The early May bank holiday weekend is our newly identified opportunity to take the kids on a European city break; our little tradition to shake off the cobwebs of winter and lean into spring and with a bit of luck, some summery weather as a bonus. Last year, it was Annecy in France, where we learned a key parenting hack: nothing lifts the mood of cranky kids quite like a bike ride. The freedom, the speed, the wind in their hair – it’s magic. So this year, we doubled down on the cycling theme and chose a destination made for it and close to home: Amsterdam.
✈️ Friday: Arrival & First Impressions
We flew out from London on Friday via British Airways Holidays and landed in Amsterdam ready to explore. Our base for the weekend was the stylish and sustainable The Albus Hotel, a 4★ boutique gem located in the historic central canal district of the city, a great location to be in the middle of everything but not too busy with crowds.
The Albus checked us in to two facing rooms at the top of the hotel (accessed via a lift) and surprised us with complimentary drinks and lovely snacks in our rooms. Now, time for a swift turnaround and then head out and about to explore.
We had lucked out with some early summer evening sun, and went for a mooch around the neighbourhood. The children were wide-eyed taking in the boats, bikes and buzz as the weekend got underway for young Amsterdammers. Dinner that evening was at De Luwte, a cozy canal‑side brasserie with a laid‑back vibe and delicious local menu. We were fortunate enough to snap up the large table in the front window and happily shared several mains between us in the absence of a kids menu.
Saturday: Flowers, Boats, and Architecture
Sunday morning began with a 7-mile guided bike tour through Vondelpark and the tranquil city streets. We biked with We Bike Amsterdam, a family-friendly company offering small-group city tours. The flat terrain of the city allowed all ages to enjoy a gentle ride and the sleepy Sunday streets offered little traffic to navigate.
After cycling, nearby we grabbed bagels and coffee at Bagels Village, then returned to the hotel for some downtime.
Dinner that evening was at Trattoria Graziella, a charming Italian tucked away near our hotel. Pasta, wine and exhausted kids writing postcards for the grandparents made for a perfect end to the day. Beetroot cured salmon starter was a well-earned treat for the adults 😉
Colour, Culture & Creative Play
On our final day, after a final big buffet breakfast at The Albus Hotel, we ventured north to visit WONDR Experience, a joy-filled pop‑art playground with 13 rooms of fun including japanese arcades, ball pits and multiple photo opps.
Next up was the STRAAT Museum, a massive, industrial and immersive street-art space that delighted both adults and kids with oversized sculptures and art pieces to wow the little ones.
Finally, we lunched at Pllek, a laid‑back waterfront multipurpose venue in old shipping containers: great food, cool views, live music and a relaxed final stop before our BA flight home.
Final Thoughts
Amsterdam delivered exactly what we were looking for – cycling, canals, pancakes, art and simple family fun. It proved once again that a city break can be both relaxing and full of discovery when shared with loved ones – AND reassuring to say it was easily possible to spend 3 days in the city without accidentally exposing the kids to anything Red Light District!
Check out my Husband’s custom map of our trip for more details on locations:
