Where to go, what to do with Samira from AmsterdamKids.com

Beaches

Zandvoort aan Zee

Bloemendaal aan Zee

Castricum aan Zee

Texel Island

Zeeland

Scheveningen

Amusement Parks

Efteling

Oud Valkeveen

Duinrell and Tiki Pool

Toverland

Sprookjeswonderland

Easy Outdoor Escapes from Amsterdam

Het Twiske

*Always check water safety on Waterkwaliteit.net before swimming.

Outdoor Pools - Flevoparkbad and Mirandabad

Pierenbadjes

Special Summer Events

SAIL Amsterdam

Museum Summer Programs - grab your Museumkaart

Doolhof Corn Maze

Travel Hacks

NS Spoordeelwinkel

NS Kids free travel

GVB Kids Vrij

OBA - Library

Bonus: Boeren Camping

Feeling Alone as a New Parent Abroad? You're Not the Only One
In this heartfelt episode of Dam Parenting, we dive deep into one of the most personal and challenging experiences many parents face: raising a child far from home, without the family support they expected.

Host Eva is joined by Angela from the Expat Parenting Collective, an expert in helping globally mobile families navigate the emotional, cultural, and practical challenges of parenting abroad. Together, they unpack a powerful listener question from an expat mother in the Netherlands — a new mom navigating postpartum life without the strong family support system she was used to back in Asia.

Topics Covered:

• Why parenting abroad can feel so isolating — even when you're not "alone"

• Cultural clashes around postpartum care and family involvement

• Setting boundaries with in-laws and expressing your needs clearly (without guilt)

• Practical ways to build a sense of community as an expat parent

• Tools to reduce overwhelm and reconnect with your inner strength

• How to prepare for cultural differences before the baby arrives

If you’re parenting in a new country and feel overwhelmed, misunderstood, or just plain exhausted — this episode is for you. We’re here with real talk, real support, and real solutions.

Whether you’re in Amsterdam, Tokyo, Nairobi, or anywhere in between — hit play, take a deep breath, and know: you’re not alone.

Don’t forget to follow, rate, and share Dam Parenting to support honest conversations that matter.

What really happens to the brain when we become parents? In this powerful episode, we sit down with Dr. Elke De Witte, author of the newly released Dutch book De Moederbreinmythe ("The Mother Brain Myth")—a must-hear conversation we couldn't wait for in English.

Dr. De Witte shares her groundbreaking neuroscience research on how the parental brain changes—not just for biological mothers, but for all caregivers. This episode is packed with insights that challenge outdated assumptions and reveal the true power and plasticity of the brain during parenthood.

Whether you're a parent-to-be, a new parent, a non-birthing caregiver, or an HR professional looking to reshape your workplace for better support and inclusion—this episode is for you.

Learn why science is now calling for a societal shift in how we treat caregiving, maternity return-to-work policies, and community support in our modern-day “village.”
Understand the real neurological transformation that happens with caregiving.

Discover why this matters not just for parents—but for everyone.

Don’t miss this eye-opening conversation.
Share this episode with expecting parents, new parents, caregivers, and forward-thinking HR leaders who want to build a more supportive world of work.

Find out more from www.elkedewitte.com

Smartphones are addictive — science confirms it. As adults, we feel the pull. But what happens when kids as young as 9 are handed devices and expected to navigate school, friendships, puberty, and social media all at once?

In this powerful episode, we explore the growing Opgroeien Smartphonevrij (Growing Up Smartphone-Free) movement — a grassroots initiative started by Dutch parents who want to change the norm. Backed by leading research from psychologists Jean Twenge and Angela Duckworth, this movement advocates for smartphone-free primary schools, better digital boundaries, and healthier childhood development.

We discuss:

• What parents can do to delay smartphone use

• How to talk with schools and other parents about screen-free environments

If you’ve ever felt alone in wanting to say “no” to early smartphones — you're not. There’s a growing community of parents who agree it’s time to reclaim childhood.

Links to support you:

Want to join the Whatsapp group in your area? CLICK HERE

Want to join the Whatsapp group for English speakers: CLICK HERE - (in select jouw regio - scroll to bottom for ENGLISH)

If you want to check out your own school (or chosen school)

CLICK HERE on your region

Click on the image of a school - Bekijk hoeveel ouders....

From there it will show you the number of students and schools, with the list of cities underneath.

Click into the city and you will get a breakdown of each school registered and keep clicking.. It gets more and more interesting! You will see how many kids in your school, and even by which groep they are in.

If you want the read the materials related to the UK website CLICK HERE

If you want to read about Amsterdam's action plan: You can download the PDF (Dutch only) here

Loved this episode? Help us spread the message!

If this conversation resonated with you, share it with a fellow parent, teacher, or friend. The more we talk about growing up smartphone-free, the stronger the movement becomes.

Follow the podcast on your favourite platform so you never miss an episode
Rate the show — it helps more parents discover these important topics

Share this episode in your group chats, school WhatsApp groups, or on social media

Together, we can create healthier environments for our kids to grow up in.

This week, our trusted child psychologist, Dr. Faye Pool is back, to talk about a parenting skill every parent needs: how to manage your own stress before you handle your child’s meltdown.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why staying calm is the best parenting tool you have

• How stress affects you and your child’s developing brain

• Simple regulation techniques to use when your child is out of control

• Real-life tips for handling public tantrums and parenting pressure abroad

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  Mentioned in this episode:

• • Social learning theory, by Bandura.
  • Dr Hillary - the Raised Resilient podcast.
  • Kate Silverton - there's no such thing as naughty book.

  
  

  
  
  

  
  

In this special episode of the Dam Parenting, we’re raising awareness about MiMoment — a unique research project by the WHO Collaborating Center and the Department of Clinical Psychology at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

MiMoment focuses on the mental health and well-being of women who have moved to the Netherlands and are now experiencing pregnancy far from home. Did you know that migrant mothers face a higher risk of depression and anxiety during and after pregnancy? Research shows that 1 in 4 experiences symptoms of depression and 1 in 5 experiences anxiety.

This project aims to listen to these women’s stories, understand their challenges, and help shape better, more respectful, and accessible mental health care for future mothers in our communities.

Who can participate?

• Women who are currently in their 1st or 2nd trimester of pregnancy

• Living in the Netherlands

• Born in a low- or middle-income country (for example: Morocco, Syria, Ghana, Suriname, Ukraine)

What does it involve?

• 4 short online questionnaires, in your own language (Dutch, English, Arabic, or Turkish)

• Optional: 2 small hair samples to study stress over time

• Flexible and completely confidential

• Receive up to €40 in vouchers for questionnaires and €20 for hair samples

How to join?
Signing up is easy and does not commit you yet:
Sign up form
WebsiteInstagramWhatsAppFacebook LinkedIn

If you’re a listener, friend, or community worker, please share this episode with someone who could benefit — every story makes a difference, and every voice helps improve care for mothers everywhere.

Welcome back to Dam Parenting — in this episode we’re continuing the monthly multilingual parenting series with the insightful and compassionate Mimi from Growing Up Multilingual.

In this honest and much-needed episode, Eva and Mimi talk about something many multilingual families quietly carry: the stress and self-imposed pressure of trying to “get it right.” From guilt and comparison to burnout and fear, the emotional load behind language decisions can feel heavy — but it doesn’t have to.

They not here to give you a longer to-do list. Mimi is here to help you slow down, reflect, and make your multilingual journey feel more sustainable, intuitive, and connected — for your child, and for yourself.

• Why the emotional side of multilingual parenting often goes unspoken — but affects everything

• Common stresses like “Am I doing enough?”, guilt, comparison, and fear of doing it "wrong"

• The difference between mindfulness and intentionality — and how both can guide your language choices

• Practical ways to release the pressure and reconnect with your why

• How to build flexible routines that evolve with your family

• Why perfection is a myth — and presence is what really matters

You’ll walk away with gentle encouragement, actionable strategies, and permission to let go of the “shoulds” that aren’t serving you.

• Mindfulness is about tuning into the present moment and noticing what truly engages your child.

• Intentionality follows mindfulness — it’s the conscious choices you make based on what works for your family.

• Your language plan is a living document — flexibility is not failure. It’s growth.

• You don’t need to do more — just connect to what matters most.

Take one minute today to pause and ask:
“What’s one small way I can show up with more ease and intention this week?”
Write it down, say it out loud, or text it to a friend. That’s where the shift begins.

If this episode spoke to you, please share it with a fellow parent, rate and review the podcast, and hit subscribe — Mimi will be joining us every month for real, supportive conversations about raising multilingual kids.

Further Reading:

5 Simple but Powerful Strategies Utilising Mindfulness to Help You Manage Your Family Language Planning Process⁠

Research:

Mindfulness and foreign language learners’ self-perceived proficiency: the mediating roles of anxiety and burnout

Language Acquisition and Use in Multilingual Contexts. Theory and Practice

In this special episode of Dam Parenting during Men’s Mental Health Week, we open up a vital conversation about fatherhood and mental health—a topic still too often left in the shadows.

We’re joined by two fathers from our international community who share their personal journeys into parenthood. One speaks candidly about the emotional toll of having a newborn in the NICU, and the other reflects on the everyday challenges of raising a young family while living with ADHD. Different stories, same truth: fatherhood can be heavy, and vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s real strength.

Did you know?

• The rise of paternal burnout and why nearly 1 in 6 fathers in the Netherlands report burnout symptoms

• How up to 1 in 4 dads experience postpartum depression within the first six months after birth

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• With burnout, emotional overload, and the pressure to "stay strong," many fathers are struggling in silence. This episode is about breaking that silence, challenging stigma, and creating space for real conversations and support.

  
  

  STATS:

  • 15.9% of Dutch fathers report moderate parental burnout, with 0.4% experiencing high burnout
    PMC Study on Parental Burnout

  • Up to 25.6% of fathers may experience postpartum depression, especially within 3–6 months postpartum
    PubMed Meta-analysis

  • Rising awareness of paternal mental health issues, yet routine screening is still uncommon
    Springer Open Access Study

  • Growing mental overload for fathers with neurodivergent conditions like ADHD