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October brings the autumn break, pumpkins and Halloween, plus plenty of indoor culture for rainy days. Cinekid turns 40 in Amsterdam, Weekend van de Wetenschap opens labs, museums and universities across the country for free, the Nationale Kindertheaterweek fills around 100 theatres, and the Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk and Van Gogh Museum are free for everyone under 18.
This free seven-page guide brings together 28 family events across the Netherlands, with dates, areas, age ranges and a short note on why each one is good for kids. It also lists the key dates of the month, including the autumn break for each region, and ends with a printable checklist for children to work through during October.
A peek at what you'll get
A peek inside the free October events guide.
Frequently asked
When is the autumn break (herfstvakantie) in 2026?
Region North, including Amsterdam and all of Noord-Holland, is off 10–18 October. Regions Middle and South (Utrecht, Zuid-Holland, Brabant, Limburg and Zeeland) are off 17–25 October. These are advisory dates, so check your school’s calendar.
Which Amsterdam museums are free for children?
The Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum and Van Gogh Museum are free for everyone under 18. During the Amsterdam autumn break (10–18 October) the Stedelijk runs a Kids Festival and the Van Gogh Museum has a holiday programme with treasure hunts and drawing and painting workshops.
Are there Halloween events for younger children?
Yes. The guide includes daytime Halloween Days at Toverland (3+ by day), Happy Halloween at De Waarbeek (ages 3–10), a Halloween party at OCCII in Amsterdam (ages 3–10) and a pumpkin weekend at Pluktuin Amstelveen on 31 October and 1 November (2+). Evening events such as Walibi’s Fright Nights are for teens.
When were the dates in the guide checked?
All dates were checked on 25 September 2026. Plans can change, so check the organiser’s website before you go.
