It's vacation and we should celebrate! If you fancy a fun day out with the kids, there are plenty of kid-friendly activities in Rotterdam. A day at the museum, admiring Rotterdam in miniature or sail on the Maas with the Pancake Boat. Read our tips below!
It is useful to buy a ticket in advance for the activities below or to reserve a time slot. Take a look at their website for opening times and more information.
Het is handig om voor onderstaande activiteiten vooraf een kaartje te kopen of een tijdslot te reserveren. Neem even een kijkje op de website voor openingstijden en meer informatie.
In the Maritime Museum you will embark on a journey through our maritime past and present and discover the enormous influence of the maritime world on our daily lives. The museum offers many fun and educational exhibits for children of all ages.
A favourite of many is the permanent children's DIY exhibition 'Professor Plons'. Here, children learn about the port in a playful way and they are introduced to different ships, the work in the port and how products are transported around the world by ship.
Other fun family exhibits include the Offshore Experience and 'Zeemonsters' (seamonsters). Be sure to visit the Museum Harbour with ships and cranes and since this summer there are beautiful workshops in the Leuvepaviljoen. This is suitable for all ages.
Villa Zebra is the ultimate kids museum of Rotterdam. Here you can enjoy interactive exhibitions and installations with the whole family, original art workshops and a Klooi or Reading afternoon every two weeks.
Toddlers and preschoolers can explore the permanent art installation ZELF! in Villa Zebra. Discover vegetables and insects in De Groentekraam (vegetable stall), find your way through the jungle on Het Eiland (the island) and climb onto the stage of Circus Gibra.
You will find Villa Zebra in a beautiful location at the waterside on Kop van Zuid.
Miniworld Rotterdam is an indoor miniature world of Rotterdam where there is something for everyone to experience. Go on a journey and discover polder landscapes, modern and historic architecture and of course the largest miniature harbor in Europe. Everything is surprisingly detailed!
In the morning everything comes to life: the trains, the trucks... everything is in motion. A day in Miniworld Rotterdam only lasts 24 minutes, so before you know it it's nighttime again and thousands of lights are twinkling in the dark.
A super fun family outing to learn more about our city in miniature!
Fancy getting out on the water? Then Kids Marina in Leuvehaven, behind the Maritime Museum, is a good option.
In this great water attraction, children are the captains and they can steer the boats. A super fun way to learn more about the harbour and its features and vessels. There are different types of boats available: a fire boat, police boat, container boat, tour boat and a harbour service boat.
Each boat trip takes 15 minutes. The model boats are powered by electric motors and are easy to control by the kids. Of course the parents can also come along as passengers!
The Pancake Boat should be visited by every child; a real Dutch experience that is fun for the whole family. Secretly, the adults also love the pancakes!
There is an extensive pancake buffet on board with a choice of bacon, apple and natural pancakes, which you can then top yourself. While you feast on the pancakes, you explore Rotterdam with a boat trip on the Maas.
