The Netherlands

Amsterdam With a Baby: Tiny Shoes, Big Adventures

Traveling with a baby might not sound like the most relaxing idea—but throw in canals, stroopwafels, and a hotel room with floral wallpaper that could charm the grumpiest baby, and suddenly it becomes an adventure worth writing home about. Or, in this case, blogging about.

We just got back from Amsterdam, and yes—baby in tow. Here’s the scoop on our not-so-typical Dutch getaway.

Home Base: Hotel Estherea

First things first: if you're going to haul a stroller through cobblestone streets, you deserve a hotel that feels like a reward. We stayed at Hotel Estherea, right on the canal and full of quirky charm. Think chandeliers, velvet, and whimsical wallpaper that made it feel like a Wes Anderson movie set. Bonus: it was walkable to everything. Even better: they had a baby crib ready and waiting. Gold star.

Day Trip to Zaandam & Zaanse Schans: Windmills & Wooden Shoes

We took a day trip to Zaandam and Zaanse Schans, which is basically a postcard come to life. Traditional green houses, windmills turning lazily in the breeze, and more wooden shoes than one could possibly need in a lifetime.

The baby? Slept through most of it, naturally.

But we got our fill of cheese samples, clogs, and even saw a man hand-painting Delftware. If you're ever tempted to pack light for a trip like this—don’t. Bring the stroller and thank yourself later.

Canal Cruising: Baby’s First Boat Ride

No trip to Amsterdam is complete without a canal cruise. I timed ours for just before nap time (pro tip: moving boat = rocking = sleepy baby magic). We glided past crooked houses, under arched bridges, and waved at other tourists doing the exact same thing. It was calm, quiet, and beautiful—and also, the baby drooled all over the safety card. A memory, nonetheless.

Anne Frank House: A Quiet Moment

Visiting the Anne Frank House was sobering, powerful, and something i felt grateful to experience. A reminder of how important history is, even in the midst of a vacation with diapers and breastfeeding.

Vondelpark: Green Space & Goose Chasing

Amsterdam’s answer to Central Park, Vondelpark, was the perfect place to let the baby kick back and watch the world go by. Locals on rollerblades, dogs chasing balls, and an occasional goose strutting around like it owned the place—it was all excellent entertainment. I had a coffee, the baby had a nap, everyone was happy.

Final Thoughts: Is Amsterdam Baby-Friendly?

Surprisingly, yes! The city is walkable, stroller-accessible (mostly), and full of friendly faces. Sure, there were diaper changes in tiny café bathrooms and some creative nap schedules, but that’s all part of the story, right?

Would i travel soli with a baby again? Absolutely. Maybe next time with my husband to haul our suitcase and one more stroopwafel.

Coffee

• Haku Specialty Coffee

Places to Eat

• De Kas

• Grammes - Best pastries and croissants

• Pancake’s Amsterdam Negan Straatjes

• Foodhallen - Food market star attraction with stalls serving everything from smash burgers, sushi, tapas, seafood, you name it!

• Fabel Friet Runstraat - Best french fries

Dutch food Must Try

• Bitterballen - the dutch centerpiece staple. These golden extreririor, deep fried balls are rich and gooey roux flecked with meat. Its typically served with a sharp mustard to pair with and is pretty tastey in my opionon!

• Dutch pancakes

Things to do

• Anne Frank Museum - Book 6 weeks in advance

• Canal Cruise

• Vondelpark

• Rijksmuseum

• Van Gogh Museum

• Royal Palace Amsterdam

• Red Light District

• Tony’s Chocolonely - the perfect gifts from Amsterdam

Places to Stay

• Hotel Estherea

• Pulitzer Hotel Centrum

• W Hotel Centrum - This luxury chain is always a trustworthy but pricey hotel. In a great location