WOPL!

Traveling with little kids in Amsterdam? I see you. You are exhausted, the kids are wired, it is probably raining, and that canal-side terrace beer feels like a distant dream. Let me tell you about WOPL.

My neighbor Joris has two kids, ages three and five, and he calls WOPL his "secret weapon." Every time friends with kids visit from abroad, this is his first recommendation. Not the Rijksmuseum. Not a canal cruise. WOPL. Because Joris knows that if the kids are happy, the parents are happy, and if the parents are happy, the trip is saved.

WOPL stands for World of Play and Learning, which sounds educational and boring but is actually neither. It is a massive indoor playground designed for kids up to about eight years old, with different zones for different ages. The toddler area has soft play and sensory stuff that keeps the really little ones occupied. The bigger kid zone has climbing structures, slides, building areas, and interactive games that had Joris's five-year-old literally refusing to leave.

What makes WOPL different from a random indoor playground is that it is actually well-designed. The space is bright, clean, and does not feel like a padded cell. There is a cafe area where parents can sit and drink coffee while keeping an eye on the kids, which Joris says is the most important feature. His wife Marlies calls the parent cafe "the real attraction."

It is located in Amsterdam's center, which means you can combine it with other stuff nearby without spending your whole day on trams. Joris usually does WOPL in the morning, then lunch somewhere close, and by that point the kids are so tired from running around that they crash in the stroller. That is when he gets his canal-side beer. His strategy, not mine, but I have seen it work multiple times.

A few practical things: book online if you can, especially on weekends and rainy days. Weekday mornings are the calmest. There is a time slot system so it does not get too crowded, which is nice. Socks are required for kids in the play areas. Bring your own or buy them there.

The pricing is reasonable for what you get. Entry for kids is around 10-15 euros depending on the time slot, and adults enter free. Compared to dragging exhausted kids through a museum for 20 euros per adult where they touch everything and you spend the whole time whispering "do not touch that," this is a bargain.

One honest note: this is for young kids. If your children are over eight, they will probably find it too babyish. And if you are traveling without kids, there is obviously zero reason to go here. But if you have little ones and you need a rainy day plan or just a place where they can burn off energy, WOPL is exactly what you need.

Joris told me to tell you one more thing: go in the first time slot of the day. The play areas are pristine, the kids have maximum energy, and you get the most value out of your session. By the afternoon slot, everything is a bit more chaotic. His words.

This is not a glamorous Amsterdam recommendation. It will not end up on your Instagram. But if you are a parent traveling with young kids, this is the recommendation that will actually save your trip. Ask Joris.