER NIGHTS AT THE ZOO Every Saturday evening throughout June, July and August you can stroll around Artis Royal Zoo until sunset. During this eleventh year of the ZOOmeravonden programme, well-known Dutch artists will perform at the Bandstand at the Pampa. Visitors can picnic in the grass and there is a barbecue at the restaurant in the park – De Twee Cheetahs. There are also short ZOOmeravondvertellingen (story times) in the historical Lecture Theatre, and various members of staff at Artis Royal Zoo provide a glimpse behind the scenes as they talk about their work as keepers, veterinarians or astronomers. The evening concludes with a special tour through the park at twilight during which the tour guide will tell you about the animals’ night-time rituals. AGENDA GUIDED BEHIND THE SCENES TOUR Take an educational stroll through Artis Royal Zoo and see it in a different way. The tour guide will take you to the most unique places in the zoo and behind the scenes. Every Sat & Sun in Jul & Aug, departs Monkey Island, 12.15 SPACE-TIME WAVES Albert Einstein predicted the existence of gravity waves over a century ago, but they have never actually been detected. With new, highly sensitive equipment, astronomers are now trying to detect them. Science journalist Govert Schilling explains all. Tue 1 July, Planetarium, 20.00, €12.50 p/p (incl. two drinks) THE GAY ANIMAL KINGDOM TOUR A very special guided tour in line with the Amsterdam Gay Pride Festival about homosexual behaviour in the animal kingdom. Sun 3 August, Monkey Island, 13.00 POWERS OF TEN: MICRO VS. MACRO IN NATURE Imagine viewing the universe with a different magnification each time you looked at it. With each step you would enlarge or reduce the image by ten times. How long would it take before you could see Earth, our galaxy, the Milky Way, the universe? And what would you see? Artis’ head of education, Milo Grootjen, discusses. Tue 5 August, Planetarium, 20.00, €12.50 p/p (incl. two drinks) www.artis.nl €12.50, ages 4-18 €8, under-4s free.
SCIENCE CENTER NEMO TUNFUN EYEWALK NEMO introduces young and old to the world of science and TunFun is an indoor paradise for Sharing the world of cinema with technology. Five floors are filled children under 12. Under adult the whole family, the EYEwalk with exhibitions, theatre perfor- supervision, kids can enjoy hours is a fun initiative to introduce mances, films, workshops and of active, creative and advena younger audience to films. demonstrations. turous fun in a huge 4000 m2 Armed with a tablet, kids aged Oosterdok 2, www.e-nemo.nl. indoor playground. seven to 12 can take a 15-minute Open daily 10.00-17.30, €15, Mr Visserplein 7, www.tunfun.nl. interactive tour of the EYE, meetunder-4s free Open daily 10.00-18.00, ages 1-12 ing film characters and watching €8.50, accompanying adults free classic movie clips along the way. TROPENMUSEUM JUNIOR EYE Film Museum, IJpromenade VERZETSMUSEUM JUNIOR Tropenmuseum Junior is focused 1, www.eyefilm.nl. Sat & Sun on non-Western cultures. The in- The Dutch Resistance Museum 10.00-17.00, Wed 12.00-17.00, teractive exhibits introduce childetails the history of the Dutch or daily during school holidays, dren to new cultures in a playful resistance in World War II €3 per tablet way that sparks their curiosity. during the country’s occupation HET TWISKE Linnaeusstraat 2, www.tro by Germany from May 1940 to penmuseum.nl. Various times, May 1945. This nature reserve and recre-
Plantage Kerklaan 61, www. verzetsmuseum.org. Open Mon, Sat & Sun 11.00-17.00, Tue-Fri 10.00-17.00; €8, ages 7-15 €4.50, under-7s free WIND ’N WHEELS This large-scale urban ‘land yachting’ park is set up on Zeeburgereiland, in the east part of the city. No experience necessary and lessons are available. Zuiderzeeweg 1, www.windn wheels.nl. Various times & prices WOESTE WESTEN PLAYGROUND At the Woeste Westen Playground, kids can dig, climb, play in the sand, explore and check out the frogs and bugs that call
MIRACLE OR SCIENCE This interactive exhibition invites budding scientists to explore various phenomena and attempt to answer the leading question of whether they are dealing with ‘Miracle or Science?’ Science Center NEMO, until 26 Oct ZOOMERAVONDEN On Saturday evenings throughout summer, there are activities including special guided tours, face painting, scavenger hunts, puppet shows and animal talks. Plantage Kerklaan 38-40, www. artis.nl. Every Sat, 17.00-sunset, €19.95, ages 3-9 €16.50 SUNDAY MARKET Artists, designers and craftspeople flog their wares and there’s always some form of entertainment or crafty workshop on and plenty of kids clothing and toy stalls to browse. Westergasfabriek, Haarlemmerweg www.sundaymarket.nl. Sun 6 Jul & 3 Aug, 12.00-18.00, free WESTWAARTS This diverse cultural event provides a host of music, theatre, dance, cabaret and circus fun for the entire family in the beautiful Erasmuspark. Erasmuspark, www.westwaarts. com. Sun 6, 13 & 20 Jul, from 14.00, free KERMIS (FAIRGROUND) Whether you’re one for being flung around high above the city or racing around in the dodgems, the fairground is guaranteed good fun at any age. Slotervaart (Sierplein), www. iamsterdam.com. 17-20 Jul DISNEY IN CONCERT The magical world of Disney is brought to life in this family concert. Various musical talents will enchant with music and songs from such favourites as The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast. Concertgebouw, www.concertge bouw.nl/en. 16 & 17 Aug various times, €24-€42, children €18-€32 DE PARADE This travelling theatre festival runs a whole programme every afternoon just for kids. Martin Luther King Park, www. deparade.nl. Fri 8-Sun 24 Aug, various times & prices