Once children are old enough to appreciate museums and galleries, it opens up a whole new world of places to go with kids. Visiting museums with kids can be so fun, but it can also be tiring for everyone and feel a bit like hard work, especially if you have reluctant teens or emotional toddlers.
Esther Van de Paal is an architect and interior designer, plus a mom of 5 and owner of our family vacation rental The Beatrixpark Residence in Amsterdam, so she knows a thing or two about museum trips with the family. Her home city is known for its awesome family-friendly things to do, so we asked her for her top tips for visiting museums with kids.
Time your visit
“We like to visit museums early in the day if possible. When you have children, chances are big that you’re up before other people, and you can make it to the museums when it’s still reasonably quiet.”
Don’t overstay
“Make the visit long enough to enjoy it, but not too long as to bore your children. We have a yearly national museum membership, so we don’t have to pay the entrance fee for individual visits. This way, we can visit a part of a museum, without having the urge to see everything as to make worth for our money. I’d rather only visit one room of a museum and really take the time to discover a few pieces well, than to end up tired and annoyed, with tired and annoyed children.”
Feed them first
“Make sure the children are well fed before your museum visit! Unless, of course, you would like to start your visit in the museum restaurant.”
Settle in when you arrive
“Make use of the toilet when entering the museum. I also prefer to hang our coats and put bags away in the cloakroom, so I don’t have to schlep them around, making it easier to bend or kneel down next to my children.”
Interact without props
“I think no props, books or tools are specifically needed for a museum visit – we love the time we spend with our children and the interaction we have with them. Also, when you discover the museum together, you know what the other one has seen and learned, and can refer to the experience at other times and locations.”
Pick your favorite site
“Although it’s definitely easier to visit the more child-friendly sort of museums, we try to to visit the more ‘serious’ museums as well. Museums are for everyone! Also, I feel that it’s fine to repeat the museum visit. Museums are like books – our children don’t mind reading them over and over again.”
Make a return trip
“Adjust your visit to your children’s speed and needs. If you would like to see a specific exhibition and for instance have the time to spend 20 minutes in front of a Rothko, then it’s best to come back another time without kids. Having said that, I did take all four of my kids to a Rothko exhibition and found that they all had an interest in the pieces. Pim especially reacted remarkably to Rothko: he said he felt like the paintings were embracing him, and drawing him in. I’m sure he understood the art better than me.”
Let the kids be your guide
“You will find they will indicate what pieces they find specifically interesting and start to direct your tour. For instance, my mother-in-law told me that she visited the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam recently with two of my kids, and they were enthralled by a 17th century painting depicting cows on a ship. They thought that was amazing – cows on a ship! The rest of the visit they spent searching for paintings with cows. “
Esther’s Top Museums for Kids in Amsterdam
- Dutch Open Air Museum, a favorite of my daughter’s
- National Maritime Museum as chosen by my son Pim
- Rijksmuseum, where you can see Rembrandt’s Nachtwacht
More of the Best Museums for Kids Around the World
If you’re looking for more museums to visit with kids around the world, here’s our selection of the best family-friendly spots in some of our favorite cities.
- British Museum in London, where you can visit the Egyptian Gallery
- National Maritime Museum in London, which has a play space, huge outdoor playground and heaps of interactive exhibits
- California Science Center in CA, USA
- American Museum of Natural History in NYC, as recommended by Stroller in the City
- National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen, which boasts a dedicated Children’s Museum
- Kennedy Space Center in Florida
- Cosmocaixa Science Museum of Barcelona
- Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, the largest kids museum in the world
Book Your Next Travel Adventure with Kid & Coe
City breaks with kids can be daunting, but if you’re prepared for a little extra effort you can make it work. Read our guide to traveling internationally with kids or browse our collection of kid-friendly homes in cities around the world.
Read more from our host Esther over on her blog or book her amazing Amsterdam house on Kid & Coe.
- https://www.kidandcoe.com/destinations/marylebone/the-york-street-mews-ii-residence
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- https://www.kidandcoe.com/destinations/kensington-chelsea/the-osten-mews-residence
- https://www.kidandcoe.com/destinations/de-goudkust/the-beatrixpark-residence