6 reasons why North Brabant is a children's paradise!
Are you going to visit North Brabant with kids in tow? These 6 tips from our Locals will make your visit even more enjoyable. Discover the famed Brabant hospitality, enjoy the many child-friendly hotspots and create unforgettable memories together. Or as we say in North Brabant: the littlest customer is king!
1. Opening the Efteling gates?
Opening the gates to one of the best theme parks in Europe is a dream come true for any child. "Every day one child is allowed to open the Efteling gates! Afterwards you will receive a real certificate, signed by the director. So come extra early!" says Claudia. And our Locals have more tips: “If you are staying at Bosrijk, Efteling Hotel or Het Loonsche Land, then you can go into the park half an hour earlier. Definitely recommended!" says Local Monique. "And if you download the Efteling app, you can see the current waiting times for all the rides." Amusement park Efteling won an award for ‘Best day out in the Netherlands’ in 2019 and is open 365 days a year.
2. 15 African species of animal, in one place!
Where else than in Safaripark Beekse Bergen can you experience this? "Go to the terrace of the Africa village and you won’t believe your eyes!" says Rob. "And if you are staying at the Safari Resort, you can do the same but in the other direction: from the Moto terrace you can look out to the Africa village." Local Florence also has a practical tip: “Do the car safari first. At the beginning of the day it is not so busy and you can see the animals up close in peace and quiet." Discover more at Safari Park Beekse Bergen.
3. From the city... into nature!
What could be more fun than combining a visit to a lively city with a walk through the countryside? The cities in Brabant are surrounded by a number of nature reserves where children can run, climb and play as much as they want. Our Locals’ favourites? The Mast Forest on the outskirts of Breda, The Bossche Broek near 's-Hertogenbosch, the Loon and Drunen Dunes near Heusden and Tilburg, and Fort de Roovere- with its Mozes bridge and Pompejus watchtower - near Bergen op Zoom. Discover more Brabant nature reserves.
4. Child-friendly museums can be found in ...
… North Brabant! Local Vivianne has visited many of them. “The Nature Museum in Tilburg is our favourite. The children love the experiments and discoveries." Also Van Gogh Village Museum in Nuenen and the Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven are very popular with the kids, just like Museum and Castle Helmond (photo): "In the summer there are all kinds of activities in this castle, such as crafts, games, treasure hunts and cooking. And afterwards you can stroll directly into the town centre of Helmond." View more child-friendly museums in North Brabant.
5. "I know! I'm going to be an inventor!"
With Dutch Design Week, Graphic Matters, The Design Museum and numerous other design hotspots, North Brabant is the place to be for design fans. But did you know that North Brabant is also a great place for children to experiment, discover and invent? The Discovery Station (Tilburg) and The Discovery Factory (Eindhoven) are perfect for children between 5 and 14 years old. “It can get quite difficult to come up with a fun activity for children. Here, they can get acquainted with technology in a playful way. Highly recommended," says Local Jacqlien.
6. The most delicious ice cream in North Brabant?
Local Inge does not need to think long about where to get the best ice cream: "My children love going to Heusden. And that’s mostly due to the Heusdens IJshuys. Always a great time!" Local Dion suggests Intermezzo, at the Heuvelring in Tilburg: "More than 75 different types of ice cream. Especially the yoghurt with orange and mango is a must!" Intelligentia ICE in Strijp-S is Local Noud's favourite: "The ice cream here is really amazing.”