Indoor playgrounds
Rotterdam
Balonia Kinderspeelparadijs
website - www.balonia.nl
Ommoordsehof 3, 3056JR, Ommoord
Indoor play area with separate safe area for under 5's. This one is reasonably small but a clean and well cared for complex. It has trampolines, slides, ball pit and bikes to ride.
Maritime Museum "Professor Plons"
website: www.maritiemmuseum.nl
Leuvehaven 1, 3011EA, Rotterdam centre
A child's maritime paradise within the maritime museum, designed for 4-12 year olds but can provide entertainment for 2 years of age. Has indoor and outdoor play and has been designed in a maritime theme with a "working wharf". Outdoor, children can ride on customised trucks, collecting loads, weighing, scanning, filling petrol and driving around a set course.
Outside Rotterdam
Playcity Barendrecht
website: www.playcity.nl
Bedrijvenpark, Bijdorp
Bijdorp-Oost 2, 2992LA, Barendrecht
Indoor play area for children to 12 years of age, in the general indoor format - ball pit, slides etc. Opening times Wednesday & Friday; 12pm - 7pm, Saturday & Sunday 10am - 6pm. School holidays 10am-6pm. You can arrange to hold parties in this venue also for Euro8,50/person.
Ballorig Kinderspeelparadijs
website: www.ballorig.nl
Laurens Jzn Costerstraat 7, 3261LH, Oud-Beijerland
Kids Playground
website: www.kidsplayground.nl/
Kleveringweg 35, 2616LZ, Delft
Indoor play area roughly 20 minutes drive from Rotterdam. Soft play area for children 1 to 4 years and large structure for children 5 to 12 years of age.
Chimpie Champ
website: www.chimpiechamp.nl
Oosteinderweg 247, Aalsmeer
A large safe and undercover playground with a jungle theme for children from 1 to 12 years of age.
Kidz City
website: www.kidzcity.nl/
Vlampijpstraat 79, Utrecht
Is roughly a 45 minute drive from Rotterdam but is worth the journey. Is a huge place with entertainment for the toddler to older child, toddler to age 12. All indoors and in a large warehouse, it includes go-karting, huge indoor slide, train rides, "little tikes" cars and "road" for riding round, Merry-go-round, ball pit etc.
Outdoor playgrounds
There is a huge variety of play areas, both small and large around the Rotterdam/Ranstaad area. Here is a selection of the main ones:
Rotterdam
De Kievit
website: www.speeltuindekievit.nl
Wilgenlaan 5, Berkel en Rodenrijs
Open 10 April – 2 October, Monday – Friday, 10:00 – 17:30, Saturday, Sunday and Holidays, 11:00 – 17:30. Entry € 1.85, (€ 2.50 during school holiday)
Play activities for young and older children as well as an outdoor pool with smaller toddler pool.
Speeltuin Rollebollebos
website: www.rollebollebos.info
Vlinderbaan 12, 2907 GC, Capelle aan den IJssel
Speeltuinvereniging Kralingen
website: http://geocities.com/speeltuinkralingen
Honingerdijk 100, 3062NX, Kralingen
Only open during the summer period; April - September.
Outside Rotterdam
De Spelerij
website: www.spelerij.nl
De Uitvinderij Veldweg 5, 6925GX, Dieren
Big outdoor playground and indoor discovery/science centre
Linnaeushof
website: www.linnaeushof.nl
Rijksstraatweg 4, Bennebroek
Entry from 2 onwards € 7.00 (all in except the go-carts), 65+ and disabled € 5.50. Open 31 March – 3 October, 10:00 – 18:00
Europe’s largest playground. Recreational park with more than 350 attractions such as pedal boats, cable cars, trampolines, midget golf, a moonwalk, space bicycles, bronco bikes. There is also a water playground, playing fields, and picnic areas.
Waterspeeltuin/Kinderboerderij Tanthof
Abstwoude 5, 2623NB, Delft
Bodelo
Boekenstein 6, Charlois
Monday - Friday 10am - 5pm, Saturday 12 - 7pm
An playground for toddlers to 12 years of age. You will find toddler swings, sandpit, play village, pulley, football pitch and swings. During summer months you may see a water show and in winter months, an ice rink. The playground association organises various activities around festival days; sinterklaas, Easter, Koninginnedag.
Duinrell
website: www.duinrell.nl
Duinrell 1, Wassenaar
Entry € 15.50, 65+ € 11.5, 3 July–15 August € 16.00 and € 12.00 respectively. Children to 3 years free.
Open 3 April – 31 Oct daily 10:00 – 17:00, 10 July–15 Aug daily from 10:00 to 18:00. Tikibad is open until 22:00
Many attractions including the Water Spider, Toboggan run at high speed, Splash Aqua Swing and spin around in the Mad Mill. For younger guests there are fairy tales in Wonderland, Rick’s Fun Factory, and Ball Lake. Guests can also meet and greet Rick the Frog and enjoy the many children’s shows.
Creative play
Villa Zebra Kinderkunsthall/Museum
website: www.villazebra.nl
Stiektjesstraat 21, Kop van Zuid (south of river)
Open Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 5pm. Workshops for children from age 4. Workshops are held on Wednesday's and Saturday and Sunday at session times.
Circus Rotjeknor
website: www.circusrotjeknor.nl
Oostzeedijk Benedon 215b, 3061VT, Rotterdam centre
Circus Rotjeknor is an opportunity for young children to learn circus techniques and performances. Suitable for ages from 6 to 18 years of age. Workshops run for 1-2 hours and cost around €120,00 and are based on four levels, varying by skill. It pays to book as the waiting list is about six months long.
Educational
Ontdekhoek "Discovery Corner"
website: www.ontdekhoek.nl/
Pannekoekstraat 55, 3011LC, Rotterdam centre
Ontdekhoek is a creative workshop for girls and boys aged 4 to 12, with more than 30 experiments to experience. From learning photo developing, soap making etc. The entrance fee is €8,00 for children and half price for adults. Open Tuesday to Sunday 10 to 5pm.
Scheepswerf De Delft
website: www.dedelft.nl/
Scheihaven 15, Delfshaven
Here you can view shipbuilding techniques from the 18th Century; craftsmen work on restoring a real ship while you watch.
Nature Museum Rotterdam
website: www.nmr.nl/
Westzeedijk 345, (Museumpark) 3015AA, Rotterdam
The museum holds a large collection of stuffed animals, skeletons, fossils, and huge variety of preserved animals. There is a special shop for children and it is possible to hold birthday parties here.
Theatre
Dini’s Poppenrijk
Adamshofstraat 52, 3061AG, Kralingen
Phone: 010 479 5260
Productions and workshops for children.
For children from 6 months there is a course called ‘Samen spelen met uw kleine Poppedinje’ (Play together with your little Poppedijne). Sessions are held every Thursday from 10:00 – 11:00am €48,00 for 6 sessions with one time free. It is a chance for adults and children to sing, play and move together. Children's shows are staged based on the Grote Beer, Kleine Beer (Big Bear, Little Bear) stories from Martin Waddell and Barbara Firth.
I.D.E.A. (English) Theatre Group
website: www.idea-panto.nl
Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht
Phone: (Publicity) Martin Smit: 0168 327 940
English language amateur theatre group located about 20 minutes drive from Rotterdam, near Dordrecht. A small troupe holding various theatrical productions throughout the year including a traditional pantomime every Christmas.
Funparks & themeparks
There is one adventure park in Rotterdam but there many parks within an easy drive (of two hours or less) of Rotterdam.
Rotterdam
Plaswijk Park
website: www.plaswijckpark.nl/
Ringdijk 20, 3053KS, Schiebrook
Open all year round, but limited to Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday from November to February.
Has also a party venue available for hire for weddings, children's parties etc.
Skateland Rotterdam
website: www.skateland.nl/
Piekstraat 45, 3071EL, Rotterdam centre
Skateland is a purpose built warehouse for in-line skaters, rollerbladers, and skateboarders. Opening times are Wednesday to Sundays. Skateland also offer a skate school.
Construction playgrounds
Pendrecht 7
Sliedrechtstraat 250, 3086JR, Charlois
Open daily 9.30am - 5pm, 9am - 5pm during holidays
This is a construction playground with indoor activities. Whilst the play ground is for all ages, the building is for ages 6 years and up, also outdoor you will find a pulley, and cable climbing frame. Indoor activities include crafts, table tennis, billiards, painting. On festive days and special occasions, themed activities take place. ie. Easter, Sinterklaas, Christmas, Mother's day, Father's day.
De Zonneweide
Barbeelsingel 55, 3192BA, Hoogvliet
A large construction playground that you can build huts in all year round. In the summer there is an outdoor pool, which becomes an outdoor ice rink in the winter. A full programme of activities is available in the school holidays.
Maeterlinck
Maeterlinckweg 61, 3076GA, Ridderkerk
A construction playground that also has a go-kart track, rope pulley, mini playground, play houses and hut building. There are themed school holiday programmes in the form of bread baking, pancake or popcorn making. Birthday parties are possible here.
Music play
Kindermusik with Raquel
Email: raquel@hotmail.com
This is a music and movement class which focuses on the child's emotional development, confidence, self-control, curiosity and communication.
For Children from 1 ½ to 3 years.
Contact: Raquel on 010 442 7964
Zingen en Spelen met uw kindje "Sing and Play with your child"
Email: kind_en_musiek@hotmail.com
Vredehofweg 10, 3062EN, Kralingen,
Sing songs, rhymes and play games with your child in small groups. This is a Dutch language group.
Contact: Ina Pieterse 010 452 6570
Neighbourhood & Playground Terbregge
Music and movement class for children from 2 – 4years. 13:30 – 14:45 and 14:30 – 15:55, Fridays
Contact: Lily van Wifferen on 010 418 5330
Animal parks & zoo's
Diergaarde Blijdorp
website: www.rotterdamzoo.nl/
Blijdorplaan 8, near Abraham van Stolkweg, Rotterdam
An impressive (if not expensive zoo) with a variety of animals on view. See also the Oceanarium, housing amongst other species, some gorgeous Falkland Island penguins. Half way around the zoo is a cafe with an adventure playground, suitable for ages 2 and up.
Serpo Reptilezoo
website: http://xs4all.nl/~getreuer/serpo
Stationsplein 8, Delft
Entry € 6.00, Children 4-11 € 4.00, 65+ €5.00. Open Mon.- Sat 10am - 6pm, Sun 1pm – 6pm
Safely study a large collection of snakes, lizards, spiders, crocodiles and other animals. Learn about the living and eating habits of the reptiles and the effects the leather industry has on such creatures
Sea Life Centre
website: www.sealifeeurope.com/nl/
Strandweg 13, 2586JK, Scheveningen
Open daily from 10am. Another great place that is well designed for younger children as all the fish tanks are at toddler height. Showcasing water-life from the North Sea environs.
Children's farms & petting zoo's
Kinderboerderij De Blijde Wei
Bergse Linker Rottekade 435, Prins Alexander
An educational centre run along the lines of a traditional Dutch farm, for nature and the environment. Also on site is a restaurant and playground.
Kinderboerderij De Kooi
Maeterlinckweg 85, Ijsselmonde
A children's farm that contains Dutch breeds of cows and goats. Onsite is a nature and environment centre (NME) and a cafe where you can buy products from the farm. Children are able to help look after the animals. A variety of activities are run throughout the year
Kinderboerderij De Kraal
Langepad 60, Kralingen (Kralingse Bos)
A small petting farm housing goats, pigs, sheep, rabbits, cows and lots of curious birdlife. You can feed ducks in the pond around the holding areas.
Kinderboerderij Holywood Vlaardingen
Boerderijpad 1, Vlaardingen
A petting farm in the Holypark. Children are able to help the staff feed and care for the animals and cuddle and pet the animals.
Kinderboerderij De Bokkesprong
Tjalklaan 90, Delfshaven
Kinderboerderij De Wilgenhof
Ringdijk 76, Schiebrook (along same road as Plaswijk Park)
Kinderboerderij Heemtuin Het Hoefblad
Prinses Beatrixpark, Schiedam
Nature parks
Natuurspeeltuin De Speeldernis
website: www.speeldernis.nl
Roel Langerakweg 25, 3041JK, Rotterdam
Open daily from 12 - 5.30pm
Nature Museum
website: www.nmr.nl
Westzeedijk 345 (in the Museumpark), Rotterdam
On Wednesday and Friday afternoons, and at lunchtime on Saturdays and Sundays, the Nature Museum hosts two special children’s events; one for children aged 4 to 7 years and one for children aged 8 to 12 years on.
Birthday parties
Birthdays are widely celebrated in the Netherlands and there are some interesting customs to come to terms with. First when your child has a birthday, you will be congratulated and handshake and the obligatory three kisses. You are also required to supply (depending on your inclination and budget) at least cake and a small gift for all the children in the class of your child. By the same token your children will continually come home with party packs containing all sorts of items, mainly centering sweets or candies and pens, notebooks etc. It is possible to keep the cost down with a little imagination and legwork - Euroland, Kruidvat, Hema and any of the one euro shops are a good place to start for multi pack items.
If you are wanting to have a party for your little one, you can hold it at a number of venue, or in your home.
Baloria will host a party complete with face-painting, snacks (usual fries, kaas soufle, croquetten, bitterballen) and use of the facilities for a small cost of under €10/person and an entertainment person.
If you would like to host a themed party at your home, then Jottumkinderfeesten is a cost-effective option.
Jottumkinderfeesten
website: www.jottumkinderfeesten.nl
Jottum host parties for children in the age range of 4-8 years of age. The set price (you choose which type of party you will have) includes a host to entertain (craft, singing, games etc) for the event time, they will also decorate the theme in the place you have selected. You can also hire a party kit from them to do it yourself. See the website for prices, themes and how to contact them.
Plaswijck Park
Plaswijck will organise your birthday party, either outdoor or indoor, the party centrum has been demolished to make way for a new waterpark.
Villa Zebra Kinderkunsthall/Museum
website: www.villazebra.nl
Stiektjesstraat 21, Kop van Zuid (south of river)
Will host children's parties around a theme, children can do a craft activity during the party time.
Pannenkoekenboot
website: www.pannenkoekenboot.nl
Parkhaven, 3016GM, Rotterdam
Three hour cruise with pancakes on the menu, buffet style. There is an onboard ball-pit for the kids to play.
