Entertainment for the kids
IN THIS SECTION
Indoor playgrounds
Outdoor playgrounds
Creative play
Educational Theatre
Fun parks
Construction playgrounds
Music play
Animal parks & zoos
Children's farms
Nature parks
Indoor playgrounds
Rotterdam
Bal-lorig Kinderspeelparadijs
Ommoordsehof 3, 3056JR, Ommoord
Indoor play area with separate safe area for under 5's, Bal-lorig is all over the Netherlands. This one is reasonably small but has trampolines, slides, ball pit etc.
Bal-lorig Weena
Schaatsbaan 41/45, 3013AR, Rotterdam centre
In a large warehouse, much more spacious and better laid out than Ommoord but have found it to be quite cold inside in winter.
"Professor Plons" Maritime Museum
Leuvehaven 1, 3011EA, Rotterdam centre
A child's maritime paradise within the maritime museum, designed for 4-12 year olds but can provide entertainment for 2 years of age. Has indoor and outdoor play and has been designed in a maritime theme with a "working wharf". Outdoor, children can ride on customised trucks, collecting loads, weighing, scanning, filling petrol and driving around a set course.
Outside Rotterdam
Kidz City
Vlampijpstraat 79, Utrecht
Is roughly a 45 minute drive from Rotterdam but is worth the journey. Is a huge place with entertainment for the toddler to older child, toddler to age 12. All indoors and in a large warehouse, it includes go-karting, huge indoor slide, train rides, littletikes cars and "road" for riding round, Merry-go-round, ball pit etc.
Chimpie Champ
Oosteinderweg 247, Aalsmeer
A large safe and undercover playground with a jungle theme for children from 1 to 12 years of age.
Playcity Barendrecht
Bedrijvenpark, Bijdorp
Bijdorp-Oost 2, 2992LA, Barendrecht
Indoor play area for children to 12 years of age, in the general indoor format - ball pit, slides etc. Opening times Wednesday & Friday; 12pm - 7pm, Saturday & Sunday 10am - 6pm. School holidays 10am-6pm You can arrange to hold parties in this venue also for Euro8,50/person.
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Outdoor playgrounds
There is a huge variety of play areas, both small and large around the Rotterdam/Ranstaad area. Here is a selection of the main ones:
Rotterdam
De Kievit
Wilgenlaan 5, Berkel en Rodenrijs
Open 10 April – 2 October, Monday – Friday, 10:00 – 17:30 Saturday, Sunday and Holidays, 11:00 – 17:30
Entry € 1.85, (€ 2.50 during school holiday)
Play activities for young and older children as well as an outdoor pool with smaller toddler pool.
Speeltuin Rollebollebos
Vlinderbaan 12, 2907 GC
Capelle aan den IJssel
Speeltuinvereniging Kralingen
Honingerdijk 100, 3062NX, Kralingen
Only open during the summer period; April - September.
Outside Rotterdam
De Spelerij
De Uitvinderij Veldweg 5, 6925GX, Dieren
Big outdoor playground and indoor discovery/science centre.
Linnaeushof
Rijksstraatweg 4, Bennebroek
Entry from 2 onwards € 7.00 (all in except the go-carts)
65+ and disabled € 5.50
Open 31 March – 3 October, 10:00 – 18:00
Europe’s largest playground. Recreational park with more than 350 attractions such as pedal boats, cable cars, trampolines, midget golf, a moonwalk, space bicycles, bronco bikes. There is also a water playground, playing fields, and picnic areas.
Waterspeeltuin/Kinderboerderij Tanthof
Abstwoude 5, 2623NB, Delft
Bodelo
Boekenstein 6, Charlois
Monday - Friday 10am - 5pm, Saturday 12 - 7pm
A playground for toddlers to 12 years of age. You will find toddler swings, sandpit, play village, pulley, football pitch and swings. During summer months you may see a water show and in winter months, an ice rink. The playground association organises various activities around festival days; sinterklaas, Easter, Koninginnedag.
Duinrell
Duinrell 1, Wassenaar
Phone: (070) 515 5258
Entry € 15.50, 65+ € 11.5
3 July–15 August € 16.00 and € 12.00 resp
Children to 3 years free.
Open 3 April – 31 Oct daily 10:00 – 17:00
10 July–15 Aug daily from 10:00 to 18:00. Tikibad is open until 22:00
Many attractions including the Water Spider, Toboggan run at high speed, Splash Aqua Swing and spin around in the Mad Mill. For younger guests there are fairy tales in Wonderland, Rick’s Fun Factory, and Ball Lake. Guests can also meet and greet Rick the Frog and enjoy the many children’s shows.
The Tiki pool (Tikibad) is Europe’s biggest indoor slide complex. Every day is a spectacle of splashing, sliding and plunging deep into the water of the sparkling Tiki pool. Short slides, long slides, over a kilometer of slides. The fun never stops…
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Creative play
Villa Zebra Kinderkunsthall/Museum
Stiektjesstraat 21, Kop van Zuid
Open Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 5pm. Workshops for children from age 4. Workshops are held on Wednesday's and Saturday and Sunday at session times.
Circus Rotjeknor
Oostzeedijk Beneden 215b, 3061VT, Rotterdam
Circus Rotjeknor is an opportunity for young children to learn circus techniques and performances. Suitable for ages from 6 to 18 years of age. Workshops run for 1-2 hours and cost around €120,00 and are based on four levels, varying by skill. It pays to book as the waiting list is about six months long.
Educational
Ontdekhoek "Discovery Corner"
Pannekoekstraat 55, 3011LC, Rotterdam
Tel. 010 - 414 31 03
Ontdekhoek is a creative workshop for girls and boys aged 4 to 12, with more than 30 experiments to experience. From learning photo developing, soap making etc. The entrance fee is €8,00 for children and half price for adults. Open Tuesday to Sunday 10 to 5pm.
Scheepswerf De Delft
Scheihaven 15, Delfshaven
Here you can view shipbuilding techniques from the 18th Century; craftsmen work on restoring a real ship while you watch.
Nature Museum Rotterdam
Westzeedijk 345, (Museumpark) 3015AA, Rotterdam
The museum holds a large collection of stuffed animals, skeletons, fossils, and huge variety of preserved animals. There is a special shop for children and it is possible to hold birthday parties here.
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Theatre
Dini’s Poppenrijk
Adamshofstraat 52, 3061AG, Rotterdam
Tel 010 479 5260
Productions and workshops for children. For children from 6 months there is a course called ‘Samen spelen met uw kleine Poppedinje’ (Play together with your little Poppedijne). Sessions are held every Thursday from 10:00 – 11:00am €48,00 for 6 sessions with one time free. It is a chance for adults and children to sing, play and move together. Children's shows are staged based on the Grote Beer, Kleine Beer (Big Bear, Little Bear) stories from Martin Waddell and Barbara Firth.
Funparks & themeparks
There are no real large scale adventure or theme parks in Rotterdam itself, apart from Plaswijk Park, but there many parks within an easy drive (of two hours or less) of Rotterdam.
Rotterdam
Plaswijk Park
Ringdijk 20, 3053KS, Schiebrook, Rotterdam
Open all year round, but limited to Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday from November to February.
Has also a party venue available for hire for weddings, children's parties etc.
Skateland Rotterdam
Piekstraat 45, 3071EL, Rotterdam
Skateland is a purpose built warehouse for in-line skaters, rollerbladers, and skateboarders. Opening times are Wednesday to Sundays. Skateland also offer a skate school.
Outside Rotterdam
Hellendoorn Adventure Park
Luttenbergerweg 22, 7447PB, Hellendoorn
Opening hours (1 March - 30 October) 10 - 6pm July & August summer period 10 - 7pm Closed for the winter
An older style park that has a surprising amount for younger children to enjoy, trains, planes, merry go rounds etc. Worth the drive, this is about two hours from Rotterdam.
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Construction playgrounds
Pendrecht 7
Sliedrechtstraat 250, 3086JR, Charlois
Open daily 9.30am - 5pm, 9am - 5pm during holidays
This is a construction playground with indoor activities. Whilst the play ground is for all ages, the building is for ages 6 years and up, also outdoor you will find a pulley, and cable climbing frame. Indoor activities include crafts, table tennis, billiards, painting. On festive days and special occasions, themed activities take place. ie. Easter, Sinterklaas, Christmas, Mother's day, Father's day.
De Zonneweide
Barbeelsingel 55, 3192BA, Hoogvliet
010 416 0576
A large construction playground that you can build huts in all year round. In the summer there is an outdoor pool, which becomes an outdoor ice rink in the winter. A full programme of activities is available in the school holidays.
Maeterlinck
Maeterlinckweg 61, 3076GA, Ridderkerk
010 432 1226
A construction playground that also has a go-kart track, rope pulley, mini playground, play houses and hut building. There are themed school holiday programmes in the form of bread baking, pancake or popcorn making. Birthday parties are possible here.
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Music play
Kindermusik with Raquel
This is a music and movement class which focuses on the child's emotional development, confidence, self-control, curiosity and communication.
For Children from 1 ½ to 3 years
Contact: Raquel on 010 442 7964 or email: kindermusikwithraquel@hotmail.com
Zingen en Spelen met uw kindje "Sing and Play with your child"
Vredehofweg 10, 3062EN, Kralingen, Rotterdam
Sing songs, rhymes and play games with your child in small groups. This is a Dutch language group.
Contact: Ina Pieterse 010 452 6570 or email: kind_en_musiek@hotmail.com
Neighbourhood & Playground Terbregge
Music and movement class for children from 2 – 4years 13:30 – 14:45 and 14:30 – 15:55, Fridays
Contact: Lily van Wifferen on 010 418 5330
Animal parks & zoo's
Diergaarde Blijdorp
Blijdorplaan 8, near Abraham van Stolkweg, Rotterdam
An impressive (if not expensive zoo) with a variety of animals on view. See also the Oceanarium, housing amongst other species, some gorgeous Falkland Island penguins. Half way around the zoo is a cafe with an adventure playground, suitable for ages 2 and up.
Serpo Reptilezoo
Stationsplein 8, Delft
Entry € 6.00, Children 4-11 € 4.00, 65+ €5.00
Open Mon.- Sat 10am - 6pm, Sun 1pm – 6pm
Safely study a large collection of snakes, lizards, spiders, crocodiles and other animals. Learn about the living and eating habits of the reptiles and the effects the leather industry has on such creatures.
Sea Life Centre
Strandweg 13, 2586JK, Scheveningen
Open daily from 10am
Another great place that is well designed for younger children as all the fish tanks are at toddler height. Showcasing water-life from the North Sea environs.
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Children's farms & petting zoo's
Kinderboerderij De Blijde Wei
Bergse Linker Rottekade 435, Prins Alexander
An educational centre run along the lines of a traditional Dutch farm, for nature and the environment. Also on site is a restaurant and playground.
Kinderboerderij De Kooi
Maeterlinckweg 85, Ijsselmonde
A children's farm that contains Dutch breeds of cows and goats. Onsite is a nature and environment centre (NME) and a cafe where you can buy products from the farm. Children are able to help look after the animals. A variety of activities are run throughout the year.
Kinderboerderij De Kraal
Langepad 60, Kralingen (Kralingse Bos)
A small petting farm housing goats, pigs, sheep, rabbits, cows and lots of curious birdlife. You can feed ducks in the pond around the holding areas.
Kinderboerderij Holywood Vlaardingen
Boerderijpad 1, Vlaardingen
A petting farm in the Holypark. Children are able to help the staff feed and care for the animals and cuddle and pet the animals.
Kinderboerderij De Bokkesprong
Tjalklaan 90, Delfshaven
Kinderboerderij De Wilgenhof
Ringdijk 76, Schiebrook (along same road as Plaswijk Park)
Kinderboerderij Heemtuin Het Hoefblad
Prinses Beatrixpark, Schiedam
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Nature parks
Natuurspeeltuin De Speeldernis
Roel Langerakweg 25, 3041JK, Rotterdam
Open daily from 12 - 5.30pm
Nature Museum
Westzeedijk 345 (in the Museumpark), Rotterdam
Phone: 010 436 42 22
On Wednesday and Friday afternoons, and at lunchtime on Saturdays and Sundays, the Nature Museum hosts two special children’s events; one for children aged 4 to 7 years and one for children aged 8 to 12 years on.
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