Wheelchair-friendly things to do in Amsterdam for kids
Amsterdam is a great city for families. Its range of child-friendly attractions makes it a popular destination to travel to with kids. A number of Amsterdam’s attractions are not only child-friendly but also wheelchair-friendly. Below are our tips for wheelchair-friendly things to do when you’re next in Amsterdam with the whole family.
NEMO Science Museum
NEMO Science Museum is a favourite for families in Amsterdam. This science and technology museum is full of interactive educational activities. Here, you can learn all about light, electricity, gravity, and other scientific concepts in an informal and fun way.
NEMO Science Museum has lifts to almost all exhibitions. Many interactive activities are wheelchair-friendly, but some are up on a plateau or out of reach when seated. The rooftop terrace is wheelchair-friendly and has beautiful views. There are multiple wheelchair-friendly toilets throughout the building. The rooftop exhibition is not wheelchair-friendly, as it can only be accessed via a staircase.
De Gibraltar Playground
Tucked away behind a colourful red mural in Bos & Lommer, De Gibraltar is one of Amsterdam’s few wheelchair-friendly playgrounds. Its inclusive play structures allow children of all abilities to play together. De Gibraltar is also a place where parents and guardians who use a wheelchair can play with their children in an accessible, child-friendly environment.
De Gibraltar includes a wheelchair swing, a wheelchair merry-go-round, accessible sandpit tables, and (basketball) hoops at different heights. The playground’s community centre café is largely threshold-free and has ramps where needed. There is a wheelchair-friendly toilet with an adult changing table.
ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo
ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo — ‘ARTIS’ for short — is a historic zoo in the heart of Amsterdam. Located in the Plantage neighbourhood, ARTIS is home to over 700 species of animals and wildlife. In addition, the zoo’s grounds have a planetarium, an arboretum, and the ARTIS-Groote Museum. ARTIS has routes and activities for visitors of all ages.
Most of ARTIS is wheelchair-friendly. There are lifts and ramps where needed. Certain slopes, such as those in the butterfly enclosure, can be quite steep. The ARTIS gift shop is wheelchair-friendly, though some items are displayed on higher shelves. ARTIS has multiple wheelchair-friendly toilets in different buildings.
Rembrandt’s Amsterdam Experience
Rembrandt’s Amsterdam Experience is a 5D immersive experience about the life of 17th-century Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn. This child-friendly attraction uses colourful projections, music, and narration to bring Rembrandt and his artworks to life. A new ‘experience’ starts every 10 minutes and takes approximately 25 minutes total.
Rembrandt’s Amsterdam has spacious, threshold-free rooms. All projections are clearly visible when seated. The ticket counter is high and has a card machine that cannot be moved within reach of wheelchair users. For this reason, it is recommended that visitors who use a wheelchair buy their tickets online beforehand. The gift shop is wheelchair accessible. However, some items are located on higher shelves and are difficult to reach when seated. There are no toilets at Rembrandt’s Amsterdam.
OBA Public Library
Located near Amsterdam Central Station, the OBA Oosterdok is one of 28 public libraries in Amsterdam. The library boasts ten floors full of books, periodicals, magazines, CDs, and Wi-Fi-connected computers. One of these floors is dedicated to children, with picture books, novels, and other reading materials for all ages and in multiple languages. The OBA Oosterdok includes two cafés with cosy areas to read and have a bite to eat.
A platform lift takes wheelchair users from the entrance hall into the library. Lifts provide access to every floor. There are multiple wheelchair-friendly toilets. Certain books are located on high shelves, making them difficult to reach if seated in a wheelchair. The outdoor terrace has a stunning panoramic view; however, this view is obstructed if seated. To experience the same view, look out of the floor-to-ceiling windows on lower floors.
Josephine Rees is the founder of Able Amsterdam, a website about wheelchair-friendly places and activities in Amsterdam. For more information, follow Josephine on Instagram and check out the Able Amsterdam website.
