Netherlands 2026

A Family Trip to the Netherlands

  For our mom's 70th birthday, my sister and I surprised her to gift her a spring getaway to the Netherlands. We carefully planned an itinerary that combined the vibrant atmosphere of city breaks in Amsterdam and Utrecht with plenty of sightseeing, while also making sure there were fun, family-friendly activities for my niece, who also joined us on the adventure. Of course, no spring trip to the Netherlands would have been complete without visiting the world-famous Keukenhof Gardens. In fact, seeing the spectacular sea of blooming tulips was one of the main reasons we chose to travel at the end of April. With colourful flower fields, charming canals, historic streets, and memorable moments shared across three generations, the trip promised to be the perfect blend of culture, nature, and quality family time. 

   We took a wonderfully relaxed approach to explore Amsterdam, allowing ourselves plenty of time to soak up the city's unique atmosphere. While strolling along the picturesque canals was a daily pleasure, one of the absolute highlights was undoubtedly a canal cruise. Under clear blue skies and warm spring sunshine, we experienced Amsterdam from an entirely different perspective, gliding past its iconic narrow canal houses and charming bridges while learning more about the city's rich history. During the cruise, we passed several famous landmarks, including the historic Flower Market and the striking Chinese Sea Palace Restaurant, where we headed for dinner afterwards. It was the perfect way to end the evening, and I happily treated myself to an assortment of delicious dumplings that turned out to be an absolute feast for the taste buds. A walk through the famous Flower Market was another must-do. Established in 1862, this floating market has become an integral part of Amsterdam's identity. The vibrant displays of fresh flowers, plants, and countless varieties of tulip bulbs transformed the canalside into a sea of colours. Naturally, I couldn't resist bringing home a few tulip bulbs as souvenirs, hoping to recreate a little piece of the Dutch spring back home. After a relaxing coffee break at Café de Jaren, my mom and me continued our walk through the charming Jordaan district in the western part of the city centre. Its peaceful canals, elegant historic houses, cosy cafés, and narrow streets made it one of my favourite neighbourhoods in Amsterdam. Every corner seemed postcarrd-perfect, inviting us to slow down and simply enjoy the moment. Another place that completely captivated me was the Begijnhof, a hidden medieval courtyard tucked away behind the busy streets of the city centre. Although I've visited Amsterdam before, this peaceful oasis was new to me. Surrounded by beautifully preserved historic houses, a small chapel, and the city's oldest wooden house, it offered a welcome escape from the crowds and felt like stepping back in time. Of course, no visit to Amsterdam would be complete without indulging in some fantastic food. We made sure to visit Kim So Korean Chicken, enjoyed the famous Van Stapele cookies, treated ourselves to an authentic stroopwafel from Stroopperie, and stopped by Café Magari, where I tried a Hojicha Latte for the very first time. Made from roasted green tea leaves, it has a wonderfully nutty, caramel-like flavour and proved to be a delicious alternative to the more familiar Matcha Latte.    

   To make sure our youngest travel companion, my niece Emilia, had plenty of fun as well, one of our stops was the enchanting Mouse Mansion. This magical miniature world is home to Sam and Julia, the beloved little mice from Karina Schaapman's popular children's book series. Stepping inside felt like entering a completely different universe, where every tiny detail had been carefully crafted to spark the imagination. As we wandered through the exhibition, we admired the original miniature sets and explored beautifully designed rooms, cosy apartments, charming little shops, and bustling workshops. Everywhere we looked, there was something new to discover - from a miniature roller coaster and a tiny railway to an adorable hot-air balloon, all bringing this extraordinary mouse-sized world to life. It was impossible not to stop every few moments to admire another clever detail. 

  Since August 2023, the Mouse Mansion has moved to a much larger location at Muntplein and is now officially called Sam en Julia. The creator behind this remarkable world is the Dutch artist and author Karina Schaapman. The original Mouse Mansion was displayed for many years at Amsterdam's OBA Public Library, where it amazed visitors from around the globe. Later, Schaapman opened her own studio and shop in the Jordaan district, allwoing fans to immerse themselves even further in the adventures of Sam and Julia. Today, visitors can explore scnese from many of the books, where the little mice can be found enjoying fairs, performing in the circus and theatre, working in shipyards, and living their everyday lives in spectacular floor-to-ceiling dioramas. The shop also offers an impressive collection of Sam and Julia books in multiple languages, adorable mouse figurines, DIY furniture kits for creative children, and even free printable templates for miniature household items, making it possible to build your own little Mouse Mansion at home. For all of us, but especially for Emilia, it was a delightful experience to step into this charming miniature universe. We could have spent hours discovering its countless hidden details, and every corner revealed another tiny surprise. It was one of those places that reminds you how much creativity and imagination can fit into the smallest of worlds.  

   Amsterdam is often pictured as a city of charming crooked canal houses, narrow bridges, and postcard-perfect waterways. And while that's certeinly true, it only tells part of the story - especially if you never venture beyond the histroic centre. One of my personal highlights was exploring the creative and alternative neighbourhood surrounding the NDSM Wharf in Amsterdam-Noord. After the dinner at Kim So Korean Chicken, I decided to wander the city on my own for a while. That spontaneous evening walk led me to one of Amsterdam's best hidden gems, a place bursting with creativity, urban culture, and some of the most impressive street art. Located on the banks of the Ij river, the NDSM Wharf was once home to the Nederlandsche Scheepsbouw Maatschappij (NDSM), Europe's largest shipyard from the 1950s until it closed in 1984. The sounds of hammers and welding torches have long since faded, making way for a completely different kind of energy. Today, this vast industrial site - covering an area larger than ten football fields - has been transformed into a vibrant cultural hotspot where artists, entrepreneurs, hipsters, and curious travelers all come together. You'll find everything from cosy cafés and a lively beach club to creative start-ups, artist studios, and even a hotel housed inside a towering crane. But the real stars of the show are the countless murals, graffiti, and public art installations scattered throughout the former shipyard. Instead of elegant canal houses, I was surrounded by weathered steel, raw concrete, enormous industrial warehouses, and wide open spaces. It couldn't feel more different from the Amsterdam most visitors know - and that's exactly what makes it so special. Around every corner there's something unexpected to discover like a giant mural of Anne Frank, abandoned trams and vintage caravans that have been transformed into quirky works of art, and hidden creative spaces tucked away inside old factory buildings. As I wandered through the deserted industrial landscape, I couldn't shake the feeling that I had stepped onto the set of a post-apocalyptic movie. If you find yourself feeling the same, you've truly captured the unique spirit of NDSM - a place where Amsterdam's industrial past meets its endlessly creative future.    

   A spring trip to Amsterdam simply wouldn't be complete without visiting the Keukenhof and immersing yourself in its breathtaking sea of colourful tulips. Naturally, we made sure to include it in our family getaway, booking a day trip to one of the world's most famous flower gardens. From the moment we arrived, we were surrounded by an incredible display of tulips in every imaginable colour, shape, and variety. Even though I had visited the Keukenhof around the same time the previous year, the experience felt completely new. The gardens are redesigned each season, with fresh floral displays, creative decorations, and countless new tulip varieties to admire, making every visit unique. It was impossible not to stop every few steps to take in another picture-perfect scene. After a couple of hours, my sister, her boyfriend, and Emilia decided to head back to Amsterdam. As beautiful as the gardens were, it had become quite a long day for the little one. My mother and I, however, weren't quite ready to leave. We spent another few hours wandering through the different themed gardens and flower pavilions, determined to admire as many of the spectacular blooms as possible. Eventually, after countless photos and plenty of moments spent simply appreciating the vibrant colours all around us, we made our way toward the exit. Before catching the bus back to Amsterdam, we treated ourselves to one final coffee break - a perfect way to end a wonderfully relaxing day surrounded by millions of flowers.

   From Amsterdam, we continued our journey to the picturesque city of Utrecht, where we spent two days exploring its charming streets and strolling along the beautiful Oudegracht. With its unique canals and historic wharf cellars, Utrecht has a character all of its own. This ingenious system dates back to the Middle Ages and is unlike anything else in the world, giving modern-day Utrecht its wonderfully cosy and inviting atmosphere. Just as it was centuries ago, the Oudegracht remains the beating heart of the city, lined with countless cafés, restaurants and lovely little spots right by the water. And, of course, exploring a new city also means discovering its food. We treated ourselves to some delicious Dutch pancakes right by the canal, enjoying the beautiful surroundings while watching the world go by. Later, I returned to the Oudegracht on my own, this time with a freshly bought bougatsa from Cafedaki. Sitting by the water, enjoying a Greek pastry and soaking up the atmosphere was definitely one of those simple little moments that make travelling so special. Utrecht also turned out to be a surprisingly exciting destination for food lovers, especially thanks to its many Surinamese restaurants and takeaways. Naturally, I couldn't resist trying some of the local offerings and treated myself to a classic Surinamese sandwich at Njang Sweetie. Yet another delicious addition to our culinary adventures in the Netherlands!

  Beyond all the delicious food and leisurely walks along the Oudegracht, two other highlights made our time in Utrecht particularly memorable. One of Utrecht's most famous landmarks is undoubtedly to Domtoren. Built in the 14th century, it's not only the oldest church tower in the Netherlands but, at an impressive 112 metres, also the tallest. Unfortunately, climbing the 465 steps to the top wasn't really an option with my little niece, so we had to skip the panoramic views over the city the time around. Nevertheless, admiring this magnificent medieval tower from below was already quite impressive. While the Domtoren was one of Utrecht's architectural highlights, my niece had a very different favourite: the Miffy Museum! After all, you can't really visit Utrecht without coming across its most famous little rabbit. Created by Dutch artist Dick Bruna in 1955, Miffy has since become one of the city's most beloved residents. The museum is a little paradiese for children, with countless interactive rooms and playful spaces waiting to be explored. From Miffy's very own house to a miniature traffic square, a farm and even a film featuring Boris Bear, there's plenty to discover around every corner. Essentially, it's one giant indoor playground where little ones can explore, play and immerse themselvers in Miffy's colourful world. Needless to say, Emilia absolutely loved it! Our two days in Utrecht offered a wonderful mix of beautiful architecture, charming canals, exciting culinary discoveries and plenty of fun for my niece and us. From enjoying Dutch pancakes and Greek pastries by the water to discovering Surinamese food and exploring Miffy's colourful little world, we got to experience the city from several different perspectives. And that's exactly what made our stop in Utrecht so special.

   Just about an hour from Utrecht by train and bus lies Kasteel de Haar, an impressive castle estate that we decided to visit on our second day in the city. After the lively canals and charming streets of Utrecht, it turned out to be the perfect place for a peaceful Sunday escape. Surrounded by beautiful gardens and an extensive landscape park, Kasteel de Haar looks as though it has been taken straight out of a fairytale. Formerly known as Het Huys te Haer, it is considered the largest and most luxurious castle in the Netherlands. Its history stretches all the way back to the late Middle Ages, although the magnificent neo-Gothic castle we could see today dates mainly from a major reconstruction that began in 1892. The castle itself is only part of what makes the estate so impressive. Surrounding it are more than 55 hectares of beautifully landscaped parkland and gardens, with walking paths widing their way through the grounds. Rather than exploring the interior of the castle, we decided to take things slowly and spent our Sunday strolling through the gardens instead. It was the perfect opportunity to enjoy the peaceful surroundings, and admire the fairytale-like castle from the outside. Even though the distinctive five-sided castle may not have the sheer dimensions of some of the grand palaces and castles I've already visited in Germany and France, its romantic setting and beautiful architecture make it absolutely worth visiting. Our relaxed afternoon at Kasteel de Haar was the perfect ending to a wonderful week in the Netherlands with the family. After busy days filled with canals, delicious food, museums and plenty of exploring, finishing the trip with a peaceful walk thorugh the grounds of this wonderful castle felt just amazing.