With the kids in tow, you’re looking for family-friendly activities with a real focus on fun. Congratulations you found Rotterdam! Visiting Rotterdam with kids is a true gem and a fantastic alternative place to bring kids to.
The city offers plenty of activities, as well as plenty of green, open spaces, museums and fun things to see and do. While visiting Rotterdam it can also be combined with other cities in the Netherlands, such as Breda (train trip of 30 minutes).
Rotterdam is a city of contrasts. It offers the best of both worlds: modern architecture and historical buildings, wide boulevards and hidden alleys, water views and green parks.
The city is very child-friendly, with plenty of things to do for families with children in Rotterdam
The most beautiful part you will find during your visit in Rotterdam is perhaps its waterfront area.
This area has been completely redeveloped in recent years and now has many attractions such as museums, parks and beaches.
Here are some ideas for things to do with kids in Rotterdam:
Visit the Maritime Museum
The Maritime Museum is located on the Willemskade canal in the Atlas Park district. The museum has a large collection of historic ships which include a full-sized replica of Jules Verne’s Nautilus submarine from 20,000 leagues under the sea amongst other classic vessels such as sailing ships or steam boats.
The museum also has an aquarium filled with marine life found in Rotterdam’s waterways including lobsters and crabs. The kids will love this! There is so much to see in this museum in Rotterdam.
The museum also features a reconstructions of everyday life on board ship during different eras in history including the age of sail or the 1920s when oil replaced coal for fuel for steam engines on ships.
There are also interactive exhibits where children can play.
Sail past the iconic Erasmus Bridge
The Erasmus Bridge is one of the main attractions in Rotterdam.
It’s named after Desiderius Erasmus, one of the most famous scholars from the 16th century who lived in Rotterdam. The bridge is also known as “The Swan”, because of its graceful shape when seen from above.
Take a tour on the river Maas
The River Maas runs through the centre of Rotterdam and is home to many tourist boats offering sightseeing tours along its banks.
These are great fun for kids, as they sail past some of Rotterdam’s most famous buildings like Euromast.
You can even hop off at one of these points if you want more time exploring at your destination point!
Rotterdam Zoo
Also known as Diergaarde Blijdorp and is home to over 1000 animals from all over the world. It’s small enough that it can be seen in a day (but make sure you give yourself time for lunch at their restaurant), but large enough that there is always something new to see.
The zoo in Rotterdam also organize special events throughout the year including Easter egg hunts, Halloween parties and Christmas shows.
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