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Arrival in the city of canals
The longest leg of the trip comes right at the start; it gets shorter after that.
Parking in Amsterdam is expensive; it's best to leave the car and use the tram or a bike instead.
This is where your trip begins. From Cologne, you'll head north into the Netherlands at a relaxed pace.
Amsterdam's great city park is perfect for stretching your legs after the drive. There are wide lawns, ponds, ducks and a free playground that's popular with children.
See tickets on Tiqets(affiliate link)
2 nights · Mon 03/05 – Wed 05/05
A modern house with family rooms and apartments, well connected to the centre by tram, with its own car park nearby. The courtyard and restaurant are handy for families.
Places to stay that fit
Hotel V Nesplein
hotel · Jordaan, Amsterdam · approx. 180–260 €/night (estimate)
A quiet boutique hotel in the Jordaan, with family-friendly rooms and a central location near canals and museums.
Staycity Aparthotels Amsterdam Centrum
holiday apartment · Centrum, Amsterdam · approx. 160–240 €/night (estimate)
An aparthotel with a kitchen and separate sleeping areas, well suited to families with young children right in the city centre.
Prices are estimates — real availability & price via “Compare & book”. The names are planning suggestions and not checked one by one.
Searches Booking.com around where you stay — dates and party are already filled in.
020 214 9999Booking ahead is often cheaper here
Canals, museums and playgrounds
A full city day with no driving, so everyone can catch their breath.
If you fancy something different, you could plan a visit to Artis Zoo instead of the boat tour.
An interactive science museum in a striking green ship-shaped building, where children can try out experiments for themselves. The rooftop terrace is open to walk on, offers sweeping views over the city, and is free to visit.
Booking ahead is often cheaper here
See tickets on Tiqets(affiliate link)
A relaxed boat tour shows off the prettiest canals and narrow gabled houses from the water. For children, the trip is a welcome breather and a different way of seeing the city.
Roller coasters and the fairytale forest
It pays to arrive early, as the popular rides are still quiet then.
The park is large, so plan a longer lunch break and plenty of drinks.
One of Europe's finest theme parks, with a lovingly designed fairytale forest, gentle rides for little ones and bigger roller coasters for the daring. The park is spacious and green, so you can easily take your time over a whole day.
Booking ahead is often cheaper here
See tickets on Tiqets(affiliate link)
1 night · Wed 05/05
A family-friendly hotel with large rooms, a restaurant and free parking, just a few minutes from Efteling. After a long day at the park, you won't have far to travel.
Places to stay that fit
Fletcher Hotel-Restaurant De Witte Raaf
hotel · Breda-Noord, Breda · approx. 110–160 €/night (estimate)
A quiet Fletcher hotel between Tilburg and Breda, family-friendly with generous rooms and a restaurant.
Bastion Hotel Tilburg
hotel · Tilburg · approx. 90–130 €/night (estimate)
An unfussy chain hotel with family rooms, free parking and good value for money.
Prices are estimates — real availability & price via “Compare & book”. The names are planning suggestions and not checked one by one.
Searches Booking.com around where you stay — dates and party are already filled in.
0161 454 951Booking ahead is often cheaper here
Windmills and modern architecture
Short driving legs, with plenty of time in between for strolling.
The Kubuswoningen (cube houses) are just a few steps from the Markthal and well worth a look.
The 19 historic windmills of Kinderdijk are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and sit picturesquely along the waterways. You can take a gentle stroll by the water, look inside a mill, or take a short boat trip.
Booking ahead is often cheaper here
See tickets on Tiqets(affiliate link)
The spectacular Markthal, with its huge, colourful ceiling artwork, is both a food hall and an architectural highlight. Under the arch you'll find stalls with snacks and fresh treats for a relaxed lunch break.
2 nights · Thu 06/05 – Sat 08/05
A stylish hotel right by the main railway station, central and with a car park nearby. From here you can easily walk to the Markthal and the cube houses.
Places to stay that fit
Aparthotel Adagio Rotterdam Centrum
holiday apartment · Centrum, Rotterdam · approx. 150–220 €/night (estimate)
Apartments with a kitchenette and living area, ideal for families, within walking distance of the Markthal and Erasmus Bridge.
Mainport Design Hotel Rotterdam
hotel · Kop van Zuid, Rotterdam · approx. 160–240 €/night (estimate)
A design hotel right on the water with generous rooms, family rooms available, and a spectacular harbour view.
Prices are estimates — real availability & price via “Compare & book”. The names are planning suggestions and not checked one by one.
Searches Booking.com around where you stay — dates and party are already filled in.
010 810 8100Booking ahead is often cheaper here
Harbour, views and animals
A pure city day with no long drive, ideal for a rest.
If you'd rather stay by the water, you could take a Spido harbour cruise instead of the zoo.
From the 185-metre-high observation tower, you have a sweeping view over the city, the harbour and the Maas. The ride in the glass lift is a real experience for children.
See tickets on Tiqets(affiliate link)
The spacious zoo with its Oceanium, tropical hall and large outdoor enclosures can be explored at a leisurely pace. There's plenty for children to discover and enough space to run around.
Booking ahead is often cheaper here
The Belgian metropolis on the Scheldt
Important: Antwerp has a low-emission zone (LEZ). Register your vehicle online in good time.
It's best to leave the car in the hotel garage and explore the city centre on foot.
The grand main railway station is considered one of the most beautiful in the world and is worth a look inside alone. Right next door lies Antwerp Zoo, in case the children want to see even more animals.
See tickets on Tiqets(affiliate link)
The central market square, with its splendid town hall and guild houses, is the heart of the old town. From the Brabo Fountain, it's just a short walk to the cathedral and the banks of the Scheldt.
See tickets on Tiqets(affiliate link)
1 night · Sat 08/05
A comfortable hotel right by the main railway station, with family rooms and an underground car park. From here you can easily walk to the zoo, the old town and the diamond quarter.
Places to stay that fit
Hotel Indigo Antwerp – City Centre
hotel · Centrum, Antwerpen · approx. 150–220 €/night (estimate)
A boutique hotel in the historic centre, with family-friendly rooms, within walking distance of Grote Markt.
Novotel Antwerp
hotel · Centrum, Antwerpen · approx. 140–200 €/night (estimate)
A Novotel with family rooms and a pool, children up to 16 stay free, and a central location.
Prices are estimates — real availability & price via “Compare & book”. The names are planning suggestions and not checked one by one.
Searches Booking.com around where you stay — dates and party are already filled in.
03 203 12 34Booking ahead is often cheaper here
The Atomium and the capital
Brussels also has a low-emission zone; sort out registration in advance.
There's parking by the Atomium; in the city centre it's better to use a car park.
The enormous Atomium, built for the 1958 World's Fair, is Brussels' landmark and can be explored from the inside. Escalators and lifts take you through the spheres, with a sweeping view over the city waiting at the top.
Booking ahead is often cheaper here
See tickets on Tiqets(affiliate link)
Right next to the Atomium lies the miniature park with hundreds of models of European landmarks. Children love the moving details and the little waterways, as you stroll through a miniature version of Europe.
1 night · Sun 09/05
Apartments with a small kitchenette within walking distance of the Grand-Place, handy for families with children. This way you can cook for yourselves in the evening while still being right in the heart of the city.
Places to stay that fit
Aparthotel Adagio Brussels Grand Place
holiday apartment · Centrum, Brüssel · approx. 150–220 €/night (estimate)
Right on Grand-Place, apartments with a kitchen and living area, very family-friendly and central.
Novotel Brussels Centre – Tour Noire
hotel · Centrum, Brüssel · approx. 140–210 €/night (estimate)
A family-friendly Novotel with family rooms, children eat free, located near Grand Place.
Prices are estimates — real availability & price via “Compare & book”. The names are planning suggestions and not checked one by one.
Searches Booking.com around where you stay — dates and party are already filled in.
02 212 93 00Booking ahead is often cheaper here
Grand-Place and the green border
This leg is at the upper end of your driving allowance for the trip; set off in a relaxed manner in the morning.
Buses, trams and trains are free throughout Luxembourg.
Lined with gold-adorned guild houses, the Grand-Place is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the finest squares in Europe. Nearby stands the famous Manneken Pis, which children love to seek out.
See tickets on WeGoTrip(affiliate link)
Perched on rocks, Luxembourg City's old town offers spectacular views over the Grund district and the valleys. A walk along the Corniche, Europe's finest balcony promenade, is the ideal first impression.
2 nights · Mon 10/05 – Wed 12/05
A central hotel with family rooms and a car park, within walking distance of the old town. After the drive, you'll be back in the middle of things in no time.
Places to stay that fit
Novotel Luxembourg Centre
hotel · Gare, Luxemburg-Stadt · approx. 160–240 €/night (estimate)
A family-friendly Novotel with family rooms and a pool, children up to 16 free, central location.
Aparthotel Adagio Luxembourg Centre
holiday apartment · Gare, Luxemburg-Stadt · approx. 150–220 €/night (estimate)
Apartments with a kitchen near the station, handy for families staying two nights with their own cooking space.
Prices are estimates — real availability & price via “Compare & book”. The names are planning suggestions and not checked one by one.
Searches Booking.com around where you stay — dates and party are already filled in.
24 87 81Booking ahead is often cheaper here
Luxembourg's little Switzerland
Bring sturdy footwear, as the paths are sometimes uneven and rocky.
Choose a short circular walk suited to the children's age.
The Müllerthal region is known as Little Luxembourg Switzerland for its moss-covered rocks and narrow gorges. Family-friendly circular routes, such as the one around Berdorf, pass bizarre rock formations that children can climb and scramble through.
Luxembourg's oldest town, with its charming market square and basilica, lies on the edge of the Müllerthal. By Echternach's lake there's a playground and space to rest after the walk.
Last city and the journey home
The final day has two medium-length legs; set off in the morning so you have plenty of time in Maastricht.
With young children, it's worth building in an extra break between Maastricht and Cologne.
A long leg — plan for breaks.
Maastricht's charming old town, with the broad Vrijthof square and its terraces, invites you to enjoy one last stroll. A highlight is the Boekhandel Dominicanen bookshop, housed in an old church, where children enjoy browsing too.
Return to Cologne and the end of your road trip. After this last short leg, you'll be back home.
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