5 Best Preschools in Amsterdam to Help Little Ones Fall in Love With Learning
I still remember bringing my younger cousin to preschool for the first time, thinking it would be a quick drop-off and then I’d be on my way.
But the second we reached the entrance, he froze and gripped my hand so tightly that I knew this was a much bigger moment for him than I had realised.
Standing there, I started noticing how much the environment mattered. In some places, everything felt rushed and overwhelming; in others, the atmosphere felt warm enough that kids slowly relaxed and let go.
That experience made me understand that choosing a preschool isn’t just about location or academics; it’s about finding a place where a child feels comfortable enough to walk in with confidence.
I’m glad we found one that made those first drop-offs feel a little less overwhelming for everyone.
So if you’re looking for preschools in Amsterdam that can make those first goodbyes a little easier, these are the ones worth having on your list.
How much are preschool fees in Amsterdam?
On average, parents pay from €10 to €15 per hour for preschool in Amsterdam. It’s worth noting, however, that families who are eligible for the Dutch childcare allowance pay significantly less.
1. Junior Service Amsterdam
Address: Van Oldenbarneveldtstraat 77-BG
Contact Details: +31 20 785 5766
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 7:45 AM – 6:30 PM
For parents looking for a strong start to their child’s learning journey, Junior Service Amsterdam often stands out for how early its programmes begin.
Here, learning isn’t limited to the typical preschool stage; they also work with children as young as 0, gently introducing language and motor skills in a way that feels steady and thoughtfully built over time.
There’s also a strong focus on socio-emotional learning through play, where children are guided to explore interaction and daily routines suited to their age and stage of development.
Parents praise the calm presence of the teachers, noting how steady and reassuring they are throughout the day, and that seems evident during drop-offs and early settling-in moments.
They also make sure to closely supervise the kids, with enough staff actively present during structured activities and free play.
One thing that also comes up frequently is Puk, the well-known play doll used in daily activities. It becomes part of storytelling and guided play, helping children explore language and everyday situations.
However, some have mentioned that the entire programme is a bit too structured. It might be rigid for families who just want more freedom for children to explore and learn at their own rhythm.
I can leave my son with complete peace of mind
“Our son has been at JSA for a while now, and we are incredibly happy that we chose this childcare center. The caregivers are sweet, dedicated, and truly connect with the children. The center feels very personal and small-scale, and the atmosphere is always calm. I have visited so many daycare centers and none of them felt quite right, but here I can leave my son with complete peace of mind, and I can see that he is having a lot of fun.”
Rachèl, Google Review
We always felt she was in good hands
“From the time our daughter was 3 months old until our move, now over three years later, she has been happily attending JSA. It was a second home for her, and we always felt she was in good hands. We found the genuine commitment, advice, patience, warmth, and flexibility offered at unexpected times very rewarding. We highly recommend JSA.”
Louis van den Heuvel, Google Review
2. Kinderopvang Het Pareltje
Address: Burgemeester Röellstraat 17
Contact Details: +31 20 845 3637
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Now, if you’re looking for a more international and community-driven setting, Kinderopvang Het Pareltje is one of those places that naturally attracts expat families.
From the start, children are introduced to different cultures, woven into everyday routines.
Learning here happens mainly through play, with a strong emphasis on trial and error. I like how children are encouraged to test ideas and figure out results gradually as they go.
With a maximum of just 16 toddlers per day, the setting stays small and personal. It allows teachers to stay closely involved without things ever feeling overcrowded.
On top of that, the programme runs on changing themes like art and seasonal celebrations, which keeps the weekly rhythm varied. These often flow into music sessions and outdoor play to give children different ways to engage.
Clients love the regular professional music performances too, and that quickly became a highlight for most children. Many parents mention how their kids try to sing or happily mimic what they’ve seen during the day.
Meanwhile, meals are prepared in-house. And don’t you worry, as all ingredients are carefully selected, so your kids will only be served with fresh and healthy snacks.
Just keep in mind, this level of care does come at a higher price point compared to more standard childcare options.
The kids get a warm, healthy and delicious meal every day
“This daycare has been wonderful for our son. The teachers are kind and caring, and the communication with the manager has always been great. We also love that the kids get a warm, healthy and delicious meal every day. We always felt our son was safe and happy. Sadly, we have to leave because we are moving, but we are very grateful for everything. We highly recommend this daycare for your child! It is such a great place where you can leave your child with complete peace of mind.”
Riham Ghalaiyini, Google Review
Our kid grew and developed in incredible ways
“I can’t talk highly enough of Het Pareltje. Our kid attended it for 3,5 years, and we could witness every day how caring and attentive the whole staff was. They give amazing attention and care to the children and our kid grew and developed in incredible ways. They were of a great support, we trusted them fully. Thank you so much for taking care of our daughter and making her days happy, serene and fun!”
Paola P. Amsterdam Guide, Google Review
3. De Mus Peuterspeelzaal
Address: Van Musschenbroekstraat 3A-huis
Contact Details: +31 68 460 6125
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:15 AM – 1:30 PM
If consistency is something you value, De Mus Peuterspeelzaal is the kind of place that follows a clear and structured daily rhythm.
This centre places a strong focus on routine and fixed guidelines, with the belief that predictability helps young children build trust as they settle into a new environment without mum or dad.
Unfortunately, because of this approach, communication with parents tends to be more limited once the day begins. Updates via text aren’t as frequent compared to other centres.
On the brighter side, the environment itself is well set up for active learning. There’s a large outdoor playground with small bikes and sand toys, giving children lots of space to develop motor skills.
Parents also appreciate that music is part of the daily experience, complete with a variety of instruments that the little ones can freely explore and engage with.
For toddlers who enjoy creative activities, art is often done in groups where drawing and painting become shared moments rather than individual tasks.
Also, it’s worth highlighting that everything is kept very safe and age-appropriate, so no sharp tools or materials are involved.
Our son absolutely loves to go there
“Hidden gem in Amsterdam-Oost. De Mus is a Kindergarten (peuterspeelzaal) with very small groups and a huge backyard to play. 10 kids with 2 caretakers guarantee lots of attention and love per child. Our son absolutely loves to go there! Would especially recommend for children who need more time to get used to a daycare.”
Holger Schlünzen, Google Review
Organize fun, creative, and healthy activities every day
“De Mus is a truly unique and welcoming preschool with fantastic indoor and outdoor spaces. The professional preschool teachers patiently and attentively ensure the children’s development and organize fun, creative, and healthy activities every day. The parent-led board structure ensures a close and direct bond between the children, the school, the teachers, and the parents. We highly recommend De Mus to anyone with children aged 2 to 4!”
Roderik Overzier, Google Review
4. Partou De Speeltoren
Address: Lizzy Ansinghstraat 84
Contact Details: +31 20 671 1288
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 7:30 AM – 6:30 PM
Partou De Speeltoren is known for its themed activities developed in collaboration with organisations such as Staatsbosbeheer and UNICEF.
These themes bring a wider perspective into daily play, with nature and social topics introduced in a simple and accessible way for young children.
With attendance set at around 2 mornings per week, the programme creates a steady structure that helps kids gradually build creativity and motor skills before they move to primary school.
Safety and well-being are clearly taken seriously here as well. This centre follows a comprehensive health and safety policy and holds approval from the municipal health service.
In line with this, clients rave about the organic lunch meals served daily. Many parents even reveal that their children developed healthier eating habits at home, as exposure to balanced meals at school made acceptance much easier.
Teachers also encourage communal eating, where the little ones sit together and explore food through smell and colour.
The only drawback I came across is that potty training isn’t handled by Partou De Speeltoren, and that means families need to manage that stage independently at home.
The staff is very kind, polite, caring
“4+ years that we have been going to this daycare almost on a daily basis and I couldn’t be happier with the choice we made back in 2020 to sign up our eldest there. The staff is very kind, polite, caring and cherry on the top for us is that most them speak English which really help when we first arrived and didn’t have any Dutch background. The huge backyard and outside toys, the daily activities (baby yoga, outing to the gym hall, petting zoo in a weekly basis) and location/opening hours were and still are what helped us choose Partou De Speeltoren. We know the kids are well taken care of and discovering the world with other Dutch or international friends, create an amazing baggage to move to Basisschool. I would definitely encourage visiting the location.”
Marion Lescure, Google Review
Has direct access to a huge playground and the neighboring animal farm
“My daughter was in one of the baby groups at Smallsteps Speeltoren from four months old until almost one year old. The employees we met were all so kind and friendly, and it was clear to see that they cared very much for each and every child. While the outside of the building doesn’t look like much, the inside is spacious, bright, clean, and has direct access to a huge playground and the neighboring animal farm. We felt completely comfortable leaving our baby in the hands of the Speeltoren staff and only had positive experiences there.”
Lisa Huang, Google Review
5. CompaNanny
Address: Kon. Wilhelminaplein 13
Contact Details: +31 20 408 3248
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 7:30 AM – 6:30 PM
CompaNanny is a great match for families who want nature to be part of their child’s everyday rhythm, not just something saved for weekends.
Outdoor play is built into the day, with children regularly heading outside to explore and interact with their surroundings through hands-on experiences.
Clients like that safety is carefully considered at CompaNanny, with close supervision ensuring that the young ones can enjoy that sense of freedom while still being well guided.
A key part of the experience is their pedagogical vision and programme, which is essentially their guiding approach to how children learn and grow, supported at each stage of development.
For example, younger kids may engage in sensory play, while older toddlers are gradually introduced to group activities and basic problem-solving.
Communication is another strong point, especially during the first settling-in period. Parents note that they’re kept closely in the loop, with daily feedback and even photos to give them a glimpse into how the day is going.
Just take note that there’s no option for swap days or make-up classes, which means planned absences like vacations will result in a missed session.
My son goes 3 days a week and always comes back learning new things
“We love this Compananny. My son goes 3 days a week and always comes back learning new things and feeling independent. He loves all the ladies that take care of him but especially Bailey, Nova, Yasmin, Manal and Rosa 💗 thank you for making his first two years so wonderful! We are excited to carry on into the toddler group.”
Ivanka Fernandes, Google Review
Our boy has been absolutely spoiled with love and attention
“We couldn’t be happier with this childcare. The caretakers are truly amazing, caring, attentive, and genuinely invested in the children’s development. Our boy has been absolutely spoiled with love and attention since he started his journey back in Group 8, and now in Group 7 he continues to grow, learn, and thrive every single day.
A very special thank you to Sarah, Laura, Angelicque, Dilara, and Simone for taking such wonderful care of him. Your patience, dedication, and warmth make a real difference, and we feel incredibly grateful knowing he is in such good hands.
Thank you for creating such a safe, nurturing, and joyful environment for our child. ❤️”
Uziel Brito, Google Review