I haven't been to the zoo in a very, very long time, and my decision to visit this one was a bit of…read morea surprise. My plane arrived early in the day, so I got to my hotel well before the room was ready. I was able to stash my luggage in the housekeeping area until check-in, but what's to do with myself for five hours? Enter Artis. Located just had a block from my hotel, this was a natural choice. It's probably not exactly what you have in mind when you think of a zoo. Instead, it seems more like a giant, beautifully-maintained park full of gardens that happens to contain animal exhibits, a planetarium, playgrounds, and fun interactive things for kiddos and the young at heart. (I am DELIGHTED that the tulips are still going strong.) As soon as you enter the park, you pass through some absolutely lovely flowerbeds, complete with benches for basking in their beauty. From there, you have your choice: there are so many things to see and do! In addition to the habitats that have multiple layers of fencing (and/or moats, and/or electrical fences, and/or signs warning about sharp beaks, teeth, and claws--I'm looking at you, jaguar and griffin vulture), there are some habitats that let you get up close to the animals, too. There's a lemur zone, where the lemurs lounge in trees just next to the path. There are indoor areas where you can walk right through a primate habitat or bird habitat. There's a butterfly habitat! It's a real treat, and everywhere you go, there are helpful people ready to tell you the funny story about how a bad taxidermy job got the emperor tamirin its name or point out the adorable Pygmy marmoset hanging out right next to you. It really is a wonderful place, ideal for kids and adults, groups and singles, and anyone who loves nature. It's a really nice group of guests--everyone is kind, and people are happy to point out the bird that is hiding behind the bush or the frog that is in that rolled-up leaf, and the youngest guests get super excited when you point out the massive walking stick or the capybara that is taking a nap right next to the fence. I got lots of steps in and enjoyed every minute of it. Absolutely recommend.

Artis Zoo completely surprised me in the best way and ended up being one of my favorite experiences…read morein Amsterdam. From the moment you walk in, it feels less like a typical zoo and more like a beautifully designed park that just happens to be filled with animals. The grounds are stunning, with wide walking paths, old trees, and historic buildings that give it a really unique charm you don't usually get at zoos. The enclosures are thoughtfully done, and you can tell there's a real focus on animal care and creating natural environments. There's a great mix of animals too, from the big, iconic ones to smaller, more unique species that are just as interesting to watch. What really stood out was how peaceful it felt. Even with other visitors around, it never felt chaotic or overcrowded, which made it easy to take your time and actually enjoy each area. It's the kind of place where you can wander for hours without realizing how much time has passed. If you're visiting Amsterdam, I can't recommend Artis enough. It's the perfect mix of relaxing, interesting, and genuinely enjoyable -- whether you're into animals or just want a beautiful place to spend a few hours.

This place is very close to my work ( I work, soon to be worked since I'm going to quit, at a…read moreday-care for autistic children in Amstelveen ). I love Elsenhove and me and the kids go to this place all the time. If you this the scenic route to this place you'll have to go through the woods and meadows to get there, which I love, but of course there is also a road to this place so you can park your bike or car next to the entrance. Everything at this place is so neat, nicely done and lovely. There are clogs at the entrance which you/the kids can use in case you want to wander around through the dirt with the goats. There are different kinds of animals like pigs, cows, goats, donkeys, rabbits, birds, rates, chickens..it's so much fun for the kids to see and pet them. There are fun informational games for the kids in the stables as well. Everything is very clean and there are different spots where you can wash your hands with soap and water. There is also an awesome playground, which was renovated this last winter. It is so much fun and actually kinda big. There are picnic tables where you can sit and relax and watch the kids. The little café next to the playground has drinks and ice-cream, so you can have a coffee while catching some sun. The best; all this awesomeness (except for drinks then) is free. You can leave a donation if you like but it is not expected or anything. I highly recommend visiting this place if you want to do something fun with your kids!

Such a cute place for kids and animal lovers alike. Upon walking in we were greeted with the farm…read morecat who snuggled up with me. Animals were all very friendly and were not afraid to come and have a intimate moment with you. The small cafe had hot drinks and snacks - all reasonably priced and a lovely interior. If you are in the area or looking for something to do with kids then this is a great lace to spend and afternoon!

Really cool petting zoo and good-size park full of exciting outdoor activities, both physical and…read moreeducational. Access costs 7.50 euro for both adults and kids (under 2 years old is free) but if you live nearby a season ticket makes much more sense as it's cheaper after only 3 visits. There are obstacle courses (including one above shallow water), slides, swings, and boats to spend time on the lake. On the nature side, you can watch and pet a range of animals, there are beehives and an "insect hotel", and there are educational displays to learn about different plants. I found it closed a bit early (6 PM during summer time) while it won't get dark till much later. Still I'd highly recommend this place.

Farm with nice indoor playground. Well maintained. Suitable for small kids. Typical play ground…read morefood with dutch specialties like Poffertjes

Loved my time here. Upon entering, you will be lucky if a monkey chooses your presence and sits on…read moreyou! They are all very gentle, although I notice them inclined to dig through strollers the most. There are free bags to use that are monkey proof should you decide to grab one at the entrance. Tickets get cheaper if you buy them later in the day. We bought ours for a 230pm slot, but arrived earlier and had no issues. This makes me wonder if I can buy for the latest time slot, but just come earlier. This park is kid and family friendly- I don't think it's necessary to come at opening hours as you can enjoy what the park has to offer in 3-4 hours. Tickets are cheap too. Very worth it and I really love that the monkeys are free roaming compared to being in caged settings.

We have been to Apenheul before. This time we went with the grand parents and the children a lot…read moreolder. It was still fun. Whether it is the free roaming squirrel monkeys, lemurs or macaques or the lovely displays of bonobos, orangutans or gorillas, the park is entertaining. In addition, there is plenty of catering. An excellent place to visit, with or without children.

Very cute fairytale themed theme park for the little ones 2- 10 (really probably 8) years old. Most…read morerides a 2 year old can go on, some with supervision and some even by themselves. The lady bug boats, carriage ride, pony (no real) rides were all lots of fun. The park train is also lots fun!

SO glad we came here!! We visited The Netherlands for a week and thought this sounded like a fun…read moreplace to take the kids (ages 3 & 5). Boy were we right!! Everything about this place was amazing - so clean and well done, friendly staff, large place, and everything tailored toward small kids. Carousels, little rides like cars & boats, petting zoo with the most mild mannered goats we have ever seen, a massive in-ground trampoline, a train, singing busts (with the best song ever!), and the list goes on and on. We could spent countless hours here and still not get tired. We will definitely be back here again.

This is known as the children's farm and it's kind of hidden. It took us a few extra minutes to…read morefind it than what our GPS described but it's a cute place. This little zoo is free, but I wished there was a donation box, because I would truly try to keep this place running. They had little ponies, pigs, rabbits, goats, sheep, etc. and a playground outside for the kids to play in. Inside had turtles, gerbils, mice, etc. and activities for the kids to play, almost like a museum on the inside. It's a bit outdated but considering it's free, it was still really cute. My kids and I spent about 2 hours here before leaving and it was a great way to have my kids burn off some energy.