Parenting in Holland

SWIMMING:
Always a fun activity for all ages. Find out where your closest pool is. Get organised, be safe. It’s so much fun.

Play Groups
There are many English playgroups in The Hague area, and ideal for pre-schoolers, au Pairs are welcome. See http://www.passionateparenting.nl/babies-and-toddlers/play-groups.php

PLAY GROUNDS... everywhere
My favourites are Westbroekpark (kapelweg), Cantaloupenburg, Bezuidenhoutse Zip Line forrest playground, Zandvlakte. Arendsdorp nice too. No toilets, unfortunately!!

INDOOR PLAY CENTRES:

1. Kids Playground in Delft: Kleveringweg 35 2616 LZ Delft Tel. 015-2190673 email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
2. Kinderspeelparadijs Ballorig Zoetermeer
   Voorweg 107, 2716 NH Zoetermeer, 079 323 84 63. www.ballorig.nl
3. De Bubbeljungle: Vlasbaan 7
   2352 AH Leiderdorp
   071 589 9 777 (Close to the centre of Leiden) www.bubbeljungle.nl

MADURODAM
Take Bus 22 direction Scheveningen and get off at Madurodam. Great entertainment for ALL ages, with a restuarant and a play area. A lovely pram-friendly place to show kids the cities of Netherlands in Miniture form. Bring some coins to operate the special effects. Quite expensive, but great at least once or twice a year.

OMNIVERSUM:
A spectacular IMAX theatre. Films are enlarged 500 times and projected on a domed screen of 840m2. Combined with the 6-channel digital sound, played by 36 speakers and 4 subwoofers, you are not just watching, you are participating.

Cost: Adults: 7.50 Children 4-11 Eur9.50 Children 0-3 free. Second film is 4.75. Worth watching two in one day for the discount. Package discount with Museon & Madurodam... investigate this. Shows start every hour on the hour from 10am. Open until 10pm on school vacations.

Address: President Kennedylaan 5, Den Haag (close to Statenkwartier)
Telephone: 0900 666 48 37
Website: www.omniversum.nl

MUSEON
This is no ordinary museum. It is an amazing educational achievement, where kids LOVE their learning experience. So many HANDS-on activities, from robots, races to hand driven turbans demonstrating green energy.

Comments: I went with my two little girls, aged 1.5 and 3 years. Despite their age, they were awed by the huge stuffed animals, various sensational displays, games, videos, fishes under the floor, blue lights on the floor (had to keep chasing my 1.5 yr old) and the hand driven turbans (and much more). I was very impressed. It is great for all ages.
Address: Stadhouderslaan 37, 2517 HV The Hague
tel. 070 - 3381338 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Open 11am – 5pm. Closed on Mondays, except school holidays
Costs: Adults Eur7.50, Children 4 – 18: Eur6.00

SEALIFE AQUARIUM

Take the bus / tram to Scheveningen, wonderful aquatic adventure for kids, and adults. Come eyeball to eyeball with Nemo, shrimps and octopi, without getting wet. Always a hit with kids of all ages. Address: SEA LIFE Scheveningen Strandweg 13 (Boulevard) (facing the sea, it is LEFT of the big Kurhaus Hotel)  2586 JK Den Haag Tel: 070-3542100  www.sealifeeurope.com
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Dolfijn Ten Pin Bowling
For kids around 6years and older. Take the bus to Schevening, Kurhaus. Go into the Promenade and follow the signs. Good idea to book an alley ahead of time. Gevers Deynootweg 990-2  2586 BZ SCHEVENINGEN Tel: 070-3543212.

The van Kinderen Museum
The Van Kinderen Museum (Children’s Museum) focuses exclusively on children. This new museum recently opened on Waldeck Pyrmontkade in an old school building. Children are not visitors to this museum, but active participants. They can give their creativity free reign here. Their ideas on art, poetry, science and technology can be brought to life in the museum’s workshop. This museum is about hands on participation. www.hetvankinderenmuseum.nl
Waldeck Pyrmontkade 116, Tram 3 (Elandstraat stop)

Koffie & Kind
For kids 0 – 4 years just in the mornings. Laan van Poot, near Sheveningen Harbours. www.koffieenkind.nl