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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 hand outs 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
Atlantis Children’s Museum 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 year olds. Feel more than 400 must-touch exhibits, events and activities. Find out how the body and senses work, explore the science of sound and travel to faraway places.
London’s National Gallery. Families can enjoy activities at the gallery every Sunday. There is magic carpet storytelling for kids under five. A children’s gallery to discover filled with mini masterpieces. Teen workshops are led by artists and Holiday workshops for young adults aged 12-17.
Explora il Museo dei Bambini. 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.
Museu das Crianças, Portugal. 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. The Children’s Museum in Brussels, Belgium touts ‘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, Amsterdam. A children’s audio tour enables children to discover Vincent van Gogh’s art in a fun way. Or pick-up 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 finally tap into their inner creativity in the museum’s studio.
Austria
Zoom Kindermuseum. Get creative in the capital of Austria. 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.
