Fantastic Park for little kids!…read more This park is great! We visited Amsterdam with our 7 year old son, and we saw a lot of history and culture. It was good to go to Amstelpark on a warm day and do all the little kid things. We biked to and through the park. We splashed in the big wadding pool, rode the small train through the park, tried to go to the petting zoo but it closes at 3pm (but we still saw some animals), my son played in the playgrounds, and rode on the little rides. He was so happy. (I would say 7 or 8 years old would be the oldest ages that would really enjoy this. Ideal for 3-6 year olds).

Absolutely beautiful park in the south corner of Amsterdam. Plenty of things to do for the kids as…read morewell as the adults. The zoo section is super fun alpacas, ponies, wombats and more. The year round jungle gym is great for the active ones too In the summer the kids park opens up where they have bumper cars, remote control boats, and lots of other fun things to play with.

Beautiful green space in Amsterdam just a 1/2 block from our hotel, where people can get away from…read morecityscape to nature, on foot, on their bikes, with their dogs. We saw an extensive wooden play structure with rope bridges, ladders, high and low structures, at least 200 feet long! Our daughters would've loved playing on it! Walking paths everywhere, lots of bodies of water with ducks, grassy areas for picnicking and playing frisbee and flying kites!

Vondelpark is the kind of place that looks serene in postcards but, in reality, always feels like…read moreit's one minor incident away from becoming a nature documentary about urban survival. It's beautiful -- genuinely -- but it's also the busiest park in Amsterdam, which means you're sharing the paths with walkers, runners, cyclists, skaters, dogs, children, musicians, and at least three people who have decided today is the day they learn to ride a bike for the first time. Chaos, but charming chaos. The main paths are wide, but that doesn't stop near‑misses from happening every few minutes. You learn quickly that eye contact is optional and braking is a luxury. Still, there's something undeniably lively about it: the energy, the noise, the constant movement. It's the opposite of remote -- you're never alone, even when you wish you were. Find a quieter corner and the park shows its softer side. Lakes, trees, open lawns, and the occasional heron staring at you like it knows something you don't. It's peaceful, but with that faint undertone of "someone is definitely smoking something nearby." Classic Amsterdam ambiance. And unlike the more feral parks on the city's edges, Vondelpark keeps its surprises relatively tame. No cows. No sanctioned adult zones tucked into the woods. Just people, lots of them, all doing their best to coexist without turning the place into a full‑contact sport. If you're staying nearby or just passing through the Oud‑West or Museum Quarter, it's an easy place to wander, sit, decompress, or people‑watch. Just know that "peaceful" here means "peaceful... with witnesses."

I am a fan of skating at Museumplein ice rink, which is near the Rijkmuseum and Van Gogh Museum,…read moreit's just the ideal size for me as a beginner skater. I was petrified the first time I put on skates here. I sadly came to a conclusion that I would not be the next Debi Thomas in ice skates. However, I do hope to use this ice rink on a regular base, so I can improve my ice skating skills. Ice skating at the Museumplein is one thing you can add to your list for things to do in Amsterdam. From December to February the public rink is available, skating is the best way to make the most of the winter here. Head to skate if you have your own ice skates or rent a pair for a small fee. You will see a number of locals and visitors enjoying the ice skating rink on Museumplein. What's so lovely about skating here is that local vendors come out and serve hot chocolate, mini Dutch pancakes, and olliebollen ( doughnuts).

Terrible purchasing process. Bought tickets for the silent disco and when I arrived they told me…read morethat the skating time is sold separate. Now the skate time is sold out and it is an extra charge, of course. They really should sell the tickets with everything included. When you buy tickets to an event, you don't usually buy separate tickets to be able to be inside the building.

Super fun! We had a small group as the last tour of the day and got a full what felt like a…read morepersonal experience. This was my second time experiencing this and would definitely do it again next trip.

Having been to the london dungeon, i had a few hours to kill so thought i would visit a few…read moreattractions in 'dam. My advise first off is to get a ticket from a nearby newsagent/ ticket shop where for (if i remember EUR18 for a ticket to bo the the dungeon and tussards wax museum. I think each venue charge EUR26 each! Its funny how both london and 'dam are similar - basically its the same sort of layout etc.. except instead of a sweeny todd scene, you have a famous dutch 'nutter' scene. If your a kid, youll be scared, if your 27(me) youll be entertained. The rollercoaster at teh end was great! Video link: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=eBFojzpWd4c

Nice municipal pool. Safe and secure. Lane swimming, but sometimes crowded. When we went, there…read morewere two sections, one roped for 25m swim lanes, and these were crowded, and another more shallow area. There's also jacuzzi-like tubs, and steam rooms, both coin-operated and inexpensive. Has showers. Reasonably warm water. Changing stalls available. Very inexpensive, and located next to the Rijksmuseum.

this place is the next best thing to swimming in the wild blue warm ocean or an outdoor swimming…read morepool. not only is it a gorgeous swimming pool, the place is very clean, well maintained and the water isn't cold. there's even a diving board to jump off of! there are set lanes for lap swimming and a section of the pool for fooling around with the kids. also a nice fountain you can sit under and do your stretches. 3.50 entrance and you can buy tokens for the steam shower or the mini personalized hot tubs (ie: personal bathtub..haha) after your swim. i always buy a token for the steam shower which is 2.50 i believe? my reward for swimming laps :) oh one last thing... no need to bring a lock for the lockers. they have a digital system that's free and allows you to have your own private locker.

Great gym overall. I don't speak Dutch but the staff all speak English and are friendly and…read morehelpful. Because I am a highly experienced climber they even asked my opinion on what grade to give a few new routes that had not yet been rated. I felt right at home.

From the outside, Klimhal looks a little bit like a cathedral. All hail. This is easily the best…read moreindoor climbing gym I have ever seen. I thought Klimmuur Centraal was good because of the espresso bar. Well Klimhal will see your espresso bar and raise you beer on tap. The only thing better than the 55' walls inside are the 55' walls outside. Yes, outside. And the huge and numerous LEED routes. And the biggest inside/outside bouldering area I have ever seen. And all the exercise equipment you might need. And roomy locker rooms, an oversight at most climbing gyms. And on and on and on.... If you're into climbing, put aside 2-4 hours to check this place out. You will feel like you found religion.

Wow, I've never had so much fun in my life! That is not a true statement, but it is certainly the…read morecase for this year. The name Fun Forest is a good one: you will have fun! This is not something for people with vertigo, or the faint of heart, as even the easiest courses are taking place high up in the sky, between the green leafs of some wonderful trees. Also, it's a good thing if you are reasonably fit... Before the start, you are asked to fill out a form with your personal details, and you need to put your signature there as well... I guess by doing that you are ok with the small print. After a short introduction to the gear and how to use it, you are sent off into the sky. There are 9 courses to choose from, ranging from easy to hard. My personal favorites were 8 and 9... the rest seemed too easy (but can be used to get used to how everything works) I am writing this "the day after", and 2 things I notice: I still have a big grin on my face, that's how much fun it was! And I feel every muscle in my body... seriously! So I need to give 5 stars. This is something you need to do with your friends or colleagues! Check their website, they are always busy, so you need to make a reservation ahead of time. [update, a few days later]My arms are still sore. And I still have a huge grin on my face. Seriously. If you like fun, you need to do this. Period! Oh, and bring gloves (like the gloves you would use with fitness)... ropes and cables baby! Oh, and for the ladies: schedule your manicure the day after... not before :)

Let me start out by saying that this is my first escape the room experience. I have never played it…read moreonline, or in person. With that said, I did not have any set expectations for this, but -- oh boy, am I hooked! I absolutely loved my experience here at Claustrophobia! Our host was very pleasant and informative. The game itself was amazing, fun and challenging. I'm pleasantly surprised by how much fun I had --- after overcoming my fear of the creepy room, LOL. Overall, I would totally do this again!

Claustrophobia's Arcade room has been so far, the best escape room I've ever completed, hands down,…read moreno competition. Since my first experience of the Arcade room almost one year ago, I have completed escape rooms around the world that try to hold a light to the Arcade room. Nothing has come close. After every other hour long puzzle, I ALWAYS think back to this experience, and I ALWAYS say to myself "The one in Amsterdam was better." Immersion: The Arcade room nails this. It mixes the perfect amount of ambiance and downright creepiness. I was on edge the entire time. Something just didn't seem right about the room, and I say that in the absolute best possible way. The room's mostly dark, lit only by ambient lights, which strategically turn on to guide players towards what's important and navigating them away from what's not, while still allowing a good degree of freedom. Automation: After completing escape rooms across Europe and America, I can say HANDS DOWN that the Arcade room has the most ambitious, creative, nuanced implementation of automation that I've ever seen. Whereas other escape rooms have cracks around their hidden doors, exposing what would have otherwise been a fun surprise, secret doors open out of nowhere in the Arcade room, triggered by completely unexpected events. Creativity: The puzzles are by far the most clever that I've ever experienced, ranging from completing a homebrew arcade game that is seamlessly embedded into the experience, to fiddling with seemingly vintage, analog devices that connect intricately with each other through the use of sensors and hidden wires. Locks and keys were only used once, if my memory serves correctly, and that is the way it should be. I cannot give enough praise to the set designer. Joy: Completing each puzzle felt like an accomplishment. They were hard, they always required us to think outside of the box. I can actually say that only ONE puzzle within the arcade room has been seen in my experience outside of the arcade room. Every other puzzle is completely unique to the room and has not been replicated by any other escape room that I've experienced. The puzzles are entirely unexpected, challenging, and simultaneously evoke memories of childhood times spent at the arcade, chipping in coins hoping to beat a high score. Ambition: The experience starts off small, but each room is more ambitious than the next. The puzzles become larger, the stakes grow higher, and you ask yourself just how the hell did they accomplish that?? The Arcade room puzzles don't solely exist as something laying on a table or floor, but also as entire walls and ceilings. It is an experience like no other. If it were up to me, I would say it is entirely reasonable to travel to Amsterdam just to experience this again. The Arcade room deserves a 5/5. If you are an escape room enthusiast, then you owe it to yourself to give this room a try. If you have never tried an escape room before and find yourself in Amsterdam on any given evening wondering what to do, go here. You won't regret it. For those who come from the Bay Area, it's at least twice as good as the rooms at Palace Games, which rank as one of the top three escape rooms in all of America.