1. Amare

At Spuiplein you’ll find Amare, home to the Residentie Orkest, Nederlands Dans Theater and the Royal Conservatoire. It’s a cultural hub that’s always in motion, with concerts, dance and open programmes in its central hall. During the half term, Amare joins Festival De Betovering – the annual arts festival for children up to 12. There’s plenty happening inside: dance and music performances such as Small, small bird (4+), The day the sun disappeared (6+) and Between us (8+), plus workshops by Team El Jackson and Poernima Dance Company.

Play: Klein, klein Vogeltje
Photo: Michelle Urbiztondo

📍Spuiplein 150
www.amare.nl/nl/festival-de-betovering

2. Mauritshuis

The Mauritshuis is also joining Festival De Betovering. Children can follow Maurits Mouse and The Great Journey, discovering paintings and creating their own treasure chest. Older kids can take part in The Grand Tour workshop, exploring art from English country houses and painting their own holiday landscape. There’s also the Open Art Studio, where kids can get crafty, draw and paint – no booking needed.

The Grand Tour: holiday landscape painting workshop

📍Plein 29
www.mauritshuis.nl/nu-te-doen/voor-kinderen/herfstvakantie-activiteiten

3. Museon-Omniversum

At Museon-Omniversum, it’s all about science and nature. This half term, you can catch Cities of the Future, a film about how cities around the world are coming up with solutions like electric flying cars and solar power from space. Kids aged 6 to 12 can join Minecraft workshops to design a climate-proof city and pitch their ideas. Other activities include designing a floating city and building Lego carts to strengthen Dutch dykes.

Workshop: Design a floating city!

📍Stadhouderslaan 37
www.museon-omniversum.nl/najaar-agenda

4. Binnenhof information centre Renovation

This autumn holiday, the Binnenhof Renovation Information Centre is hosting the exhibition Iemand een reiger besteld?– a culinary journey through 800 years of food and drink history at the Binnenhof. From medieval banquets with herring, pies and yes, even heron, to today’s modern canteen. Kids can listen to a special story and, on 25 October, take a seat at a medieval feast alongside Jacoba van Beieren. Entry is free.

Children discover the information centre Renovation Binnenhof.

📍Place 22
www.denhaag.com/nl/informatiecentrum-binnenhof-renovatie

5. Cultuurfestival De Betovering

Looking for even more ideas? Festival De Betovering brings the city to life for nine days with theatre, dance, music, visual arts and workshops for children aged 0 to 12. Alongside Amare and the Mauritshuis, around 65 other venues are taking part. Check the website for the full programme and plenty of inspiration for a creative autumn holiday.

www.debetovering.nl