Amsterdam and Haarlem with a Baby: Canal Boats, Bikes and Easy Days
The last leg of our five weeks in Europe with a baby: staying in Haarlem, a canal boat day in Amsterdam, De Hallen food hall, the bike paths toward Overveen, and why Haarlem is a great base with a baby.
After four and a half weeks of moving around, we ended the trip somewhere easy. We based ourselves in Haarlem, a smaller, calmer city just outside Amsterdam, and went into Amsterdam for the fun stuff. It was the right call with a baby.
This is the last part of our 5 weeks in Europe with a baby series. Andi was five months old.
- Route
- Ljubljana → fly to Amsterdam → Haarlem base, with days in Amsterdam
- How long
- 5 days
- Who came
- Colin, me and Andi (5 months). Friends joined us on the canals.
- Getting around
- Walking, bikes, and the quick train between Haarlem and Amsterdam
- Best for
- An easy last stop. Flat, walkable and very baby friendly.
Why we stayed in Haarlem
Haarlem is a short train ride from Amsterdam and feels like a different world: quieter streets, a big market square, and a windmill on the river that we walked to on our first evening. With a baby, having a calm home base and an apartment with room to spread out made the last week of a long trip feel restful instead of rushed.
A canal boat day in Amsterdam
The highlight of the Netherlands was a day on the canals in a small boat with friends. We cruised the Prinsengracht and the quieter canals out east, with Andi on our laps in her sun hat, and stopped whenever we felt like it. If you only do one thing in Amsterdam with a baby, do this.
Walking Amsterdam
The rest of our Amsterdam time was walking the canal rings, crossing a hundred little bridges, and eating at De Hallen, a food hall in a converted tram depot that is perfect with a baby. It’s loud enough that nobody notices a fussy one, and everyone can get what they want.
A word on strollers: Amsterdam’s sidewalks are narrow and there are bikes everywhere. The carrier was easier than the stroller in the center, and we always looked both ways for bikes, not cars.
Bike paths toward the dunes
One afternoon back in Haarlem we headed out on the bike paths toward Overveen and the dunes near the coast. The Netherlands’ bike paths are flat, separated from cars, and lined with trees, which makes it the easiest place in the world to get out on two wheels.
Amsterdam and Haarlem with a baby: what worked
- Stay in Haarlem. It’s calmer and roomier, and Amsterdam is a short train ride away.
- Book a canal boat. It’s the most relaxing way to see the city with a baby.
- Carrier in the center, stroller in Haarlem.
- Food halls are your friend. Loud, casual and quick.
- End a long trip somewhere easy. We were tired, and an easy last week was a gift.
That’s a wrap on Europe
From Amsterdam we flew home to St. Louis on June 22nd, five weeks and eight countries after we left. For the whole route, how we got between countries, and what we packed, read the full itinerary: 5 weeks in Europe with a baby.
