days out, tried and tested
Some Saturdays the rain decides the plan for you. A binnenspeeltuin is the Dutch answer: a hall full of climbing frames, ball pits and slides, with coffee for whoever is on duty. You will find them all over the Netherlands; ten are listed here so far, nine in Amsterdam and one in Huizen, ranging from the big soft-play paradises to bouldering halls and a laser-game centre. Seven are wheelchair accessible, three have baby changing tables and two serve food and drink on site. Most are busiest between eleven and three at weekends.
12 indoor playgrounds in the Netherlands
Every town with something in this category has its own page. The number is what is listed there today.
Two of the ten listed here serve food and drink on site and two more do coffee, so there is somewhere to sit while the children play. The big soft-play paradises, such as Ballorig at the Amsterdam Arena and at Gaasperplas, run a counter; the climbing halls generally have a bar rather than a kitchen. Each listing states what the venue itself offers.
Entry at a soft-play paradise is usually a flat price per child for the whole day, with adults free or close to it, and socks required. Climbing halls charge per person and often add shoe hire. None of the ten here are free, so it is worth checking the venue page before you set off — every listing links straight through to the venue's own prices.
Several are. Of the ten, two are tagged for babies up to two and three for toddlers from two to four, and most soft-play halls fence off a separate toddler area away from the bigger children. Three have changing tables and three are stroller accessible. Bouldering halls and laser games are the exception — they generally start at four or older.
