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Fulfill little wonders and satisfy curiosities. Push past signs reading ‘Please Do Not Touch’ and seek out genuinely kid-friendly museums. Most European museums will offer an English version or explanation. Check with the information desk for free handouts as well as kids activity sheets. There are numerous children’s museums to discover in Europe, here is a small sampling of what is out there:
Germany Explorado in Duisburg, Germany is all about people, the environment and technology. Children can learn about their own environment through play and adventure. Follow the trails of animals on the animal footprint course and become an archaeologist for the day.
United Kingdom Eureka! The Museum for Children in Halifax, West Yorkshire is designed for kids under 11. Feel more than 400 must-touch exhibits and participate in fun events and activities. Find out how the body and senses work and explore the science of sound. London’s National Gallery is a lovely place for families to enjoy activities, especially every Sunday. There is magic carpet storytelling for kids under five and a children’s gallery filled with mini-masterpieces.
Italy Explora il Museo dei Bambini challenges you to unfold the mystery of how things function in the heart of Rome. Children conduct experiments and observations with the help of facilitators in a child-sized playground.
Portugal Museu das Crianças in Lisbon, Portugal allows you to navigate your way through a series of rooms, each one containing interactive activities covering various themes of history, science, music and environment. Many activities are self-explanatory, even if the explanations are in Portuguese.
Belgium Le Musée des Enfants is a children’s museum in Brussels, Belgium known for being ‘a museum like no other.’ Children can learn about themselves through a self-discovery tour. Various themes deal with daily life and topics ranging from self-confidence, fear, to the five senses and imagination. Exhibitions change every four years.
Netherlands Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam offers a children’s audio tour enabling kids to discover Vincent van Gogh’s art in a fun way. Families can also get a free copy of a treasure hunt at the information desk. Intended for children 6-10 years old, return the completed questions afterward to check their answers and collect a little present. Another option is an English-language workshop, available on request. Starting with an interactive tour, children will discover the works of art and tap into their inner creativity in the museum’s studio.
Austria Zoom Kindermuseum is located in the capital of Austria. Get creative and collaborate in the ZOOM lab and produce animated films and sounds. Enjoy painting, drawing and design with visual artists in the ZOOM Studio. Research the methods of science or jump into ZOOM’s Ocean world aimed at kids under four.
Keep your children entertained while they learn with these amazing kid-friendly museums throughout Europe!
