Sint-Maarten Amsterdam with Kids — 10 Things to Do Around 11 November — Free Family Guide

✨Sint-Maarten Amsterdam with Kids — 10 Things to Do Around 11 November

Sint-Maarten is the quiet, neighbourhood-paced antidote to Halloween — children make paper lanterns, walk through their street with battery tea-lights and sing for a mandarin or chocolate coin. Ten picks for families with kids 2 to 10, including lantern workshops, the right walking neighbourhoods, the songs to learn, and a wet-evening backup.

10 curated picks with ages, area and an insider tip.

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What other parents said

"Finally a plan I could actually follow with a 4-year-old and a baby. Saved me three hours of frantic Googling the night before."

— Anouk, Amsterdam, 2 kids

"The insider tips made the difference. Arriving 30 minutes earlier at one stop meant we skipped the whole queue — that never happens with a normal listicle."

— Marco, Barcelona, 3 kids

"Honest about what doesn't work with small children. That alone is worth it. We skipped the spots flagged as 'after 8 years' and had a much smoother day."

— Sarah, London, 1 kid

"The age ranges and neighbourhood notes are the thing. I stopped second-guessing every choice and we actually enjoyed the day."

— Lukas, Berlin, 2 kids

Inside the guide

Every pick comes with the age range, the neighbourhood, and one tip you won't find on a top-10 blog post.

1. Lantern-Making Workshop at NEMO

Ages 4-9

📍 Oosterdok

Insider tip: Workshop free with NEMO entry. Book the 11:00 slot via nemosciencemuseum.nl in late October — sells out.

2. Verzetsmuseum Junior Sint-Maarten Workshop

Ages 6-10

📍 Plantage, Plantage Kerklaan

Insider tip: €18 adult, free under-12. Saturday before Sint-Maarten — combine with the Junior gallery for a half-day.

3. Pijp Neighbourhood Lantern Walk

Ages 3-8

📍 De Pijp, around Sarphatipark

Insider tip: Aim for 18:00–19:30. Bring a backup torch for tea-light failures. Have a few chocolate coins to give other singers.

4. Vondelpark Edge Walk (Helmersbuurt)

Ages 3-8

📍 West / Vondelpark north edge

Insider tip: Stroller-friendly streets. Vondelkerk sometimes runs a 17:30 family vespers with candle procession.

5. Tropenmuseum Family Sint-Maarten Day

Ages 4-10

📍 Oosterpark, Tram 14

Insider tip: Free programme with regular entry (€17.50 adult, free under-19). Arrive at 10:00 opening for the lantern station.

6. Schoollantern Parade in Westerpark

Ages 4-8

📍 Westergasfabriek

Insider tip: Search 'lampionoptocht Westerpark' on Eventbrite in late October. Free, 20-min loop, no doorbells — best for under-7s.

7. Sint-Maartensbrood at Olijfje

Ages all

📍 Bilderdijkstraat & multiple branches

Insider tip: Buy on the morning of the walk, not days ahead — sweet bread is best same-day. Olijfje runs out by 14:00.

8. Children's Songs Practice

Ages all

📍 Wherever you're staying

Insider tip: YouTube 'Sint-Maarten liedjes'. First verse alone is enough. Song attempted in Dutch + English thank-you is perfectly received.

9. TunFun Indoor Backup

Ages 1-8

📍 Centrum, Mr Visserplein

Insider tip: €10 child / €1 adult. Closes 18:30 sharp. Walk-in only. Wet-evening backup if rain blocks the walk.

10. OBA Library Saturday Storytime

Ages 3-7

📍 Oosterdok (next to NEMO)

Insider tip: Free, no booking — show up by 10:45 for the 30-person storytime. Seventh-floor café has the best central view in town.