Micropia, Groote Museum and Rijksmuseum Family Trails in Amsterdam

This guide is for international residents of Amsterdam with school-age children, and for newcomers without kids who want a good indoor plan when the rain sets in. You will learn what Micropia, the ARTIS-Groote Museum and the Rijksmuseum’s family programme offer, what the venues say about prices and times, and how to plan a visit that keeps everyone curious rather than exhausted.

• Why these three work on a wet day
• Micropia: meeting microbes face to face
• ARTIS-Groote Museum: nature through your senses
• The Rijksmuseum’s family trails
• Planning your day
• FAQ

Why these three work on a wet day

Amsterdam rain rarely cancels plans, but it does send the whole city indoors at the same moment. These three museums suit children who are old enough to follow a trail, read a clue or look down a microscope, which makes them a good fit for the primary school years. Micropia and the ARTIS-Groote Museum are both part of ARTIS, so they fit together in one outing. The Rijksmuseum is a bigger day out, but its family offer is designed for exactly this age group.

The two are also linked: Micropia’s site mentions a joint project in which ARTIS and the Rijksmuseum reveal the invisible life on The Night Watch, dated 10 September 2026. Check either site to see what is currently on show.

Micropia: meeting microbes face to face

Micropia describes itself as the world’s only museum about microbes, in the city centre. It is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00, and children up to and including 12 years old get in free. The site says tickets are cheapest online but does not list the standard adult price on its main page, so check its ticket prices section for current rates.

It works for kids because almost everything is hands-on. Highlights include:

• Lab Talks every day at 11:30, 13:30 and 15:30, where you meet the lab technicians who keep the living collection alive.
• The Kiss-o-meter, which shows how many microbes you exchange during a kiss. Expect giggling.
• A microbe stamp card, picked up at the ticket office, which gives younger visitors a mission.
• Microbe of the month, on display for that month only.
• Living microbes under the microscope: the ones on your skin, in your food and in your belly.

Most visitors need around 1 to 1.5 hours, a little more if you join an activity or a Lab Talk. Adults will enjoy the sections on your own microbiome and on how microbes are involved in everything from making cheese to cleaning up plastic waste. If you are going without children, the late afternoon offer is worth knowing: on weekdays from 16:00, entry is €9.

ARTIS-Groote Museum: nature through your senses

The Groote Museum calls itself the interactive nature museum of Amsterdam. Its idea is that humans, animals, plants and microbes share one ecosystem, and you explore that by feeling, tasting, hearing, smelling and seeing. Children tend to latch on to the surprising facts: that the trees on your street communicate with each other, or that as a baby you moved in the same way as a crocodile. You can also listen to glaciers collapsing and smell scents that bring back memories.

The building is part of the story. It was built between 1850 and 1855 for members of the Natura Artis Magistra Zoological Society, closed in 1947, and has since been completely renovated and restored. You walk on the same wooden floors, in what the museum calls the oldest museum halls of Amsterdam.

• For children: the Connectors, staff who welcome you and share stories, and short workshops the museum calls meet-ups, which range from a game to a lecture or an experiment.
• For older kids with phones: the Eye-catcher, an app-based tour through every area of the museum.
• For adults: three audio tours narrated by actress Monic Hendrickx, artworks about our role in nature, and the Studio ARTIS exhibition.

One practical note: the museum says part of the building is currently not wheelchair accessible because of a broken lift. The page does not list prices or opening hours, so check the ARTIS site for current details.

The Rijksmuseum’s family trails

For many international families, the headline is simple: entry is free for everyone aged 18 and under, and adults pay €25. The museum describes 8,000 treasures, from an aeroplane and a dollhouse to The Night Watch and hundreds of weapons and ship models. For current opening hours, see the practical information on the museum’s site.

A collection that size needs a plan for children, and the museum gives you several options:

• The Family Route booklet, from the info desk, gives you challenges to do together as you go.
• The Family Quest lets you explore on your own while you work out mysterious secrets.
• A family guided tour covers the best of the museum.
• Workshops, interactive tours and theatre are listed in the agenda, and the page highlights free programmes.
• The Picknick is open at weekends for getting creative.

You can order a kids’ meal in the café or get a kids box at The Café, which the museum says is full of surprises. The practical information page explains how strollers, breastfeeding and nappy changing work in the building. If you sign up for the newsletter, you also get activities to do at home, which helps on the next grey Sunday.

Planning your day

The easiest rainy-day pairing is Micropia and the Groote Museum, as both belong to ARTIS. Micropia can be visited on its own ticket, and combination tickets are available if you want to see more of ARTIS. Book online for the best price.

If your children are on the younger side, save the Rijksmuseum for another day. With a booklet or the Family Quest in hand, it feels like a game rather than a long walk past paintings.

FAQ

Do children pay to enter Micropia?

No, children up to and including 12 years old visit Micropia for free. Micropia describes itself as an interactive museum for curious visitors of all ages, with microscopes, interactive exhibits and activities throughout.

Do I need an ARTIS zoo ticket to visit Micropia?

No. You can visit ARTIS-Micropia separately with a Micropia ticket. If you want to see more of ARTIS on the same day, combination tickets are available, and booking online gives the best price.

How much does the Rijksmuseum cost for a family?

Entry is free for everyone aged 18 and under, and adults pay €25. The family page also highlights free programmes, and you can pick up a Family Route booklet at the info desk.

Is the ARTIS-Groote Museum wheelchair accessible?

Not fully at the moment. The museum states that part of the building is currently not wheelchair accessible because of a broken lift. Check the ARTIS site before your visit for the latest situation, along with current prices and opening hours.

Official sources: micropia.nl · artis.nl · rijksmuseum.nl

Last checked: 27 October 2026 against the pages linked above. Prices, opening hours and programmes change; the venue’s own site always has the current details.