Where to take the kids in Amsterdam

The genius of this bright, airy children’s concept store is that everything’s under one roof: clothes, toys, homeware and a buzzing café. Sip a restorative flat white while the kids hit the indoor play space, with its jaunty bunting, ride-on trikes and hubbub of excitable toddlers. A simple menu caters to all ages, running from baby-friendly purées to sandwiches and salads.

Discerning parents love this handsome shop, set on the edge of De Pijp. It sidesteps throwaway plastic in favour of traditional toys, from lambswool knitted bears to pastel-painted stacking sets. There are pocket-money trinkets too (think sticker sets and pirate eye-patches), along with chic essentials like bibs and bamboo bowls. Upscale clothes add to the appeal, from knitted baby bonnets to Bonton dungarees.

If the kids dismiss art museums as boring, here’s a chance to change their minds: with his swirling brushstrokes and ear-splicing antics, Van Gogh’s far from dull. A family audio-guide gives the scoop on his greatest works, and sharp-eyed sleuths will relish the interactive Treasure Hunt. Entry’s free for under-18s, but book tickets online to avoid temper-testing queues.

Best explored by bike, this stately park’s dotted with slides, swings and playgrounds – including a secret woodland fort with ladders and aerial walkways. At the south-western end of the park, rustic café-bar De Vondeltuin is great for all ages, with its tot-friendly sandpit and climbing frames to clamber up. Order snacks and toasties at the counter, then head for the sunny terrace.

If you’ve worked up an appetite in nearby Vondelpark, refuel at this charming café. Follow the regulars’ example and order a Benny Boy: poached eggs, bacon and potato hash, laced with hollandaise. Children are made welcome with a toy-filled play corner, and mini-portions of pancakes or eggs cost a mere €3. ‘Eat well, do good’ is the motto here; all profits go to charity.

Brunch is a pleasingly decadent affair at this cosy neighbourhood café, set on one of Oud-West’s prettiest streets. There’s a toddler-friendly sofa by the window, and a long communal table for larger broods. The menu runs from buttery brioche French toast to triple-decker croque monsieurs. Even the eggs benedict arrive on a croissant, though cereal, fruit and soft-boiled eggs cater to simpler tastes.

After a morning’s art appreciation at Museumplein, take a detour to this cult ice-cream parlour, set a few blocks south of Vondelpark. Ingredients are exactingly sourced and flavours off the scale, from heady Sicilian pistachio to zingy passionfruit sorbet. Sample one of the signature scoops (the honey and fig is sublime) or keep it simple with a cone of creamy Dutch strawberry.

Blond started out as a cute ceramics brand, before branching out with an equally sweet café. Its bijou HQ in De Pijp ticks every Instagram box with its pink façade, seasonal flowers and dainty glass cake-stands. Treat wide-eyed tweens to a mug of wickedly rich hot chocolate, or a slice of the pink velvet cake. It also serves sensible toasties and soups, but where’s the fun in that?