Tariqalsada

Hi,

After extended research on the internet and reading many topics on this great forum, I have put down the below itinerary for our trip to Europe, we have around a month, from July to August and we are a family with a young 5 years old kid.

We would like to start the itinerary in the Netherlands end it in Paris as we plan to visit Disney Land.

I would like to take your opinion on the following:

- How many days do you suggest for us to stay in Netherlands? I see many people suggesting 3 days in Amsterdam and then move around, do you think 3 days are enough? and is Amsterdam suitable for young kids?
- What other family friendly places in Netherlands that you suggest? I see that the country has many parks and zoo, any specific area in particular?
- A lot of peopling are recommending that we don't rent a car inside the Amsterdam as parking is very expensive, does this apply to other areas in Netherlands or only Amsterdam? and do you recommend us to travel cross-border by car or train?

- Going to Paris, I'm thinking of two routes as follows:

1- Amsterdam - other suggested areas in Netherlands - Germany (Frankfurt maybe if it has things for kids besides the zoo and museums, or any other area than Frankfurt) - Switzerland (to enjoy the scenery) - Paris

2- Amsterdam - Other suggested areas including Rotterdam as it's on the other side - Bruges - Paris

I heard that Belgium is not very interesting, but I think I have to go through it to Paris if I want to go to Rotterdam and the areas in western Netherlands, is that correct?

I think Germany and Netherlands have great areas for family and kids, but they seem like many and I can't tell which one is good and which one is bad, nevertheless in which area we should stay in order to be close to it, can you please suggest the ones you recommend me to go to? I don't even mind changing the trip start location.

I am open for suggestions and I greatly appreciate your help and time in this matter

Tulips

The Efteling is a great park for young children - but with only 3 days don't know if you have time for it. Better than Disney at that age - though my kids loved Disney too.

Absolutely no car in Amsterdam, you cannot drive around and it's expensive to park.

Use trains to get around - easy and efficient.

What do you mean Belgium is not very interesting?
Why do you want to go to Rotterdam? Great city, with some interesting architecture, if that is of interest to you?

I don't know how much time you have for your trip. With a young child I would not move around too much.

Amsterdam 3 or 4 nights - visit Muiderslot, a picture perfect castle for your 5-year old.
Efteling for a day?
Brugge for 2 nights
Paris 4 or 5 nights

WoinParis

I am Belgian ....

Tariqalsada

Hello,

Thank you all for taking time to reply and help me, this is much appreciated.

I want to clarify something as I might have not been clear and I apologize for that as I meant no offense to anyone, when I said it's not interesting I meant that I read on the internet and forums that there are not many attractions in it for kids for us to stay in it for a long time, I've been to Belgium many times and enjoyed it as an adult and I really appreciate the country and its people, I hope my point is now clearer.

As for the time I have, I have a whole month, 30 days, so plenty of time we have.

As for why I'm choosing Rotterdam, actually it's a suggestion from a friend, he suggested that we go to some parks there and the zoo, but as I mentioned in my post, I'm flexible and can remove/add cities and add more time to cities/areas in order to achieve a great travel experience, for us we would like to visit parks, zoo, wildlife, get into boat trips and road trips, we want the trip to be relaxed and easy.

hetismij2

You could spend a couple of days in Amsterdam, then hire a car and travel around the Netherlands for a few days. You may enjoy the zoo in Emmen (www.wildlands.nl only in Dutch sadly) in the far east of the country.
Taking a few days to get there you could visit Enkhuizen for the museum (and a boat trip), or go to the Weeribben national Park and hire an electric boat for a few hours.
Leave your hire car in the Netherlands and cross into Germany.

Alternatively you could head south, visit the Efteling (though personally I don't think it has that much to offer a 5 year old and is very expensive), and maybe visit Gaia zoo (https://www.gaiazoo.nl/en/) and the Maastricht area, maybe the Drielandenpunt (http://www.drielandenpunt.nl/) for the maze and to be able to stand in the three countries.
Leave the hire car in the Netherlands and cross into Belgium. You could pick up another car in Liege for instance and visit the Ardennes, or get a train from Maastricht to Brussels. Belgium is not boring, any more than the Netherlands, outside of Amsterdam, is.

tonfromleiden

I'm not a big fan of Rotterdam, but a 5-year old will love a boat trip around the harbour (www.spido.nl/en) and the river ferry to the windmill complex of Kinderdijk and the historical city of Dordrecht will appeal to everybody (www.waterbus.nl/kinderdijk-en).

menachem

tonfromleiden! what are you saying!!!!????

>>As for why I'm choosing Rotterdam, actually it's a suggestion from a friend, he suggested that we go to some parks there and the zoo, but as I mentioned in my post, I'm flexible and can remove/add cities and add more time to cities/areas in order to achieve a great travel experience, for us we would like to visit parks, zoo, wildlife, get into boat trips and road trips, we want the trip to be relaxed and easy.<<

I live in Rotterdam, and my son grew up there.

Spido boat trip: boring. HOWEVER, you can take the public transport fast ferry from the Erasmusbrug stop to RDM: it goes fast! I used to take it there and back, just for the thrill of the ride: you'll cover about the same distance Spido does, but at breakneck speed. Much cheaper too.

Other stuff for kids that also your 5 y old can participate in: The Maritime Museum. It has an entire section dedicated to kids. A great play area up on the roof and outside. From the ship bridge next to the museum you can take one of the small water taxis to Hotel New York to have lunch perhaps. They have a good menu for children and also a play area outside, so if the weather is good, you can be on the terrace and your child in the sandbox.

Rotterdam is a very interesting city, especially compared to Amsterdam: very metropolitan and international in its architecture, while the fact that it is the largest harbour in Europe and 2nd largest in the world makes for a very interesting dynamic. Even the centre of the city has many play areas. One tip, if you want a breather in a lovely atmosphere, head to the public library on Binnenrotte. The second floor is designed for children, with a great lounge area, designed so adults can read to their child. English language story books as well.

google translate this site to get an idea of what's on offer

http://www.kidsproof.nl/Rotterdam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pazXQKwutJY

menachem

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pazXQKwutJY

menachem

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pazXQKwutJY

menachem

About Efteling. I went with my son when he was 5, now he's 20 and we still go, and we visit some of the same rides he liked as a child. Each and every time.

Efteling is a beautifully landscaped park. And many rides are very suitable for young children. My son and I always liked the little bike railway that you can ride yourself, and the vintage car ride, also the boat ride, Dreamflight, Country of Laaf and the fairy tale forest. All of that is geared to visitors of your child's age. Plenty for a day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cw0gv6IzMuA

Tulips

Same here Menachem! We have been going to Efteling since our kids were tiny. We used to go for the fairy tale forest, and now for the rollercoasters. But they still like to walk through the forest, it's nostalgic.

If you decide to go there, by car, also look at the Beekse Bergen www.safaripark.nl

The Efteling has several family friendly places to stay; Cottages with kitchens.

Nearby Den Bosch is also worth a visit.

WoinParis

http://www.365.be/en/

Grottoes ? Han sur Lesse, Remouchamps etc
Castles ? Boiuillon, Beersel Beleoil etc
Trains ? Les 3 vallées, Anhée
Attraction Parks ? Walibi, Meli (maybe they changed name) ..
Parks ? Chevetogne, jardin d'annevoie ..
Ruins ? Abbaye de Villers la Ville, Montaigle, ...
Zoos ? Pari Daisa, Antwerpen zoo, etc
War museums ? Waterloo, Bastogne, Ieper and the region
Nature : kayak on river Lesse or Ourthe ..

I let you browse the site I mention that I still use myself.

Tariqalsada

Wow!! that's amazing! thank you all for the great help! our itinerary is filling up quickly after the areas and places you recommended and we are getting more excited about this trip!

I will make sure that I take all your recommendations on board.

Any recommendations for the other countries that we intend to visit during our route to Paris? for example Germany or in France before we reach Paris

Thanks once again for the great help, this is much appreciated

Tulips

Those are big countries, Tariqalsada, the question is too broad. Come up with a rough itinerary first, otherwise the answers to your question will be all over the place, and not necessarily of interest to you. With a 5-year old child, don't travel around too much. Choose a base and do daytrips.