Amsterdam | six of the best family-friendly hotels for your next weekend away

Conscious Hotels aim to make their hotels green but fun, to be hip rather than hippy, they make all the eco hotel decisions so you can relax. It feels light and airy – an easy place to be with kids.

After brekkie my two little ones loved running out into the small garden by the dining room to let off steam. The rooms were simple and comfortable, nothing to break or damage, just a lovely sense of humour and imagination. Each door has a message on it, ours said, ‘Behind this door lies your own special kingdom where you make the rules, just say the magic words’ and inside awaited a fabulous forest photo mural. We were also fascinated with the living wall of plants in the foyer.

Max Brown Canal District is the perfect hotel for book lovers, with its much instagrammed book wall and book swap library. The hotel occupies three historical canal side houses, the beds have beautiful patchwork quilts and look out over the canal for a truly cosy, authentic Amsterdam experience.

Families of three, or four with siblings happy to share a sofa bed, could book into an extra large room at Max Brown Canal District. For kids who have outgrown sofa beds, try Max Brown Museum Square for an extra large room with extra beds.

The luxurious Pulitzer is an intricate maze of 25 interconnecting Golden Age canal houses. Quirky family rooms, like the one with a mezzanine floor with the children’s beds, a passport to a bit more rest and relaxation for all. There are garden courtyards to explore and beautiful swing seats,  although I think you’d need to make sure kids knew they were seats not park swings.

Children from four years can join a cruise on the Pulitzer’s own vessels, either joining a group cruise on the 1909 saloon boat “Tourist” with its polished teak and brass, traditional carpeting, marble, leather and beveled glass, or when the weather allows it, Pulitzer’s “Belle”, a 45 year old classic open tender made from teak can also be booked for a private cruise.

With the upmarket Eastern Docklands at the front and access to the city centre at the back, Lloyd is conveniently located at the eastern end of Central Station. What makes this iconic riverside hotel so unique, is that it has 117 rooms in all shapes and sizes to suit any budget. And every room is completely different. For instance, there is one room with a bed that can sleep seven people, one with a hammock, and even one with a swing!

With views over the city and river, its central location and only a twenty minute journey to Schipol, the Movenpick hotel is super convenient.

The hotel does offer a babysitting service, for an extra charge, which might be just the ticket once you’ve worn the kids out! Little ones up to six years eat for free and children of seven to twelve years get a 50% discount. A great way to save the pennies.

Larger families looking to avoid the cost of multiple hotel rooms, or those who like being able to self-cater, would be well-suited to the fun and colourful ID Aparthotel. 

Here you won’t find the usual bland city apartment offering; the apartments are funky and brightly decorated, and most of all, welcoming for kids. With high speed internet to research your activities for the day and a kid-friendly restaurant, these apartments are just as convenient and secure as a hotel – and there is no need to arrange a time to pick up a key either.

Space to lounge, cook and hang out separately will be appreciated by many families. The only catch is the apartments are a little further out, but also only 200m from Amsterdam Sloterdijk Station.

Before I leave you to book and enjoy your family trip to Amsterdam, here are some final tips that should help make this a holiday to remember!