The best things to do in Haarlem with kids

Do you want to visit Haarlem with kids? After living here for more than 10 years with my family, I know the city well. In this guide I will tell you all about the lovely places to go with your children, the cafés that welcomes my poffertjes-eaters, the playgrounds only locals know, and the unhurried way Haarlem rewards families who skip the Amsterdam crowds.

I know I’m probably biased as a local, but I think Haarlem is one of the most beautiful cities in the Netherlands. It’s a good place to live in and its very family friendly. The charming city centre is compact, with lots of historical buildings and full of lovely cafes, (hidden) gardens and parks, bakeries and boutiques. And a big plus, nature is always nearby with the dunes and the beach at a biking distance. 

In this guide I will share all the nice places with you when you’re visiting Haarlem with your kids. From child friendly cafés, to playgrounds and activities. There’s no need to rush, just pick your favourites and take your time to absorb the city.

Kids friendly places in and around Haarlem

Meneer Paprika

Everybody in Haarlem with little children knows Meneer Paprika. It’s a toy store with a café and toys to play with within the store. Especially the Brio train table is a popular one. It helps a lot of parents to have a little moment for themselves. They serve lunch as well, and the toy collection is also recommendable. With brands like LEGO, Kapla and Moulin Roty (check the colouring books, especially when you have girls, they’re so lovely!). 

• Meneer Paprika, Koningstraat 9, Haarlem

Kidscafé Spruit

Kidscafé Spruit is located at the Turfmarkt, across the river ‘t Spaarne. They have toys to play with, and they have a special menu for kids. You can eat Dutch poffertjes over here, the small Dutch little pancakes, tosti’s with cheese, or a tosti with peanut butter and banana. Also, small eaters will find something of their choice, like a smoothie or just an apple or a banana. For breakfast they serve croissants, banana cake or yoghurt with granola and fruit.

• Kidscafé Spruit, Turfmarkt 30, Haarlem

Lieneloe

Kidstore Lieneloe keeps their biggest surprise in the garden behind the shop. With rabbits hopping around and toys to play with. On sunny days, you can have a drink in their garden. They sells clothes, toys and accessories, and they also have a corner with juices and cakes. The lovely owner is happy to welcome you here. Go and check it out yourself.

• Lieneloe, Kruisstraat 25, Haarlem

By Lima

By Lima doesn’t have a play area or toys to play with, but you can certainly bring your kids here. They will be happy to happy to pick something from the menu. By Lima serves all day breakfast & lunch. They have for example a yoghurt bowl with cherry and rhubarb compote, granola, chia pudding, salted chocolate almond butter, fresh fruit and coconut yoghurt. It feels like a little party when they bring the bowl to your table. It’s also a good place to go for lemonades, juices and cakes. 

• By Lima, Zijlstraat 65, Haarlem

Oerkap

This restaurant with beach vibes is open all day and is very child friendly. They have a playground with sand outside and another playground inside. Oerkap got a nice big terrace along river ‘t Spaarne. The menu of Oerkap is simple and easy with children. I always go for the pizza over here; they taste very well. The ambiance is pretty, with little lightbulbs in the evening. Best to make a reservation, especially on sunny days. 

• Oerkap, Harmenjansweg 95, Haarlem

Haarlemmer Kweektuin & Kweekcafé

The Haarlemmer Kweektuin is a green area to play, outside the city centre. It’s a fifteen-minute walk from the northern side of the train station. The Haarlemmer Kweektuin is free from bikes, cars and dogs. You got a nature-based playground over here, with water pump, glide and little walking bridges over the water. There’s also a big grass field to play football, to have a picnic or play whatever game you want. 

Fact is, you’ve got space here. Besides, there is a little walking route for children and there’s also a café, to have lunch or a drink, it’s called Kweekcafé. The café is inside a greenhouse with a nice terrace outside. Every first Saturday of the month, they’re is also a market at the Kweektuin, the theme of the market changes throughout the seasons. Check www.kweekmarkt.nl for more information. 

• Haarlemmer Kweektuin, Kleverlaan 9, Haarlem

Haarlemmerhout

Haarlemmerhout is a large, green park on the southern side of the city centre. It’s a nice place to take your children for a walk or a picnic. There is a little kids farm with playground and there’s also a café with terrace, Theehuis de Haarlemmerhout. They’ve got poffertjes and pancakes, but they also got salads and tosti’s on their menu. Open every day from 10:00-17:00, the kitchen closes at 16:00.

• Theehuis de Haarlemmerhout, Hertenkamplaan 1, Haarlem

DeDAKKAS

DeDAKKAS is a lovely spot to go to and have a nice view over the city. It’s on the roof of parking lot de Kamp. So, when you’re entering the parking lot, you take the stairs or the elevator to the sixth floor. DeDAKKAS is not a place where your children can run around, but I will guess they (and the rest of the family) will probably appreciate the views over the city. Changing the perspective is always a good idea. Same as ordering the carrot cake and a glass of rose lemonade. And a big plus, when the sun it out, you will always find a spot in the sun on the big terrace.

• DeDAKKAS, on the roof, De Witstraat 1A, Haarlem

Kraantje Lek

Kraantje Lek is a family friendly restaurant, just outside Haarlem. It’s a good place to eat a pancake with your kids and go for a play afterwards. Outside, they have a big terrace and a lovely playground with glide, water pump and swings. Kraantje Lek is at the rim of dunes. When the children still have some energy left, they can go for a run on the big sand dune next to the restaurant. It’s also the spot where you will find the cycling path that leads to Zandvoort. 

• Kraantje Lek, Duinlustweg 22, Overveen

Camping de Lakens

Camping de Lakens does have a nice playground and a restaurant to eat a pizza or pick up a drink or an ice-cream. It’s a nice campsite, close to the beach, and very child friendly. Even when you’re just a visitor and not staying at the camping, you can still go to the playground and the restaurant Gestrand (for the non-Dutchies, good luck with the pronunciation). It’s a great place, especially when it’s too windy to go to the beach, because the dunes will give you some protection. The kids will enjoy the big glide, the cable lane or the water pump, while you’re enjoying the sun on your face and the beautiful nature around you.

• Camping de Lakens, Zeeweg 60, Overveen

Duin- en Kruidberg

Duin- en Kruidberg is one of the entrances of National Park Zuid-Kennemerland. You can do several walks here. It’s also a great area for picnics and biking. In front of the entrance of the park, there is a café, Brasserie Hoeve Duin en Kruidberg, with a huge playground. It’s especially nice for younger children, say till five years old. But the older ones will also appreciate the ice cream here. Leashed dogs are welcome at the terrace.

• Brasserie Hoeve Duin en Kruidberg, Duin- en Kruidbergerweg 89, Santpoort-Noord

Practical advice: weekdays in Haarlem are the best. Then you will fully experience the coziness and easiness of the city. On Saturday, the city is more crowded, and parking spaces are limited. If you want to visit the big Saturday market, go early.

Tips for travelling with children: it might be needless to say, and it also depends on the age and interests of your children. But always put a little game in your bag, like UNO. No matter where you are, kids-friendly or not, you can entertain your kids wherever you go and that will also give you more freedom to go to places wherever you like to go to ♥

Are you as a parent craving for a cup coffee? Read our guide for the best coffee spots in Haarlem.

Kids friendly activities in and around Haarlem

Wander around in the city centre

My all-time favourite part of Haarlem is the Vijfhoek, one of the oldest parts of the city. This neighbourhood got the name from the five streets that all end up at a little square: Lange Bogaardstraat, Breestraat, Lange Raamstraat, Wolstraat and Drapenierstraat. It’s a very charming part of the city centre. My advice would be, just wander around here and experience the vibes. The most people who live in this area, really make something of their home, with nice plants and flowerpots.

♥ A proposed walk (with food stops): grab a drink at Native or Mogador or go for a lunch at Hofje zonder zorgen (if you’re sitting inside, go to the backside, then you will have a view at one of the hofjes, the Proveniershof). Wander around in the five streets. Cross the Grote Houtstraat (as a souvenir, you can pick up the Haarlemse tea mix at the Art of tea, I really like the green version with almonds, citrus and pink pepper) and have a walk through the Cornelissteeg to end up at the Groot Heiligland. This is a really beautiful street with typical Dutch houses.

You can walk back via the Kleine Houtstraat and have a stop at Het dropje van Haarlem. I’m not a big fan of buying candy for kids, but if you want to go for some candy, this is the place, with old fashioned, Dutch candy (try the caramel snowballs or the cinnamon cushions, love these ones). Or if you’re more into chocolate, go to Chocolaterie Pierre. They also sell ice cream. 

Go for a family picnic

I my opinion, picnics and children are a golden combination. It’s always a big success over here. Laid-back vibes, blanket on the ground, being outside and good things to eat. Go pick a nice spot, like Haarlemmerhout, Kenaupark, National Park Zuid-Kennemerland or a spot along the canals. There are also little (hidden) public gardens in the city centre, like the Wijngaardtuin or the Egelantiertuin, that gives space for playing. They’re like silent little gems in the city centre, green oases with birds singing their songs. Great places to pick up food are the Slagersdochter, or bakeries like Oscar (go for the almond croissant, you won’t regret it), Made by Ellen (cinnamon buns) or Artesano (cinnamon buns, pistachio buns, focaccia, whatever you pick. it’s all so, so good). 

Visit Teylers Museum

Go back in time and visit Teylers, the oldest museum in the Netherlands. Teylers Museum is open to public since 1784. They’ve got a lovely collection of drawings and paintings, fossils, old coins and minerals. Part of the collection are pieces of Rembrandt van Rijn, Marlene Dumas, Raphael and Michelangelo. They have a café inside with large windows, looking out at the garden, and quite common they organise special activities for children as well, including a treasure hunt through the museum. For more information, check their website www.teylersmuseum.nl. 

• Entry: €17,50 adults, €9 students, free under 18. Open Tue-Sun 11:00-17:00
• Teylers museum, Spaarne 16, Haarlem

Go on a boattrip with your family

Going on a boattrip is a nice way to see the city in another way. Besides, it saves the little legs for walking around all the time. There are several venues when you can rent a little boat. You will be the captain and sail yourself. A boating license is not necessary. Life jackets for little ones are provided. 

• www.sloepdelen.nl, rents boats up to 12 persons. You will find the boats on the canal near Museum van de Geest. Renting a boat will cost you €65 per hour, plus deposit €150.
• www.clubspaarne.com, along ‘t Spaarne, has a wide variety of renting boats, from 6 till 12 persons. Renting a boat for one and a half hour will cost you €75. Four hours is €155.

Rather go on a bigger boat without sailing yourself? Go book a cruise at Smidtje Canal Cruises. Audio is available in 7 languages. The boat trip will take 50 minutes and is suitable for all ages. Tickets are €17,50 for adults (from 13 years old), children from 0-12 years old come for free. 

Play with LEGO at the Museum for architecture

Perfect family activity for a rainy day- go to the ABC Architectuurcentum Haarlem. A museum about architecture and urban planning, and with a nice selection of LEGO bricks to play with. They have 60.000 LEGO bricks to build anything you want. 

• Entry is €5 for adults, €3 for children. Closed on Mondays.
• ABC Architectuurcentrum Haarlem, Groot Heiligland 47, Haarlem

Go to the beach with your family

Going to the beach, is always a good idea. The closest beaches from Haarlem are Bloemendaal and Zandvoort. Take the bus to Bloemendaal aan Zee (20 minutes, bus line 81, €4,50) or take the train to Zandvoort (10 minutes, €3,20 one-way). Don’t make the mistake I made once, years and years ago, taking the train to Bloemendaal, because you will end up in Bloemendaal centre and from there it’s still a 40 minutes’ walk to the beach. Some beach clubs are open all year round, like Tijn Akersloot (Zandvoort), Piatti (Zandvoort), Republiek (Bloemendaal) or Parnassia (Bloemendaal). Just take a ball, a bucket or a spade, maybe a kite, and you and your child will have a fabulous time together.

Go ice-skating at the ice rink

In wintertime, you can go ice-skating with you child at the ice rink Haarlem. The ice rink Haarlem is covered and is open from Oktober till the end of March. You can rent skates at the ice rink and there is also a café inside to warm up with a hot chocolate. 

• Entry: €9,80 adults (16 years and older), €5,70 (for children till 15 years old). Just watching is for free
• Ice rink, IJsbaanlaan 2, Haarlem

Kidsproof festivals in Haarlem

• ProefPark! is a food truck festival of three days at Kenaupark, organised in the last weekend of August. It’s a good way to try out several kitchens, from northern Indian to food from the Balkan. Just bring a blanket and good appetite.
• Every year, in the last two weeks of February, there is a light festival in Caprera in Bloemendaal. Step into the woods, and discover the combination of dark and light, sound and silence. It’s a lovely activity to do with your children when you like art and nature. Caprera is also a good one to keep an eye on, because they host concerts and performances during summertime.

Practical advice: transport yourself like a local and hire a bike or a cargo bike (in Dutch bakfiets, you will spot them a lot when you’re in Haarlem). I would only recommend a cargo bike when you’re used to it, because you need some practice to drive around safely ♥

One day in Haarlem with kids, tips from a local for a lovely day

Kids friendly hotels in and around Haarlem

Where to stay in Haarlem when you visit the city with your family? I spotted some nice places for you. 

• You and your family can book the loft at boutique hotel the Metzlr House. It’s a space of 96 square metre. There is a large kingsize bed, a kitchenette, a dining table, two sleeping couches and there is space to put up extra beds. The Metzlr House is situated in the old jail of Haarlem, called the Koepel. Nowadays it’s a cultural centre with a café and cinema, the Filmkoepel.
• Hello I’m Local is another great family friendly place to stay. You got for example the Hello, I’m the Old School Room, a private room with four single beds next to each other. You will spot the St. Bavo church from your bathroom. They do have boardgames and there is a private patio where you can store your bike. On the ground floor, there is a café that’s open daily from 8:00 for travellers and locals.
• Boutique hotel Staats in the centre of Haarlem got several suites, all decorated in their own, unique style. Their Royal Suite is perfect for small families. It is suitable for four persons and it’s also possible to book breakfast here. 
• You can also go for a spot between dunes and city and book the Bleecker Suite at Hotel Bleecker in Bloemendaal. It’s a small, personal hotel at biking distance (say about 15 minutes) to Haarlem centre. The hotel got a nice café and restaurant with terrace outside.

My final thoughts about Haarlem with children | on the move

Haarlem is an easy city to fall in love with, at least I did, years and years ago. The charming little streets, the compact city centre and nature nearby, makes it a good place to go to. I’m happy that I’m able to call Haarlem my home for more than 10 years. It’s the city where I met some lovely people, found friends, where neighbors organize events together and it’s the place where shop-owners recognize you and know what you would like to order, well at least the standard recipe. It’s an easy city to visit with your family, because there are lots of places nearby and the city itself is very kids friendly. Besides, you can always find a quiet spot somewhere close. So don’t hesitate to go and discover this lovely Dutch city by yourself ♥

FAQ- everything you need to know about traveling to Haarlem with kids

Looking for more information to discover Haarlem?

• Read our Haarlem guide
• The 10 most romantic restaurants in Haarlem, to plan a date night with your partner
• Best coffee spots in Haarlem
• Go check the best restaurants in Haarlem
• Go check the best day trips from Haarlem

Or do you like to read more about traveling in the Netherlands? Go read the Netherlands travel guide