Yes, a FULL SCALE replica of Noah’s ark has been built by a Dutch man and now travels around the Netherlands. I saw it in Schagen last year and it’s currently in Amsterdam just a ten minute walk from the train station.
Fun for kids and pretty cool.
http://www.arkvannoach.com/
Reader Recommendation…
2+ hours from Geilenkirchen (but the Cuijk flea market is on the way back if you make it a weekend trip!)
If you haven’t heard of Anton Pieck, then google the name and find some of his pictures. They are fun, whimsical, and purely Dutch, capturing the humor and sentiment in every day life. His watercolors are so beautiful.
The town itself of Hattem is quite charming as well. If you want to make a leisurely weekend of this, it’s entirely possible. http://www.information.ronduithattem.nl/
It’s raining and windy here (really? never) and you have guests in town who don’t want to spend their European vacation in your living room… or may be the kids are just restless and need to get out. Here’s a little something we did on a blustery day not long ago that ended up being really pretty cool.
ThermenmuseumOpen: Tues-Fri 1000-1700; Sat-Sun 1200-1700
Closed: Jan 1, Carnival, and Dec 24, 25, 31
Cost: Adults 5E, Kids 4-12 4E
Background: In the 1940′s, when the war was still raging in this area, a Roman pot was discovered in an empty field as it was being plowed. The area was excavated and an entire Roman bath house was uncovered. Due to lack of funding to properly protect it, it was covered up and not re-excavated until 1977 when it was again uncovered and the current building was built over the top of it to enclose it and protect it. As recently as 2003, more Roman artifacts have been found and they are all housed here.
The Museum: Smallish in size, you can spend a good 2 hours here. There is an introductory movie shown as you enter on the first floor. It is available in English. Also on the 1st floor is a room with the newest Roman finds – currently the sarcophagus found in 2003. The first room upstairs is a large open room that encases the bath house. You’ll walk across on a tall platform. Push the English button and you’ll have a tour of the bathhouse in English that will tell you about how it was made and used. As rooms are described, they are lit up. Past this room is a series of smaller rooms that house all the things found in the area – vases, pottery, jewelery, and other artifacts. It’s very nicely done and interesting. My 4 year old even enjoyed herself.
The iamsterdamcard is like the Museum pass of Paris giving you discounts and free entrance to most of what you would want to see. It also includes free park and ride (the best parking option out there) and a free canal boat tour.
http://www.iamsterdamcard.com/
WARNING: There is a scary area of Madame Taussads. There is a mirror where a man will jump out and warn you that the next area is for ages 12 and older. There are two paths. For younger children or people who do not care to be scared, you’ll take the yellow path. Others can take the scary path. People hidden in that area will actually reach out and touch you or grab you. Both paths lead to the same place, so it is easy for people split up to meet.
The Amsterdam Dungeon
- Historical, scary, and fun, these 1.5 hour tours give you the gruesome history of the torture there and includes amusement park rides as well. (Not suitable for nervous children or kids under 10)
www.theamsterdamdungeon.nl
Amsterdam Historical Museum
Kalverstraat 92
www.ahm.nl
Rates: Adults 7E, Children 6 – 18 3.50E, Under 6 Free
Hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1700; Weekends and national holidays 1100-1700
Closed: 1 Jan, 30 April, 25 December. Close at 1600 on 5, 24, and 31 December,
Anne Frank House
www.annefrank.org
Rates: Adults 7.50E, 10-17 3.50 Euros, Age 9 and below is free.
Hours: March 15 to September 14 daily from 0900-2100, Saturdays from 0900- 2200. In July and August 0900 – 2200; September 15 to March 14 daily from 0900-1900.
Note: My 13 year old really enjoyed her time here and would go back. She said it was really interesting and worth seeing.
Jewish Historical Museum
www.jhm.nl
Rates: Adults 7.50E, Children 13-17 3E (more online)
Hours: Daily 11 a.m.-5 p.m (also 25 and 26 December), 1 January 12 a.m.-5 p.m.
Closed: Jewish New Year (30 September and 1 October 2008) and Yom Kippur (9 October 2008)
National Maritime Museum Amsterdam
www.scheepvaartmuseum.nl
Amsterdam Tulip Museum
http://www.amsterdamtulipmuseum.com/
Prinsengracht 112
Amsterdam
Open Daily: 1000-1800
Nemo
www.e-NEMO.nl
Rates: 3 and under free, all others 11.50 Euro
Hours: Tues-Sunday 1000-1700; Open on Mondays during NL school holidays (Easter and Pinksterdag) and during the school vacation months of June, July, and August.
Closed: 30 April, Christmas, and New Year’s Day
Target age group: 6-16
WARNING: On the third floor of the Nemo, there is a corner with a sign marked for 12 and older. This is a sex area with a place where it shows French kissing with the tongues moving and another area with wooden dolls (not anatomically correct) in different sexual positions, labelled with the name of the position.
Rijks Museum
http://www.rijksmuseum.nl/index.jsp
Open: Every day from 9:00 to 18:00, on Fridays from 9:00 to 20:30
Closed: 1 Jan
Rates: Adults 10E, 18 and under free
Van Gogh Museum
http://www3.vangoghmuseum.nl/vgm/index.jsp
Location: On the Museumplein in Amsterdam between the Rijksmuseum and the Stedelijk Museum. The museum entrance is at Paulus Potterstraat 7.
Rates: Adults: € 10 until 30 june 2008. From 1 July 2008: € 12,50. 13-17 years: € 2.50
0-12 years: free admission
Hours: daily 10.00 to 18.00, Friday 10.00 to 22.00
Closed 1 January
Now I find it.
One of the big things that I’ve missed here is what seems to be a lack of variety and availability of classes for children. Yeah, there’s some dance, music at the school, and riding lessons here and there, but I miss the art, the theater, and the other cultural experiences that we can involve our kids in back home.
The Germans have it – all of it. And, it’s not that far. The glitch is that you have to be a little brave and try to speak a little of the language or get someone to help and, your children may just have to figure things out too. But, what an amazing experience! They’ll have fun, learn, and meet some new kids. Plus, most Germans do know some English and can use it when they have to.
The point? I found a website that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed perusing. You’ll find some treasures in the form of opportunities here.
Also… (and partly what led me here):
On Sunday, March 2 from 1100-1800, there will also be free admission and special activities planned for children at both the Couven Museum and the Internationales Zeitungsmuseum (Newspaper museum).
Couven Museum — Huehnermarkt 17; Aachen
Tel: 0241-432-4421
Web: http://www.couven-museum.de/
IZM Internationales Zeitungsmuseum — Pontstrasse 13; Aachen
Aachen Museums on the Web: www.aachen-museen.de
I’ve heard about this from at least a dozen different people, so while I’ve not been there yet, it has a good reputation for fun when seeing the Koln Dom becomes the “been there, done that” and the “t-shirt” you got your first trip has seen better days. Yes, there is more to do in Cologne than walking around the Dom.
Open:
Tu- Fr 10:00-18:00, Sat-Sun and Holidays 11:00-19:00
Closed Mondays
Preise/Price:
Adult/Erwachsene: € 6,50
Child/Kinder: € 4,-
Don’t neglect Aachen just because it’s close. It is an amazing city, full of history, beautiful architecture, great restaurants, and fantastic shopping.
Aachen is actually very loved among locals – some of whom drive quite a ways to get there. We have friends in Brussels who make quarterly trips to Aachen just to go shopping.
The usual first trip for people is to its historic center with the Rathaus and Dom – which is also where most of the city festivals and markets including the beautiful Christmas market can be found.
Parking: There are many parking garages in the area. We usually park in the Dom parking lot – a small one with a slide (nice for kids). It does fill quickly, but with many parking lots to choose from, you won’t have a problem. Just follow the signs. (See more notes on Dom parking at the end of this entry.)
The Rathaus: Sitting on one entire side of the market square is the Rathaus – the old government building of Aachen. Now you can take tours of it, or enjoy dinner in its cellar at the Ratskeller (you can’t miss the large red horse standing just outside of it). This is fine dining, so you probably don’t want to take the kids and you’ll need to be prepared. $$$$
Really, going into the Rathaus isn’t a “must do.” It’s big and beautiful and walking around it is enough. Entrance is cheap though – 2 Euros for adults and 1 Euro for Students, so if want the view, it will take you just 5 – 10 minutes to see everything. Directly opposite the Rathaus on the other side of the fountain is a great Starbucks (lots of seating, consistent coffee, warmth or air conditioning as needed, and a clean bathroom).
In that square, you’ll also find a Body Shop and a McDonald’s. And, if you want some fabulous Italian food to eat in or take out, you can go to the little place just one block up from the Rathaus (with Starbucks on your right and the Rathaus on your left, walk to the end of the markt square and look for a small sign). The Italian restaurant is small, but they make delicious home-made pastas, so you essentially choose your pasta and your sauce. The food comes quickly.
Walk down the street to the left of the Rathaus to get to the Dom. On that street, you’ll find a lot of small shops including a nice cigar shop, Oil and Vinegar (delicious gourmet food), a jewelry shop, several upscale clothing stores, and Benetton.
When you reach the end, there will be Nobis Printen shop in your left – this is a nice place to taste the local Printen cookies or try another baked treat. They also make sandwiches and had adequate seating for you to stop and enjoy a hot beverage and a snack.
The Dom: To the right is a small square where they have a small market on some days and the front side of the Aachener Dom – a beautiful piece of architectural history and the place from where Charlemagne ruled. Walk around the Dom to the left to find the entrance. Photos are allowed if you pay 2 Euros. Entrance is free. Look up. The mosaics in the Dom are incredible. The entire ceiling is a very detailed mosaic and the designs creep down the walls too. A lot of the tiny tiles sparkle in the lighting. The windows are beautiful and in the front are several large gold carved things. It’s pretty impressive. Charlemagne actually ruled from this cathedral. His throne is there. He’s still buried there. The Dom is in use. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of a baptism or other ceremony in one of the smaller rooms.
The Treasury: When you leave the Dom, walk straight up that street to the gates. To the right is the gift shop. If you turn right just outside the gate and walk about 2 blocks up the street, you’ll find the Treasury of the Cathedral. For a small admittance fee (4E adults), you can see a beautiful collection. It won’t take you long (about 45 minutes), so the kids won’t be miserable.
The Treasury of the Cathedral, the most important north of the Alps, has a intricately carved marble sarcophagus dating from 2nd century A.D. from Rome that once contained Charlemagne. It had a golden bust of Charlemagne, his hunting knife and many other things relating to him. The cross of Lothair is amazing – beautiful gold decorated with stones and pearls and filigree with intricate engravings in gold.
The three reliquaries hold some of Aachen’s old relics. One contains Mary’s belt. And the other two have Christ’s belt and his flogging belt. Every seven years in Aachen (the last one in 2007), there is a great pilgrimage that started in 1349. During the event, the Virgin’s Shrine is opened and 4 more holy relics including Mary’s dress and Christ’s swaddling clothes are displayed for a time. It’s quite an elaborate event.
The Shopping Street: If you have more time, you can go back around to intersection where the Dom and the Nobis Printen shop meet. Now, go left around the printen shop and you’ll run into a seemingly never-ending street of shopping. C&A, H&M, the Galeria (great chocolate selection), Mayersche Books (has a very nice English literature section with new releases), a Foot Locker, and a wonderful “teddy bear” toy store are just a few of the stores you’ll run into. You’ll also run into a lot of cafes and chocolate shops.
Cute alleyway: To the other direction – on the other side of the Rathaus square – you’ll find other small streets with quaint shops and bakeries. One such bakery is the Middelberg Konditerei which has some of the best cake around!
Photos: 1) a bagel/bratwurst vendor who literally “wears” his stand. There is one very thin pole that gives him some support, but the counter space that houses all the food is assembled in a sort of ring that he wears around his waist. 2) The fantastically fast slide at the Dom parking lot where we normally park. When parking and leaving the lot, go down the ally where you’ll see Nanu Nana on the right and a LUSH just across and to the left. Turn right and walk about 2 blocks up the street to the market square. You’ll pass by Sausalito’s too – a Mexican restaurant that has a good reputation with Americans here.
Sausalito’s Aachen
Markt 45-47
52062 Aachen
Tel. 0241.401 94 37
Neanderthal Museum near Dusseldorf
Talstrasse 300
40822 Mettmann
Germany
Tel: (0049) 02104-979797
Email: museum@neanderthal.de
Web: www.neanderthal.de
Admission: Adults — 9 Euro, Children ages 6-16 — 5.50E, group and student rates available
Hours: Tues-Sun 1000-1800; Closed on Mondays except Easter and Whit Monday. Closed also 24, 25, and 31 December.
Review:
“Really interesting. It traces humanity from the Neanderthal (several wax figures on display) through the twenty-first century. Really gives you a sense of the damage we’re doing to the planet, but also helps you realize how far we’ve come from such a sparse civilization – there’s a great display that shows “modern man” as nothing more than prosthetic limbs, false teeth, pace maker and pills! The headphones are free and interactive audio stations are in English and German. There is a small gift shop also. Across the street are a couple of cafes and there’s also a walking trail. Kids can have their birthdays there (6 and older) and the museum also offers workshops – check the website for info. Staff speaks English. A great way to spend an afternoon.”
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