The bike holidays with children are increasingly conquering more and more families who choose to explore a new destination with a slow travel experience. One of the first European destinations that comes to mind is certainly Holland, a country that, with its flat roads and extensive cycling routes, makes the bicycle its strong point.

But beyond the cycling routes, there are many other opportunities that allow you to experience a dynamic holiday and always different: you can in fact cross the canals by boat, admire colorful expanses of tulips, visit amusement parks and super innovative art cities. Holland seems to be built exactly for families: that's why visiting it with children could be the perfect idea for an unforgettable holiday!

5 reasons why Holland is a family-friendly destination

Many wonder why Holland is such a family-friendly destination: certainly for the short distances between one city and another, for the flat territory that can be traveled by bike, for cities with modern and innovative services, without forgetting the hospitality.

These are just some of the reasons why the Netherlands are the ideal destination for a family vacation, but below we have identified others.

Amsterdam with children

Despite the reputation of a city of fun and transgression, actually Amsterdam is a city that turns out to be perfect for a family trip. Structurally it seems made to stimulate the wonder and curiosity of a child: with its bridges and canals, the flower market, its secret gardens and characteristic colored houses, it is ready to catapult them into a real Nordic fairy tale. There are also plenty of museums and the opportunity for a splendid boat tour exploring the canals.

Family-friendly museums

In the Netherlands, museums are not static containers of works, but active places, dynamic and to be experienced. Numerous museums in Amsterdam in fact, offer spaces dedicated to very interesting playful and educational activities designed precisely for children, such as for example :

• the Tropenmuseum, an important European ethnographic museum dedicated to the culture of the former Dutch tropical colonies;

• the Rijksmuseum, a Flemish art museum that organizes guided tours specially for families, but also drawing courses and a fun digital game for children;

• the NEMO - New Metropolis, an interactive science museum, perfect for the most curious who want to experiment and discover everything about our planet;

• to the northeast of Amsterdam there is also the Zaanse Schans, an open-air museum that offers a dip in the past savoring the Dutch life of 150 years ago, right here you can admire the classic windmills. You can also visit an ancient clog factory located inside the windmills, still working, and a real 20th century chocolate factory, even if a little different from the famous one in Roald Dahl's novel. 

The canals

An original way to explore Holland with children is certainly the cruises on the canals or even winter skating on frozen canals. In some cities for example, like Loosdrecht, it is possible to rent a “houseboat”, the latest trend that is increasingly spreading to improve travel time management and which is certainly a super fun experience for the little ones who will be able to impersonate the pirates and sailors of their favorite stories.

Fields of tulips and windmills

Other distinctive points of Holland are certainly the immense expanses of tulips and windmills, which constitute an identity symbol of the nation. The easiest to reach are located around Haarlem or near Lisse in the park of the Keukenhof Castle. The endless colorful expanses will certainly be appreciated by children who will be able to immerse themselves in a wonderful color palette.

Amusement parks

When kids are tired of cultural activities, you can schedule a stop at the Efteling amusement park. With its fairytale atmospheres, it is one of the oldest and most famous in Europe and is located in Kaatsheuvel. Another interesting park is the Madurodam of The Hague (Holland in miniature) which represents the best synthesis of the nation, between windmills, canals, tulip fields and scale reproductions of the cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

Holland with family: our itineraries

After seeing together the reasons why Holland is so family-friendly, we suggest some bike routes to discover the most authentic Holland and combine nature, art, and fun.

The special family tour starts from Haarlem and will take you to discover beaches, museums and towns that seem to have come out of a fairy tale. With reduced daily stages and lots of fun, even the little ones will be able to fully live a dream vacation, learning to love bike trips. 

Would you like to go on a bike trip in Holland with your family? Discover all our tours!