fun things to do with kids in the netherlands  - family travel    
  Travel for Kids
   
     
    The Netherlands
Dutch windmill
"Holland" (North and South), is just two provinces in the Netherlands, but is famous for its cities of Amsterdam, The Hague, Delft, and the artists Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Gogh. The pastoral landscape doesn't come easy – a big chunk of the Netherlands is land reclaimed from the sea. Kids will enjoy exploring the canals, windmills, and dikes throughout the Netherlands.
Don't miss our top picks for children's books on the Netherlands, recommended by the staff of Travel for Kids, see below.
  Amsterdam
West
  North Holland
    South Holland
 
The Hague (Den Haag)
 
Delft
East
  Gelderland
South
  Zeeland
    Noord Brabant
Tip: Ride the trains around the the Netherlands. Trains run frequently and there is a "railrunner fare" for children ages 4-11 (children under 4 travel free). With one accompanying adult ticket, children can ride round trip anywhere in one day for a few euros. To see the train schedules, check out the Netherlands Railway – essential for planning your train trips.
kids books the netherlands
     
Hana in the Time of the Tulips - kids books  the Netherlands  
Hana in the Time of the Tulips
Deborah Noyes, Bagram Ibatoulline

"Tulips in those days were as precious as gold…" Hana's father trades in tulips, but it's Hana who enjoys the garden, filled with aromatic rosemary bushes, simple daisies, and sparkling fireflies. And when all is lost, Hana paints the rarest of the rare tulips. Exquisite illustrations, filled with color and wonder. (Picture book)

 

     
Hans Brinker
Bruce Coville, Laurel Long

Super retelling of the classic winter adventure, set in the 19th century, Hans Brinker and his sister Gretel race for the grand prize on ice – the silver skates. (Picture book)

For the complete version of the story, including a dramatic skating trip on the frozen canals: Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates

 

 
     
The Boy Who Held Back the Sea - kids books the Netherlands  
The Boy Who Held Back the Sea
Thomas Locker, Lenny Hort

Naughty young Jan plays hooky for the day, but discovers a small leak in the dike. While the rest of the town sleeps, Jan spends the night with his hand in the dike to prevent a flood. Luminous illustrations, like old Dutch master paintings. (Picture book)

 

     
Rembrandt
Ceciel de Bie, Martijn Leenen

Wonderful exploration of Rembrandt's luminous paintings with fascinating details, and including his monumental works such as The Night Watch, and all Rembrandt's self-portraits, from a young person to an old man. (Picture book)

 

 
Rembrandt - kids books Amsterdam
     
 
Van Gogh Art Kit
Metropolitan Museum of Art

Before you see the Van Gogh's in the Netherlands, a great way to experience Van Gogh's painting is for kids to try it themselves. Using outlines from his art works, give Van Gogh a new hat and clothes, decorate his bedroom, draw your family in the garden, make a new house for Van Gogh, and more. Includes 24 oil pastels, this is a super art kit! (Activity book)

 

     
Johannes Vermeer
Mike Venezia

Johannes Vermeer's paintings are famous, but the man himself is a bit of a mystery. He was a busy guy – Vermeer painted, he also managed an inn, an art business, and had 15 children. (Picture book)

 

 
Johannes Vermeet
     
The Greatest Skating Race - kids books the Netherlands  
The Greatest Skating Race
Louise Borden, Niki Daly

It's 1941, the Germans control of the Netherlands, and the canals are frozen. Ten year old Piet dreams of skating in the great Dutch race, the Elfstedentocht, but he has a bigger challenge, guiding a Dutch girl and boy to Brugge, across the Belgian border. An exciting story, with wonderful local color. (Picture book)

 

     
Boxes for Katje
Candace Fleming, Stacey Dressen-McQueen

After World War II, "Sugar is not found in Holland these days, so anything sweet is precious." Based on true events, in a tiny Dutch town, Katje receives a box from America with soap, socks and chocolate. Soon, more boxes arrive with food and warm clothes for the townspeople. In spring, the town sends a surprise to America – tulips. An endearing story, with heart-warming illustrations. (Chapter book)

 

 
Boxes for Katje - kids books Netherlands
     
The Wheel on the School - kids books the Netherlands  
The Wheel on the School
Meindert DeJong, Maurice Sendak

In a small town in North Holland, storks that bring good luck no longer roost on the rooftops. A determined little girl and her five classmates involve the whole town, young and old, in their search for a wheel to put on the schoolhouse roof. A children's classic. (Chapter book)

 

     
The Great Tulip Trade
Beth Wagner Brust, Jenny Mattheson

Anna loves tulips, and her father gives her eight tulips for her birthday. The tulips are so precious, she trades seven tulips for a table and bed, a painting, a puppy and cow, two lambs, and six chairs, but she won't trade the last for gold, diamonds or a big house. (Easy reader)

 

 
The Great Tulip Trade - kids books the Netherlands
     
Hammer Soup - kids books the Netherlands  
Hammer Soup
Ingrid and Dieter Schubert

Neat and tidy Kate, who always weeds her garden, is just the opposite of her messy neighbor, an easy-going giant named Bruce, in this charming story from Dutch author-illustrators Ingrid and Dieter Schubert. Irresistible whimsical illustrations. (Picture book)

 

(More children's books on other Netherlands pages)
travel for kids | the netherlands