Rainy day activities with kids in The Hague

Quick list for rainy days

When the weather changes quickly, it helps to have a short list of easy options. Choose one outing, keep the plan realistic and always check opening hours before leaving.

• •Read and play at Bibliotheek Den Haag
• •Check the library agenda for children’s activities
• •Visit the Children’s Book Museum
• •Try Museon-Omniversum
• •Go active at Monkey Town Den Haag
• •Play indoors at Kids Eiland in MegaStores
• •Watch trains at Den Haag Centraal
• •Take a short indoor trip to Mall of the Netherlands
• •Bake and decorate cookies, cupcakes or a simple cake at home

Libraries and reading corners

A library is one of the easiest rainy-day options with young children. It is calm, low-pressure and useful even if you only stay for half an hour. Start with the Centrale Bibliotheek at Spui 68 if you are near the city centre, or choose a neighbourhood branch closer to home.

Bibliotheek Den Haag has branches across the city. Good places to check include:

• •Centrale Bibliotheek, Spui 68
• •Bibliotheek Scheveningen
• •Bibliotheek Segbroek
• •Bibliotheek Bomenbuurt
• •Bibliotheek Benoordenhout
• •Bibliotheek Escamp
• •Bibliotheek Loosduinen
• •Bibliotheek Leidschenveen
• •Bibliotheek Ypenburg
• •Bibliotheek Laakkwartier

Also check the Bibliotheek Den Haag activity agenda before you go. The library often has activities for children, such as reading moments, toddler activities, workshops and events. For au pairs, library visits are also a gentle way to practise Dutch words with children: colours, animals, weather, food and simple emotions.

Simple library plan: pick three picture books, read one together, let the children choose one book themselves and finish with a short snack outside or at home.

Museums and indoor culture

The Hague has several museums that work well on rainy days. The Children’s Book Museum is especially useful for younger children because stories, play and imagination come together indoors.

Museon-Omniversum can be a good choice for curious children who like discovering, watching and learning. Kunstmuseum Den Haag can also work well when you keep the visit short and playful: choose one colour to look for, one room to explore or one artwork to talk about together.

Tip: for toddlers and preschoolers, do not try to “do the whole museum”. A successful museum visit might be one activity, one room, one snack and then home.

Indoor play halls in The Hague

Some rainy days need movement. Indoor play halls are useful when children have too much energy for a quiet library or museum visit.

• Monkey Town Den Haag, De Uithof: a large indoor play option with climbing, sliding and active play. This can be a good choice when children need to move.
• Kids Eiland, MegaStores: a big indoor play paradise in Den Haag with different play areas for different ages. Useful for a high-energy rainy afternoon.
• Monkey Town Rijswijk: not in The Hague, but nearby if the family is open to going a bit further.

For indoor play, agree on rules before entering: where the children may play, where you will sit or stand, what to do if they cannot see you and when it is time to leave.

Play cafés and child-friendly cafés

A play café can be easier than a normal café on a rainy day. The children have something to do, and the grown-up can sit close by without needing to entertain every minute.

• De Boomhuttenclub: a cosy spot in the centre of The Hague for people with younger children, with visible play space and wooden treehouses.
• Kunst & Kids Café: especially nice for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Children can play and there are often creative activities or classes.
• Koffie & Kind: a child-focused space on Laan van Poot where children can play while grown-ups have coffee.
• Betjes Kidscafé: a kids café concept in The Hague with an indoor play area. Check social media before visiting.
• Boosty: a practical lunch spot with sandwiches, wraps, salads and juices. Boosty has two locations in The Hague: Boosty Statenkwartier on Frederik Hendriklaan and Boosty Archipel on Frederikstraat. The Statenkwartier location is especially handy with young children because it has a small child-friendly corner with toys and colouring, and it is close to the playground at Frederik Hendrikplein.
• Hans im Glück Den Haag: useful if you want food plus a children’s corner rather than a full indoor play hall.

With young children, keep the café plan short. A good café stop may be twenty to forty minutes, not a whole afternoon.

Watch trains at Den Haag Centraal

For train-loving children, Den Haag Centraal can be a surprisingly simple rainy-day outing. You do not need to take a train to make it fun. Watch trains arrive and leave, spot colours, count platforms and talk about where the trains might be going.

Keep this outing very simple: hold hands, stay behind safety lines, avoid rush hour if possible and agree that watching is the activity. Afterwards, you can go home or add a short snack stop nearby.

Mall of the Netherlands on a wet day

If the host family is comfortable with a short trip outside The Hague, Westfield Mall of the Netherlands in Leidschendam can be a practical indoor option. It is fully indoors, easy to walk around with children and useful when the weather is too wet for outdoor plans.

A fun bonus for young children: the mall has Kiddie Cars that can turn a simple indoor walk into a small adventure for toddlers and preschoolers.

This makes it a very easy rainy-day option: choose one small goal, such as a ride in a car cart, a snack and a short walk. Malls can become overstimulating when children are tired, so keep the plan short and check current prices and availability before you go.

Bake and decorate cookies or cake

Baking is a perfect rainy-day activity at home. Children can help stir, pour, decorate and taste. It works especially well if you keep the recipe simple and focus on the process, not on perfect results.

• Make simple cookies and decorate them with icing or sprinkles. For Dutch inspiration, try cookie recipes from Laura’s Bakery.
• Bake cupcakes and let each child decorate one or two. For easy recipes, check cupcake recipes from Rutger Bakt.
• Use a simple cake as the base and decorate it with fruit, sprinkles or small flags. Keep a wet cloth nearby and accept the mess.

Tip for au pairs: always check allergies, kitchen rules and oven safety with the host family before baking.

At-home rainy day activities

If going out feels like too much, make the home day feel structured. Children often do better when they know what comes next. Choose three small blocks instead of one long activity.

• Build a blanket reading corner: pillows, books and one soft toy.
• Make a rainy window drawing: draw clouds, umbrellas and puddles.
• Create an indoor treasure hunt: hide three simple objects and give picture clues.
• Have a mini dance break: two songs, then back to a quiet activity.
• Sort toys by colour: easy, calm and surprisingly useful with toddlers.

Easy crafts for toddlers and preschoolers

Rainy-day crafts should be simple. Choose activities that do not require perfect results or a lot of preparation. The best crafts for young children are often the ones they can finish quickly.

• Umbrella colouring pages
• Paper plate clouds with cotton wool
• Sticker rainbows
• Handprint raindrops
• Cardboard box houses for small toys
• Cut-and-glue weather pictures

Tips for au pairs on rainy days

Rainy days can feel intense when you are new in a family. The house may feel smaller, children may have more energy and plans can change quickly. A little preparation helps.

• •Ask the host family which indoor places they already like.
• •Check whether you may travel by tram, bike, car or on foot.
• •Bring snacks, wipes, water and spare clothes if needed.
• •Keep outings short when children are tired.
• •Use a simple visual plan: first museum, then snack, then home.
• •Always agree on safety rules before leaving the house.