While popular opinion may have you thinking that Amsterdam is filled with hookers and drug addicts, this is a grossly incorrect perception. Prostitution and drug sales in Amsterdam are limited to only the Red Light District. While someone could take drugs and leave the district, the only legal drugs in the city are marijuana and hashish, which means drug users tend to be at ease and quiet. In fact, the city's strict rules about alcohol use mean that there are fewer drunks in the streets here than in many other European cities, making the city very child-friendly.
Amsterdam has some of the greatest art museums in Europe. The Van Gogh Museum has the largest collection of artworks from the famed Dutch artist and can give visitors an interesting look at his progress throughout his life (see Resources).
The Rijksmuseum has a fantastic collection of other Dutch painters, the most famous of which would likely be Rembrandt. This art museum also gives visitors an interesting look at Dutch history throughout the ages, making it an educational and enriching stop for young visitors.
During World War II, Germany invaded Amsterdam and deported the majority of the city's Jewish population to concentration camps. Anne Frank's family was one of the many Jewish families who hid from the Germans in order to escape this persecution. The house where Anne Frank and her family were sheltered is now a museum open for tours to allow children to understand the history of WW II. The original diary she wrote is still on display and is the museum's most valuable artifact (see Resources).
The Science Center Nemo is a massive, multilingual science museum located right near the Central Train Station. Everything within the museum was made for children to play with, and the staff encourages hands-on learning experiences. Exhibits are built to educate and entertain kids of all ages, and even babies will enjoy the bubble-blowing exhibit (see Resources).
