Netherlands holiday with a 2.5 year old
 

We are in the early stages of planning a trip to The Netherlands with our little girl in Sept/Oct 2014 when she will be 2.5 years.
We will be coming on the ferry from Hull to Rotterdam and will be looking to spend 7 nights in a base somewhere and one night near the Efteling theme park before heading back via the ferry. We will be in our car. These are just a couple of recommendations we would like to ask from you:
1. We weren't planning to do Amsterdam as I have been a few times but the hubby has said he would like to go there to tick it off his must-go-to list so we are considering one day there and need ideas for family-friendly things to do.
2. We have Rotterdam Zoo and Efteling Theme Park on our list for our busy 'tourist' days but would love to see more of The Netherlands and it's culture. We love nature and historical buildings but need to choose areas that are accessible and interesting for a toddler too.
3. Where to stay as a base. We'd like self-catering or b&b and wouldn't want to be more than 90 mins drive from where we would like to visit. I've already had a quick look and there seems so many fantastic areas I feel it would be so hard to choose just one.

Thanks in advance for for any advice.

It depends a bit on what you like to do, I love the area south of Rotterdam in the small islands there; Zeeland. 2.5 is too young for bike riding I guess but you can hire bikes with tag-alongs for small kids to be taken along. And since cycling is so much of the culture you do need to take part.

Not sure what your budget is but have a look at say http://www.mybikeguide.co.uk/North_Sea_Route.php for some ideas of tourist info based towns in the area, and maybe Brielle, Veere or Goes or Middelburg each of these are of different sizes and not very exciting but little things to do and pleasant places to stay.

Last time I was here I stayed in bed-en-brood.nl‎ which is a family friendly boutique place with play areas nearby. We found them through http://www.bedandbreakfast.nl/?lang=en and took the same ferry you are taking (though with bikes rather than cars)

A couple of thing.
In my personal opinion, and experience a two and a half year old is too young for De Efteling. The only thing she might enjoy there is the Sprookjesbos (Fairy tale wood), but many young children find it very scary. It is an expensive day out if your child doesn't like it there.

Maybe she would like Madurodam more?

I think for a day in Amsterdam you just have to accept that there won't be a lot for your daughter. There is Artis zoo, but you are already planning on Blijdorp, so that is perhaps not an option. Take her to the Vondel Park so she can have a run about perhaps. Park outside Amsterdam and take the train in or use a P+R car park on the edge of the city.

Have you thought of staying in a Centre Parcs type of place? It will give you more freedom than a hotel or B&B and will have a play area and swimming pool too.

If you wan to stick to the area around Rotterdam/Zeeland then consider visiting the Biesbosch, if it is nice weather. You can go on a boat ride there.
The coast is lovely of course if the weather is good, and there are lots of small villages, and interesting towns to visit.
Kinderdijk windmills are always worth a visit.
You can also do a boat trip around Rotterdam harbour for instance.

Otherwise perhaps head inland to the wooded centre where you can go for bike rides or walks, maybe see some deer or wild pigs, visit some of the smaller villages like Elburg. In Harderwijk there is a Dolfinarium which your daughter may enjoy. Harderwijk istelf is also has a niceish old centre.

Oh, and at Scheveningen, near Madurodam is a sea aquarium, where you can also stroke the rays.
A big seaside resort, with a great beach, and good fish! Try the kibbeling.

Thank you for your quick replies. There are some great ideas here and a brilliant starting place to start planning.
We have hired bikes on previous holidays and really enjoyed exploring destinations in that way but with a toddler it may not be as doable although may do it for a day and just go for a small round trip with a picnic weather-permitting.
I might reconsider Efteling. My friends had recommended it but their children are older. There are so many other attractions that have been suggested it doesn't have to be a must-do.
I'll check out center parcs. We've visited one in the uk but we'd not really enjoyed it but I think that's because the culture over here is that you go to them and stay onsite all week and use the facilities and we felt a bit claustrophobic. I had dismissed these types of parks because of this experience but will look again.
Thanks again for your recommendations. We are really looking forward to taking our little girl on her first holiday abroad and The Netherlands looks like just the right place.

You should be able to hire a child's seat with a bike if you want to go cycling. Some places may have trailers or bakfietsen you can hire, so she can sit in the dry, and doze if she wants.

If you fancy something a bit different for a few days have a look if there is a house on Vlieland available for your dates. It is a car free island, so you have to cycle, but they are well equipped for children

It always seems odd to me how many people feel that way about Center Parcs. We have stayed at a number of them, and only considered them a base to do whatever we want -- lots of day trips. We have never received the message at all that "you are here, you MUST stay here".

The Center Parc Port Zelande is a great location but the park is showing its age.

Children under 3 have free admission at Efteling, by the way.

You are right Greenway. I think it's the way they advertise on TV as if they can provide everything you need onsite and you don't need to go anywhere else. We also went with another family who like that style of holiday but we realised that it wasn't for us. I would consider staying there again as a base to explore further afield though as we liked the lodge and the swimming area.

Thanks hetismij2 for the Vlieland recommendation. That's somewhere we would seriously consider.