To Amsterdam, with kids
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Amsterdam is a city filled with canals, and a canal trip is pleasant. [Photo by Donna Mah/China Daily] |
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The church is the largest church in Amsterdam and features Westerkerk Tower, which visitors can climb up from April to October. It's closed on Sundays, and children under 6 are not allowed in for safety reasons. The church is, to many, a symbol of the city.
A quarter of Amsterdam is covered with water. So no visit would be complete without time on the water.
Canals tours can be found near popular tourist destinations near the water. The canal bus offers day tickets, and 24-hour and 48-hour tickets passengers can use to hop on and off and change routes while the tickets are valid. The service stops right in front of the Movenpick. Buying online saves 10 percent.
Some may want to explore the city by bicycle. But that seemed too difficult for us, with bulky jackets and slippery streets.
However, we found the trams to be a great way to get around. Just sitting on the tram and looking out at the beautiful buildings as we passed was a great way to see the city. There are a couple of spots near the back of the train reserved for strollers and wheelchairs.
For a stunning place to enjoy a gorgeous view of the IJ, take a tram ride to Central Station and walk through the station toward the water. There, you'll see a small ferry pier. Take the three-minute trip to Buiksloterweg.
The Albert Cuyp Market in the De Pijp neighborhood is a good place to try such Dutch delicacies as raw herring, cheese, proffetjes (mini pancakes covered in butter and powdered sugar), strooopwafels (caramel-filled thin waffles) and fries with mayonnaise from the many stalls.
A great place to wander and people watch, the market can get a bit crowded on Saturdays. This is where we bought a pair of very cute pink tulip clog slippers and dried spices. A few hours at Vondelpark the city's version of Central Park and one of the numerous playgrounds-is a great way to spend some outdoor time and give the kids a chance to run around.
We were very pleasantly surprised to find the Silk Road restaurant at our hotel had an amazing kids menu and lovely staff. Kids' options didn't just include chicken nuggets, fish fingers and spaghetti. It featured healthy options, as well as some Swiss and Dutch specialties. My kids love croquettes and profettjes.
