Twelve days from Amsterdam through the Netherlands into Belgium: NEMO and Artis, Naturalis, Madurodam and Duinrell, Rotterdam's zoo, Burgers' Zoo and free bikes in Hoge Veluwe, monkeys at Apenheul, Efteling and Beekse Bergen, then Antwerp Zoo, Pairi Daiza or Plopsaland. Short distances and many free-for-toddlers stops.
The Netherlands and Belgium pack an extraordinary number of family days out into a small area. Short drives link a science museum with a rooftop square, a miniature country, a forest park with free white bicycles, a primate park where monkeys roam among visitors, a fairy-tale theme park and a zoo right next to a railway station. Distances are short, trains are good, and many places let the youngest in free. This guide sets out a 12-day route from Amsterdam through the Netherlands into Belgium, with the rules on tickets, time slots and free entry that matter with children.
Every attraction here has its own page on JuniorTravelClub with details from its official website. Distances are straight-line figures worked out from each place’s coordinates.
The route at a glance
- Start: Amsterdam
- Netherlands: Leiden, The Hague, Rotterdam, Arnhem and Apeldoorn, Tilburg
- Belgium: Antwerp, Mons and De Panne
- Length: 12 days
- Works for: all ages, especially toddlers and primary school children
Before you go
Book ahead, often for a date
Many places here sell dated tickets. Duinrell sells tickets online only, in advance, and you can’t buy them at the gate. Burgers’ Zoo asks you to buy online and book your day. Pairi Daiza’s online tickets are valid only on the day you select. Antwerp Zoo’s tickets are valid only on your chosen date, and buying at least a day ahead is cheaper. Naturalis recommends booking online to be sure of getting in.
Free for the youngest
Children up to and including 2 years old get in free at Duinrell and Apenheul. Children under 3 are free at Antwerp Zoo, Beekse Bergen and Naturalis (3 and under). At Plopsaland Belgium, children shorter than 85 cm get in free. At Hoge Veluwe, children under 6 are free.
Amsterdam and the coast: days 1–4
Day 1: NEMO and Artis
NEMO Science Center has a roof you can walk out onto, with food and a terrace. Every ticket has a start time, and weekdays after 2pm are often quieter. Artis is the city’s zoo, for the afternoon.
Day 2: Naturalis, Leiden
Naturalis in Leiden, about 40 km from Amsterdam in a straight line, lets children handle real natural objects in LiveScience and the workshops. The whole ground floor, including LiveScience, the restaurant and the shop, needs no ticket. Children aged 3 and under go free. The Rexperience is recommended from age 8. It’s about a seven-minute walk from Leiden Centraal.
In spring: Keukenhof is open daily only in its spring season. Tickets are for a fixed date and a half-hour arrival slot. Children aged 0 to 3 get in free, strollers are allowed on the paths, and visitors under 16 must be with an adult.
Day 3: Madurodam, The Hague
At Madurodam, a child who spends every day looking up at buildings spends an afternoon looking down on them. The Panorama Cafe sits between the playgrounds and looks over the park. The park states for each indoor attraction whether it is wheelchair accessible.
Day 4: Duinrell
Duinrell gives children both rides and a swimming pool in one outing. Tickets are sold online only. Any ticket that includes the indoor Tikibad needs a time slot, and anyone under 120 cm must wear a flotation aid in the Tikibad, except in Playa. Children under 12 must be with an adult aged 18 or over. In winter, only winter attractions open on weekends and holidays, so check the season.
Rotterdam and the Veluwe: days 5–8
Day 5: Diergaarde Blijdorp, Rotterdam
At Diergaarde Blijdorp, children can play the free Expeditie Blijdorp app game as they go round, which gives the walk a goal. Strollers can be rented at the entrance. The Rivièrahal entrance is about a 10-minute walk from the rear of Rotterdam Centraal.
Day 6: Burgers’ Zoo and the Open Air Museum, Arnhem
Arnhem is about 100 km east of Rotterdam in a straight line. At Royal Burgers’ Zoo, the Kids Jungle is fully covered, with outdoor playgrounds alongside, so rain doesn’t end the day. Bus 3 from Arnhem station stops right outside. Once you leave, your ticket is no longer valid. Next door, the Netherlands Open Air Museum has cafés spread through the park; reserve your visit online.
Day 7: Hoge Veluwe National Park
At Hoge Veluwe National Park, children can ride the free white bicycles (the park has 2,000) and follow the Belevingsroute, a short nature trail for the whole family. Entry includes the Museonder. Driving into the park costs extra. Payment at the entrances is by card only.
Day 8: Apenheul, Apeldoorn
At Apenheul, about 23 km north of Arnhem in a straight line, primates roam free in parts of the park and you walk among them. Pushchairs are allowed everywhere, including the free-roaming areas, but there’s no rental, so bring your own. If your bag doesn’t lock properly, borrow a monkey-proof bag. The park is closed in winter.
Brabant: days 9–10
Tilburg is about 70 km south-west of Arnhem in a straight line.
Efteling needs an admission ticket and a date reservation, and the ticket stays valid for a year from purchase. With small children the walking matters more than the ride list. Polles Keuken is a pancake stop in its own right.
Safaripark Beekse Bergen lets a family see the animals on foot, from a boat and from a vehicle in one day, on paved paths that work with wheels. It’s open 365 days a year, and buying at least three days ahead is cheaper.
Belgium: days 11–12
Antwerp Zoo
Antwerp Zoo, about 65 km south of Tilburg in a straight line, is right next to Antwerp Central Station and open 365 days a year. You can change a baby in every toilet in the park, and strollers can be hired at the main entrance.
Pairi Daiza or Plopsaland
Choose one for the last day. Pairi Daiza near Mons has Edenya, a tropical garden under a roof, booked with a reserved entry time when you buy the main ticket. All toilets in the park are accessible. Plopsaland Belgium in De Panne on the coast prices by height, so children shorter than 85 cm get in free, and it has 35 food and drink outlets.
Good to know with kids
Rainy days
Burgers’ Zoo’s Kids Jungle is fully covered, Duinrell’s Tikibad is indoors, NEMO and Naturalis are museums, and Pairi Daiza’s Edenya is under a roof.
Prams
Apenheul allows pushchairs everywhere but doesn’t rent them. Burgers’ Zoo and Antwerp Zoo rent prams or strollers, and Beekse Bergen’s paths are paved.
By train
Many stops are close to stations: Antwerp Zoo is next to Antwerp Central, Naturalis is seven minutes from Leiden Centraal, Blijdorp is ten minutes from Rotterdam Centraal, and buses link Arnhem and Apeldoorn stations to the zoos.
Plan and book
Compare car hire: car hire in the Netherlands on AutoEurope. For Amsterdam, compare a sightseeing pass: Go City Amsterdam. Mobile data: Netherlands eSIM on Airalo.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them, JuniorTravelClub may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Want more theme parks? Our European theme park road trip continues from Efteling into Germany and France.
Tickets & tours for these places
Bookable tours via GetYourGuide. Affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Where to stay with kids in Amsterdam
The Museum Quarter around Museumplein puts the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum on the same square. The Plantage, inside the city centre, is home to ARTIS zoo, and NEMO Science Museum stands on the Oosterdok about a kilometre away.
Hotel map by Stay22 with prices from partner booking sites. Affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Final thoughts
Buy dated tickets online ahead, especially for Duinrell and Pairi Daiza, use the free-entry ages for toddlers, bring your own pushchair for Apenheul, and keep a covered or indoor stop for rain. Each attraction's page has the current details.
Frequently asked questions
Which Dutch and Belgian parks let toddlers in free?
Children up to 2 are free at Duinrell and Apenheul, under 3 at Antwerp Zoo and Beekse Bergen, 3 and under at Naturalis, and under 85 cm at Plopsaland Belgium.
Can you buy Duinrell tickets at the gate?
No. Tickets are sold online only, in advance. Tickets including the Tikibad need a time slot.
Where can children walk among monkeys?
At Apenheul in Apeldoorn, primates roam free in parts of the park. Borrow a monkey-proof bag if yours doesn't lock.
Is Hoge Veluwe good for kids?
Yes. Children under 6 go free, the free white bicycles are included, and the Belevingsroute is a short nature trail for families.
What is good on a rainy day?
Burgers' Zoo's covered Kids Jungle, Duinrell's indoor Tikibad, NEMO and Naturalis.
Can we do this trip by train?
Much of it, yes. Antwerp Zoo, Naturalis and Blijdorp are near main stations, and buses serve Burgers' Zoo and Apenheul. Hoge Veluwe has a bus from Ede.
How many days do you need?
Twelve days covers both countries at a family pace. With a week, choose either the Amsterdam–Hague–Rotterdam area or Arnhem, Apeldoorn and Brabant.
