Haarlem combines historic charm with a cultural edge and a food and drink scene to rival any big city. And, of course, its location on the edge of the coastal dunes means that the lure of the sea is never far away. With many families moving from Amsterdam to Haarlem for more space, it’s no wonder that the city has such a kid-friendly feel. Whether you’re visiting Haarlem with the kids or you’re a current resident looking for family days out in the city, here are a few suggestions to get you started.
The Secret of Professor Teyler is an interactive museum experience specially created for Kids. Through a series of science experiments and riddles clues are gathered to solve the secret of Professor Tyler.
28 July - 31 July
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Haarlem is good for kids
Holland is home to about 550 petting zoos, locally known as Kinderboerderij, a Dutch word that means children’s farm. Most of these zoos were started in the 1950s...
If you plan to settle here with your young family, there is a long list of international schools both in Haarlem and Amsterdam, but local Dutch...
There are hospitals all around such that if your child gets injured while having fun, you do not have to worry about health care. These hospitals offer the best services to...
to go with kids
Have you ever seen 60,000 LEGO bricks in one space? That’s what you'll discover at Haarlem’s ABC Architectuurcentrum, a centre for architecture with its very own LEGO room. With so many bricks, kids can play and build to their heart’s content. But don’t forget the exhibitions about the architecture of Haarlem and surroundings: In the Haarlemzaal you'll even find scale models, construction drawings and 3D-printed buildings.
If you were to build a theatre out of the dreams of children, it would probably look something like the Kindertheater De Toverknol. As well as offering a magical new show each month, before each performance kids get to transform into princesses, pirates or whatever character they might like to become for the day from the theatre’s special racks of dressing up outfits. On top of that, Kindertheater de Toverknol hosts birthday parties, and offers acting workshops and dance and music lessons.
If you’re in the city centre, take a pit stop at Meneer Paprika, a cafe and toy shop in one. Tables are arranged around a huge toddler-height train set so you can keep an eye on your little ones wherever you’re sat. Tante Steef (Aunty Steef) and Krokodil (crocodile) also offer a great selection of kids’ toys big and small, with a see-saw outside Tante Steef and a fun slide inside Krokodil.
Go fossil hunting in the oldest museum of the Netherlands! Slightly older kids will love the Teylers Museum of Wonder. Fantastic fossils, preserved beasts, sparkling minerals and impressive gadgets are just some of the weird and wonderful items on display at this beautiful museum, which combines art and science and is worth a visit just to admire the magnificent building.
Haarlem mobile app
Solve several interesting problems to find out the secret of Professor Tyler!
Point your camera at the QR code for easy download
