days out, tried and tested
In the Netherlands, open water and open country are never far away. Fourteen places are listed here: IJburg Beach on Amsterdam's tram line, the Gardens of West and the Heemtuin in Sloterpark for a short walk, the Oostvaardersplassen at Lelystad for wild horses and deer, an adventure forest nearby, a kabouterpad — gnome trail — through the Beemster arboretum, and North Sea sand at Callantsoog. Five are in Amsterdam and two each in Lelystad and Callantsoog. Three cost nothing, nine are buggy and wheelchair friendly, and four have free parking.
14 beaches/nature in the Netherlands
Every town with something in this category has its own page. The number is what is listed there today.
Yes. IJburg Beach in Amsterdam is at the end of tram 26 and has shallow, calm water, which suits small children better than the North Sea does. The Gardens of West and Sloterpark are on public transport too. For proper North Sea sand and dunes at Callantsoog, plan on a train and a bus, or a car.
A gnome trail: a short marked walk, usually a kilometre or two, with carved figures, doors in tree trunks and small tasks along the way, aimed at children of about three to seven. The one at the Beemster arboretum in Zuidoostbeemster is listed here, along with a barefoot trail in Bovenkarspel that works on the same principle with more mud.
Nine of the fourteen are tagged wheelchair accessible, which is the honest proxy for buggy-friendly. The city nature gardens and IJburg Beach are fine; the adventure forest, the barefoot trail and the dunes are not — a carrier is the better plan there. Four have free parking if you are driving.
