Between The Hague, Delft and the coast lies The Westland. This area is known for its greenhouses and flowers, but there is also plenty to do for families with kids. From glow-in-the-dark miniature golf to boating, from learning about tomatoes to playing in nature. Westland is perfect for a day trip or weekend getaway with kids. In this blog, we put the best tips for The West Country with kids.
The Westland with kids
#1 Cycling along the Greenhouse Route: educational and tasty
A fun activity in The Westland with the family is the Greenhouse Route. Here you cycle past modern greenhouses where all sorts of things are grown: tomatoes, peppers, orchids, gerberas and more. It’s extra fun with kids, because along the way there are QR codes that teach you through videos and facts how plants grow, how sustainable the greenhouses are and how vegetables get from seed to supermarket.
There are 3 different routes you can bike with kids here in this area. The first route is 35.7 kilometers long and here you cycle past 12 different horticultural companies. You will pass companies that grow flowers, peppers and vegetables, among other things.
The second route is 35.8 kilometers long and here you pass 11 different horticultural farms. The final route is 22.6 kilometers long and here you pass 6 different farms.
Of course, it depends a bit on whether the kids ride their own bikes or if they go on the back with you. Along the way there are stalls everywhere, where you can buy some fruits and vegetables. This is a nice bike route to cycle in the warm summer months in Het Westland with kids. Look online for more information about these 3 different bike routes along the greenhouses.
#2 Glow-in-the-dark mini golf at Van der Ende Racing Inn
A fun place to go with kids in The Westland is Van der Ende Racing Inn in Poeldijk. Here you can do several activities with kids. First, you can go karting here, but this is only for kids 12 years and older and a minimum height of 1.50 meters. So this is really an activity for teenagers and not so much for families with young kids.
The second activity you can do at Van der Ende Racing Inn is glow-in-the-dark mini golf, and this is really an activity you can do with (young) kids. Here you will find an indoor glow-in-the-dark mini golf course all about underwater worlds and space adventures.
The five themed areas (underwater, dinosaurs, space, ice age and action heroes) offer a total of 18 holes. Thanks to special 3D glasses and the glow in the dark effect, it seems as if you really step into the world of the theme! A special way to play a game of miniature golf with the kids.
It is also possible to go laser gaming with kids here and you can also play an escaperoom in an X-Cube room. Here they also have different areas for kids. X-Cube is a room of 16 square meters area with all screens and sound, where you have to try to escape. For more information about the different activities, take a look at Van der Ende Racing Inn’s website.
#3 Water fun at Pavilion de Zweth
Fancy an active day by the water? At Paviljoen de Zweth in Wateringen you can enjoy miniature golf, trampolines, cycling, canoeing and even a scavenger hunt. The grounds are right on the Zweth, a quiet river where you can safely sail or canoe with kids. This is especially a fun activity when the weather is sunny, since you are outside the entire time.
You can rent tandem bikes here, where the kids can ride together with you or a kickbike scooter if you want to be even more active exploring the area. If you don’t feel like being very active, you can also rent an e-chopper.
We have rented an e-chopper several times now with our daughter and we find it a very relaxing way to explore the area. With most e-choppers, the kids can just ride on the back with the parents.
You can also play a game of miniature golf on the grounds of Paviljoen de Zweth in The Westland with kids. They have 15 holes you can play here. You can also go out on the water with kids. If you want to be active then you can rent a 2-person canoe, allowing you and your kid to explore together. If you want to be less active then you can rent an e-sloop and take a lap around the water that way.
#4 Play attic and exploration at the Westlands Museum
The Westlands Museum in Honselersdijk is a fun museum for families with kids. Here you will learn all about the history of The Westland, but in a fun, family-friendly way. For kids, the museum’s play attic is a particular highlight, with old-fashioned toys, dress-up clothes and a store.
Outside there is a museum garden with old vegetables, and in summer you can harvest strawberries or beans here. Inside there is a treasure hunt and during school vacations there are regular children’s workshops, such as painting, crafts or baking. It’s a great place for kids to learn something while playing. It is of course an activity that you as a family must enjoy.
#5 Visit The Seven Holes: nature reserve with picnic spots
You can also get out into nature in Het Westland with kids. Then go to De Zeven Gaten, a beautiful piece of nature near De Lier. This small-scale nature reserve consists of seven elongated lakes where many birds breed and rest. Kids can walk freely along the water, pick flowers or spot ducks and dragonflies.
There are no playgrounds or facilities and that is exactly what makes it a nice place for a quiet walk or a picnic. You can walk a small route of about 2 kilometers and this route is of course very suitable for families with young kids. Don’t forget to bring binoculars to spot the different animals!
#6 Visit The City on a rainy day
At The City Food and Fun, there is also plenty to do for families with kids in The Westland. This center is located in ‘S Gravenlande and you can do as many as 10 different activities here with kids. For example, you can go bowling with the kids here. We ourselves always find this a very fun activity to do with our daughter for an hour. This bowling alley has all kinds of picture and sound effects, making it very spectacular.
It is also possible to go laser gaming, play a game of miniature golf or play a VR game. The latter is especially cool to do with older kids. We have now played several VR games with our daughter and every time it is a success. You can also go karaoke with the whole family here or take a tour in an old car and do a puzzle tour.
They have all kinds of packages at The City that allow you to combine different activities. There is also catering included to entertain you and your family for a whole day here. So this is also a great activity when the weather is not so good in The Westland and you still want to do something with the kids. For more information about all the activities and packages, visit The City’s website.
Other fun activities in The Westland with kids
Besides these above activities you can do with kids in The Westland, there are several other activities you can do and we briefly describe them below.
Beach of ‘s-Gravenzande and Ter Heijde: this family-friendly beach is a lot less crowded than the beach of Scheveningen, for example, making it an ideal beach for families with kids to cool off in the hot summer months in The Westland. Even on hot summer days, there is always a place for your family on this beach.
Indoor playground Avontura Wateringen: If you are visiting Het Westland with young kids, it can be fun to visit an indoor playground and indoor playground Avontura Wateringen is a good option. It is a standard indoor playground that you often see in the Netherlands and thus a great place to go for a few hours when the weather is not so good in the region.
Family-friendly hotel The Westland
You don’t have that many places to stay in Het Westland with kids. Nevertheless, we have listed below in different price ranges a number of family-friendly accommodations where you can stay in the region of Het Westland with a family with kids.
Budget accommodation: Vacation apartments Stuifkenszand
Mid-range accommodation: Van der Valk Hotel Delft A4
Luxury accommodation: Hotel Maassluis
Also check out the entire list of family-friendly accommodations in The Westland.
Tips The Westland with kids
Family-friendly restaurants in The Westland
You can have a great bite to eat in Het Westland with kids. We list some family-friendly restaurants in Het Westland below.
Pavilion de Zweth – Wateringen: lots of outdoor space, children’s menus and plenty of play areas. Ideal to go with kids for lunch or pancakes overlooking the water.
The City Food & Fun – ‘s-Gravenzande: a cozy place where you can have a pizza with the family!
Eetcafé de Bonte Haas – Wateringen: a cozy village cafe with a terrace where you can enjoy sitting by the water with the kids. On the menu: pancakes, fries and good sandwiches. So a great place for lunch or dinner.
Brasserie Mirell – Monster: modern restaurant with a family-friendly menu and indoor play area. Ideal for a quiet lunch or dinner.
Ice cream parlor LKKR!!! in Wateringen: this is a fine ice cream parlor with delicious artisanal ice creams with original flavors. Definitely a place to stop by during the hot summer months!
Best travel time The Westland with kids
You can visit The Westland with kids all year round, but spring and summer are the most fun for families with kids. In April and May, the greenhouses are full of flowers and there is plenty to see and do. The summer months are perfect for outdoor activities: biking, boating, beach days and picnics in nature.
The region is also great in the fall, with many indoor activities such as museums, miniature golf and workshops. In the Christmas vacations, there are often light trails and winter activities. For most families, a weekend or midweek is ideal to really explore Het Westland.
