Crazy to take 2yr old to Amsterdam?

I really think there are very few better places you could travel with a toddler than the Netherlands to be honest. Think of it: excellent public transport, all the facilities you could want and in few places will you be able to find bikes equipped with baby seats this easily - and you say you're art aficionados. Amsterdam has the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, not to mention the superb Hermitage Amsterdam (a section of the St Petersburg Hermitage set in a stunning 17th century building on the Amstel river.) Then there's the Vondelpark, not to mention the Kröller-Muller museum in the Hoge Veluwe NP - if it's sunny when you're there, cycling around the heaths and forests is a treat and you'll have no problem if your bike has a child seat.

If you're afraid of the 'psychedelic touristy red light district/coffeeshop circuit/stoned backpackers + young kid = ???' equasion (though there's no reason to be), why not consider staying in Utrecht or Haarlem and making day trips to Amsterdam to go sight-seeing? It's very easily manageable and comfortable by train and these places are also very historic and beautiful, close by, and have the added benefit of being (to my mind) more authentically Dutch..

Amsterdam is a terrific place for families and children. There's a vibrant park and museum scene, and as some of the folks above point out, exceptional facilities for young people and their needs. When I visited last year, there were kids everywhere. It was quite delightful watching bikes fly by rigged up for whole families (multiple seats, brightly painted colours, etc).

The people are friendly and the pervasive atmosphere of tolerance you've heard about is a reality. This extends to children too - there's plenty of places you can visit where people won't appreciate what it takes to deal with a toddler. The Dutch are a sympathetic, pragmatic bunch.

A'dam and surrounds would be a wonderful experience for someone young. I think it's a great influence.

It's easy to avoid areas of the city where adults prefer to play.

Here's a blog post from David over at Little Nomads that suggests a few Amsterdam top picks for kids and families.

Have a good trip - and let us know how you go!

take my kids everywhere i go, my 4 year old has been to guatemala, mexico twice, nicaragua,turkey, and we leave for colombia next week, we also have a two year old who has been to half of those places. kids love seeing different things, and people love to see foreign kid.

Believe it or not - I have a baby (nearly 1), actually live in the Netherlands (in Utrecht) and sometimes we even go to Amsterdam (risky I know, but worth it)!

Re #4's stroller advice: I very much disagree. Amsterdam is perfectly accessible with a push-chair/stroller/buggy. We have a Bugaboo ourselves and it's never a problem. Just be sure to practise using an escalator. However, there are lifts/elevators at most places (train stations, shopping malls, museums, etc.), you just have to search them out.

Some of the trendy cafe's focussed towards young people might not have high-chairs. Check before you settle in.

We've been to Singapore and Thailand last year and are off to China and Vietnam in May. I think travelling with a baby is great as it leads to nice conversations with people and it forces you to slow down. I can't really understand why people are so scared of travelling with kids, esp. older ones. If you state you're specific concerns we might be able to give you better advice.

So sorry it has taken me so long to reply, but I had a family emergency. Thanks to everyone for your responses and advice. When we first were thinking of taking this trip I started by listening to some podcasts and reading a few travel books and it seems all they wanted to talk about were the coffee shops and red light district. I think that combined with my initial anxiety of traveling internationally with a 2 yr. for the first time was making me question whether this was a good choice for a family destination. After some great advice on this site and some better research, I think we have made a great choice. We leave April 5 for 8 days--3 nights in Amsterdam and 5 nights in Haarlem where we plan to rent a car to see the rest of The Netherlands :). Now any advice anyone has on traveling with a 2 yr. old--I'm all ears!!! Thanks again everyone!

I started by listening to some podcasts and reading a few travel books and it seems all they wanted to talk about were the coffee shops and red light district.
I am intrigued. I have never seen a reputable travel guidebook about Amsterdam that focused solely on the RLD and the coffee shops. I suggest you throw those books into the bin and buy or borrow something published by LP, Rough Guides or Time Out.

OP: like I wrote, if you list your specific concerns re travelling with your toddler it might be easier for us to provide you with the information you're looking for. It's also a good idea to add where you're from, so people might give you comparative advice.
Also, note that there is a branch devoted to travelling with kids. I've gotten good advice there before (i.e. on the availability of specific brands of formula), you could also cross-post there.

it seems all they wanted to talk about were the coffee shops and red light district
Yeah, some foreigners seem to think that's what Amsterdam is all about. Don't worry about it though - the RLD is easily avoided and, apart from a handful of morons who think it's acceptable to smoke weed on the streets, you won't be affected much by the presence of coffee shops.

Good plan to rent a car and explore the Netherlands, but I doubt Haarlem is the right place to base yourselves in - it's not very central if you plan to visit Maastricht or Hoge Veluwe National Park, to name a few popular places.

#18:
I doubt Haarlem is the right place to base yourselves in - it's not very central if you plan to visit Maastricht or Hoge Veluwe National Park, to name a few popular places.

Hmm okay, but by the same token it's more convenient for places like Volendam, de Keukenhof, Texel... and Maastricht would still be a good while away from Utrecht for instance.. But at any rate Holland is hardly a huge place, the Amsterdam ring road is really your only main obstacle I'd say.. Good choice I think, OP. Have fun!

#19: of course it depends on what OP means when she says she wants to visit "the rest of the country" - I assumed that could include areas like Groningen or Limburg; a day trip from Haarlem to Maastricht, Deventer, Groningen or wherever may be possible if you make an early start - and don't mind getting stuck in a traffic jam for the first part of your trip. Staying in Utrecht would allow you to avoid at least the congestion on the A4, A9, A10 and A12.

Apart from that, I do consider Haarlem a lovely town and I agree that, if OP wants to focus on the western half of the country, it's an excellent place to stay.