A vacation in the province of Overijssel with kids is definitely a good option! There are a number of family-friendly cities in the province, a number of fun amusement parks available for kids, and some beautiful natural areas in the region. We visited the province several times and based on our visits to Overijssel, we list the best activities in the province of Overijssel with kids!
Overijssel with kids: fun cities
You can visit a number of fun places in Overijssel with kids. We list the best three places below.
#1 Zwolle: A city trip to the capital of Overijssel is highly recommended. The city has a fun day out for families with kids with Dinoland Zwolle, and a visit to the cozy city center is also fun to do. You can climb the Pepperbust Tower here for a nice view of the city, and there are some nice parks with playground equipment to visit in the Zwolle area. We wrote about the city on the blog Zwolle with kids.
#2 Deventer: A day trip to this city is also definitely fun! Deventer also has a nice city center with the cozy square the Brink as its focal point. Again, you have a tower you can climb for a great view of the city, and it’s definitely fun to visit the toy museum downtown. It is also possible to do a scavenger hunt through the city and take a boat to see the city from the water. We wrote about the city the blog Deventer with kids.
#3 Giethoorn: this village is one of the most visited places in the Netherlands by tourists because of the many waterways and bridges that are in the village. The village is also called the Venice of the Netherlands, and especially in the summer, the village can be quite crowded. The most fun activity you can do here with your kids is to rent a boat and take a nice tour of the village and the nature reserve. In addition, there is quite a lot of nature around the village and you can rent bicycles in the village. We wrote the blog Giethoorn with kids as a result of our various visits to the village .
Overijssel with kids: amusement parks
You can take kids to some really fun amusement parks in Overijssel and we list the best ones below.
#4 Dinoland Zwolle: This large play park is all about Dinos. There is plenty to do here for kids. For example, there is a large playground where kids can play and a variety of playground equipment throughout the park. Kids can also get creative with clay, beads and craft supplies in several areas. You can also play miniature golf, laser tag and run a course in the climbing park at the park. There is also an area where kids can search for “gold” in the sand. We found it a very nice park and had a great time for a whole afternoon. We wrote the blog Dinoland Zwolle with kids about it.
#5 Amusement Park Hellendoorn: this amusement park focuses on young children, but it also has a few attractions that are fun for older kids as well. For example, there are some attractions that only kids under 1.20 meters are allowed to enter, such as the little train, the airplanes, the swans and the mini Ferris wheel. On the other hand, you also have some attractions where the minimum height is 1.20 meters such as two different roller coasters, the Dragon’s Nest and Tarantula Magica. In total, there are thirty different attractions that you can enter and there are also a number of shows that you can visit in the amusement park. The park also has a separate section for young kids called Toddler Land.
#6 Amusement Park Slagharen: this is another amusement park that you can visit in the province of Overijssel with kids and again they have more than 30 different attractions. Here they have some more attractions for even older kids, with most attractions having a length restriction. So be sure to check the website in advance to see which attractions your kids are all allowed in. In addition to this amusement park, Slagharen also has a very cool water park: Aqua Mexicana.
#7 Attractiepark Waarbeek: This is an amusement park with an all-inclusive principle. That is, the park entrance fee includes food and drink. This amusement park also focuses on young kids and it is actually a large playground that also includes various attractions such as the bumper cars, the carousel, a little train and the caterpillar. The park is not super large, but with small kids this is also manageable and nice.
Overijssel with kids: Nature
There are also a few places in Overijssel where you can get out into nature with kids. We list the most beautiful natural areas below.
#8 Nature Park Weerribben- Wieden: this beautiful nature reserve is located near Giethoorn and from Giethoorn this area is easy to explore. A good option for exploring the area is by bicycle. We rented bikes ourselves from Giethoorn and biked a tour of about two hours through the area. Just click on the blue heading here in the text for the link to the various bicycle routes you can take through the area. There is also a fun walking route of about 4.5 kilometers to the watchtower the Woldberg, and for small kids there is a gnome trail to walk from outdoor center Weerribben in Ossenzijl.
#9 Sallandse Heuvelrug: There is plenty to do in this nature park for families with kids. You can take several walks here and you also have several play forests in this park. For example, at the outdoor center of the nature reserve you will find play forest Sallandse Heuvelrug. Buy an activity booklet at the outdoor center and follow the squirrels with Jonas the Squirrel. You’ll also find play nature by Oerr in the nature park. The (play) forest of Daantje Das is a play and learning forest belonging to Nature Museum Holterberg. Tickets to this forest can be purchased online and kids can do all kinds of nature tasks in the forest.
#10 Sand drift the Sahara: this is a nature reserve consisting mainly (how could it be otherwise ;)) of sand. We always find that especially with our daughter a great place to play or have a picnic. The nature reserve can be found near the town of Ommen. You get to the area if you follow Beerzeweg by car from Ommen and then go along the railroad tracks and take the exit to Eerderveldweg. There are two parking lots here, where you will also find extensive information about the area and hiking trails.
Overijssel with kids: other activities
You can do much more in the province of Overijssel with kids than the above activities. We list the other activities in Overijssel with kids below.
#11 Preston Palace: most families who go to this indoor location in Almelo book it for a weekend or a few days. Preston Palace works with an all-inclusive formula and inside you can do all kinds of activities with the family. For example, there is a tropical water park, a carnival, a movie theater, a miniature golf course and a cinema, which means you don’t have to leave the resort for an entire weekend. In addition, there are plenty of catering facilities at Preston Palace where you can grab a bite to eat and a drink with your family.
#12 Museum Factory: This museum in Enschede focuses on science, nature and technology and you will also encounter many different stuffed animals. Kids can learn things about nature here. There is also an area (Makerspace) where kids can work with materials and do their own crafts.
#13 Klimbos Rutbeek: we love the climbing forest and you have plenty of choice in the province of Overijssel with kids. Klimbos Rutbeek in Enschede has a low course and a high course. The low course is for kids ages 6 to 8 and the high course is for kids ages nine and up. You can spend between 1.5 and 2 hours climbing at this climbing forest.
#14 Klimbos Paasloo: near the Weerribben National Park is this climbing forest. The climbing forest has a total of four different courses. Kids as young as 1.30 meters can climb among the trees here for two hours. For kids who are smaller than 1.30 meters, the climbing forest has a small course that is down to the ground, where they can still do a little climbing. It is freely accessible to kids even when the climbing forest is closed.
#15 Klimbos Avatarz: the third climbing forest you can do with kids in Overijssel is in Deurningen. Again, they have two different courses for two different audiences. The low course is for kids ages six through eight and the high course for kids ages nine and up. For these kids, there are a total of six courses they can climb with about 14 to 15 obstacles on each course. These climbing forests are also challenging for parents to climb with the kids.
#16 Playground De Flierefluiter: this play farm is found in Raalte and you have both indoor and outdoor playgrounds here. There is also a go-kart track for small kids, a survival course, a cable car, several slides and a high play tower. There is also a petting zoo here, where kids can take a ride on a pony, for example. In the summer months, kids here can also take a dip in the pool located near the playground. There is also plenty of catering facilities here, so you can also enjoy sitting on the indoor or outdoor terrace for a snack or drink.
#17 Toy Museum Deventer: in the center of Deventer, you can admire the largest toy collection in the Netherlands in two monumental buildings. Kids can dress up in the museum and play games here. It’s not an activity that will keep you entertained for a whole day, but you’ll soon be inside the museum for an hour or two.
#18 Engineering Museum Oyfo: In this museum located just over fifteen minutes by car from the town of Hengelo, kids can discover many things. They do this through various interactive games they can play, and kids are allowed to touch everything in the museum. For example, they can generate energy on a bicycle to get the television on.
Overijssel with kids: where to sleep?
You can have great accommodation in the province of Overijssel with kids in the different cities. We list the best options from the province’s nicest cities.
Zwolle:
Budget hotel: Mercure Hotel Zwolle
Mid-range hotel: Hotel Oldenburg
Luxury hotel: Separate! Food & Drinks Apartments
For the entire list of hotels in Zwolle, take a look here.
Deventer:
Budget: Shanti B&B
Mid-range hotel: Hotel De Vischpoorte on the river IJssel
Luxury Hotel: Hotel in the house of Deventer
For the entire list of hotels in Deventer, take a look here.
Giethoorn:
Budget hotel: Hotel B&B d’Olde Smidse
Mid-range hotel: Chalet 15
Luxury hotel: Hotel Giethoorn
For the entire list of hotels in Giethoorn, take a look here.
