De Hertenkamp en Kinderboerderij Houthoeve

De Hertenkamp en Kinderboerderij Houthoeve

What happened in 1828? One of the events was the opening of the Hertenkamp, which still exists to-date. This is why I love how historical artefacts and places are preserved and maintained in Europe. The kinderboerderij was then added in year 1967. This lovey spacious farm has animals ranging from deers, ponies, goats to pigs and poultries. Some of them walk freely on the farm where kids can pad them. There is also a  playground for kids with slides and other climbing facilities. To support the farm, you can adopt animals from there, check their website for details. 

The 'Eethuis Nurks' cafe is located near the parking space of the Haarlemmerhout. The farm is located in the Haarlemmerhout city park right outside of the Haarlem city on the south side, very accessible from allover Haarlem as well as from neighbouring villages like Heemstede.

Photo source: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kinderboerderij-de-Houthoeve/445906808754870

Entrance is for free.

Address: Hertenkamplaen 3, 2012CV. Haarlem 
023-5326487 

Info@houthoeve.nl

Opening hours:
1 March - 1 November Tue-Fri 10-12:30, 13:00-17:00. Sat- Sun 10-17:00.

1 November 1 March Tue-Fri 10-12:30, 13:00-16:30, Sat-Sun 10-16:30.

Closed on the weekends of December and January as well as pubic holidays.

Kinderboerderij 't Molentje

The kinderboerderij Molentje is one of the oldest kids' farm in the Netherlands, operating since 1951. Kids can touch and pad free-walking goats while seeing other animals like donkeys, lama, cows, chickens, peacocks and rabbits etc. 

The farm is next to the Gronendaal speeltuin.
We were at the farm on a Saturday and an 11 year-old girl came to us and ask if we need any help. Turn out that she is doing voluntary work every weekend to run the farm, helping to clean the stalls, feeding animals, talking to visitors, etc. Such a lovely idea for animal loving kids.

photo source: Kinderboerderij 't Molentje Facebook

There is a family run little pony-riding stall right outside of the parking lot. Kids can have a round of pony ride for 1 Eur. Aways a hit for my little one. From Haarlem Centre it is 20 minutes bike ride to get there.  


Entrance is for free.

Address: Burgemeester Van Rappardlaan 1, 2012WR,
Heemstede (in the wandelbos Groenendaal)
Opening hours: Daily from 10:00- 16:30

Kinderboerderijheemstede@xs4all.nl

(023) 528 94 62 

http://www.everyoneweb.com/kinderboerderijHeemstede

Haarlem Effect Playgroups

Haarlem Playgroup for 0-2.5 year-old

Organized by the Haarlem Effect, these subsidized baby and toddler playgroups take place in diversed locations across Haarlem. The playgroup welcomes parents and grandparents to join together with their kids up to 2.5 year-old.

The playgroup is led by a leidster where kids can play together while parents can chat over a cup of coffee. Besides playing with other kids, activities like reading, singing and group games are also being taken care of.

You can just drop by in any one of the playgroups. 

There is a small fee for each playgroup or you can get a 10-session abonnement. 

Check their official website for locations and timing. 

Informatieboerderij Zorgvrij

Informatieboerderij Zorgvrij Spaarnwoude

The zorgvrij kinderboederij is in Spaarnwoude, Velsen, approximately 20 minutes bike ride from Haarlem centre. 

The boederij has a session of indoor cow stall, spaces for smaller animals like rabbits and chickens and a free running farm where kids can pad goats. Next to animals, there are 2 playgrounds for younger and older kids respectively, with ample facilities to play with where parents can sit on benches with close proximity. 

There is a daily milking session at 17:00 that kids can witness electronic milking. You can also buy fresh raw cow-milk there. They will provide instruction on how to prepare the milk.

The restaurant "Onder de Platanen” is right behind the playground for young kids with a terrace. They provide colouring pages for kids as well as books and puzzles to entertain the young guests. Next to regular pancakes, they also have house specialities, salad and sandwiches on their menu. 

Entrance to the boederij is free of charge.

There are all sorts of activities organized for different ages, also during summer holiday period. 

Opening hours

1 November - 1 March (winter period) Wednesday - Sunday  11:00 - 17:00,
1 March- 1 November (summer period) Tuesday - Sunday 10:00 - 17:00. 

Also open on Mondays and Tuesdays during school vacations of the north region.

The stall and  the playgroups are open all days. 

Address:
Genieweg 50 (aan de R101)
1981 LN Velsen-Zuid

Tel. 023- 520 28 28
info@spaarnwoude.nl 

http://www.spaarnwoude.nl/v_zoeken/print.asp?menu=02700003_000000&n_code=1

Pippa’s Pasteria Haarlem

Organic, child-friendly restaurant with good food

A bright pink banner right next to the bus-stop in Haarlem station has attracted my attention and I thought, who’s gonna eat there with a bus-terminal’s view?

A month later, we’ve become a returned customer of this lovely family-friendly restaurant.

Location-wise it is very handy, right in-between Haarlem station and the city. It is a huge restaurant, extremely spacious and perhaps that’s why they can afford to have a dedicated play area.

Finding a children’s corner in restaurants in Haarlem is not easy and let alone a fully equipped one. They have a huge train/car table, several wooden horses, an electronic (huge) one and a drawing corner. The electronic horse is for free although it is quite noisy to have it on. I could let my 2 year-old playing there freely while she can always be in sight.

Their food is nice and all are organic. They are linked with Jetties, another child-friendly organic café in Haarlem.

I’m not writing on commission for them but I’d love to see such lovely place surviving as kids’ friendly restaurants are really lacking in Haarlem.

Pippa’s Pasteria


Stationsplein 64-66
2011 LM, Haarlem


www.pippaspasteria.nl

Opening hours:

Monday to Saturday 12:00 – 21:00

Haarlem library

Visiting the Haarlem library in the centre is one of our favourite activities, for both sunny and rainy days.

Loads of lovely books for all ages – literally from newborn onwards. Very child-friendly settings with low shelves for kids to explore on their own. The librarian told me that they do clean the baby books regularly.

The library also holds regular activities, either for free or for a small fee for kids as well as for adult.

Membership for up to age of 18 is free.

The Central library is opened 7 days a week with a cafe, Coffee-Star, in front. A really lovely place to chill out especially when sun is out there. 

Haarlem Centrum address:

Gasthuisstraat 32
2011 XP Haarlem

(from a small lane on the left hand side of V&D, near De Botermarkt)

Tele:
023-5115300

http://www.bibliotheekzuidkennemerland.nl

Check here for their official opening hours. 

Speeltuin Floragaarde

Speeltuin Floragaarde is a playground in the Leidsebuurt in Haarlem, suitable for kids of all ages with divided playground facilities.

A playground is designed to have a safe environment for toddlers as well as some climbing challenges for kids up to 6 year-old. Parents can stay closely with their kids on the benches at the playground, or have a family picnic at the picnic tables.

For the older kids, next to swings and slides, there is also a basketball field available for ball game fun. You can also use your skates, wave boards or skateboards there. 

  

Photo source: https://www.facebook.com/speeltuinfloragaarde

There are snacks for sale when the supervisor is on duty. Check their official website for the supervisor’s (tozichthouder) rooster.

Indoor playroom @ Speeltuin Floragaarde

Kids can play indoor when it rains while parents can also read magazines and have a cup of coffee inside as we'll.

Kinderboerderij Floragaarde

Right outside of the playground you will find the kinderboerderij. Also free access for everyone.

Photo source: https://www.facebook.com/speeltuinfloragaarde

Address:

Van Oosten d Bruijnstraat 62

2014 VS Haarlem

Contact number:

023-5315241 or Haarlem Effect 023-5319030

Opening hours:

Daily from 9:00 until sunset

Indoor playroom:  Wednesday and Friday 14:00 - 16:30 (only when weather does not allow playing outdoor)

http://www.speeltuinfloragaarde.nl