Month Visited: November
Our family enjoys luxury and comfort when we travel, and we like to explore new cities and learn about the history and culture of an area. We like museums, visiting historical places and attractions, and learning about new things. Our days are full but not to the point that we rush and miss anything. We include educational stops along with fun things, and we normally prefer comfortable lodgings that offer some luxury although we are willing to go off the beaten path once in a while in order to see more remote places and cultures. Our children at the time of this itinerary: 4 children- Boy age 16 years, Girl age 12 years. Girl age 9 years, Boy age 6 years.
Description: Amsterdam is the Netherlands capital city, and a city with many canals, bridges, and islands. The 3 main canals were all developed in the 17th century when the structures were dug out. UNESCO lists the canal ring area in Amsterdam as a World Heritage Site, and it was dedicated as such in 2010. There are over 100 kilometers of canals throughout Amsterdam, and more than 1,500 homes, buildings, and monumental structures which can be seen along these canals.
Our Experiences: We decided to walk around the city of Amsterdam and check out the various canals here. This was a very interesting stroll, and everyone had a great time seeing all of the waterways that cut through each area. Some of the canals are very old while some were created within the last few decades, but they were all worth seeing. Even the youngest had a lot of fun as we explored these unusual features.
Address: Nieuwe Amstelstraat 1, 1011 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Phone: +31 20 531 0310
Hours: 11am-5pm daily
Website: www.jhm.nl
Admission: Adults12 Euro, Children 13-17 years 6 Euro, Children 6-12 years 3 Euro,
Children under 6 years are free.
Overall Rating:
Description: The Joods Historisch Museum in Amsterdam is the only Netherlands museum that is dedicated to the history, culture, and religion of the Jewish people. Situated in what was once the heart of the Jewish Quarter and the local Jewish community the museum can be found in 4 Ashkenazi synagogues which have historical significance. Visitors will find both permanent and temporary exhibits which are related to Judaism in some way. There are programs held for children as well as adults at this museum.
Our Experiences: We enjoyed our visit to the Joods Historisch Museum in Amsterdam, and it was very educational. There were many displays dedicated to the Jewish history, culture, and religion. There was an entire section detailing the fate of the Jews during WWII, and also an entire area for children of all ages. This stop was educational and we all found it extremely interesting, and it was one of the top rated stops that we enjoyed during our time in Amsterdam.
Address: Jodenbreestraat 4, 1011 NK Amsterdam, Netherlands
Phone: +31 20 520 0400
Hours: 10am-6pm daily
Website: www.rembrandthuis.nl/en/
Admission: Adults 12.50 Euro, Children 6-17 years 4 Euro, Children under 6 are free.
Overall Rating: for families who love art
Description: The Rembrandt Museum in Amsterdam features the home and studio of Rembrandt van Rijn, a 17th century master whose works are in very high demand today. This home was where Rembrandt created many of his works of art, and also where he experience the birth of a son and the death of his wife. The Rembrandt home has been renovated so that it is furnished and decorated the way it was in the 17th century when the artists lived here. In addition to exploring the various rooms in the house there are etching and paint creation demonstrations held twice a day. Visitors can see how Rembrandt made his own paints and create his famous etchings.
Our Experiences: We greatly enjoyed the Rembrandt Museum, but our family loves art and that may make a difference. We were excited to see where this famous artist lived during the 17th century, and the museum allowed us to step back in time. The furniture, art works, and other items are all pieces that would have been used during Rembrandt’s time period. We had a lot of fun watching the demonstrations and seeing just how much harder it was for artists a few centuries ago.