Going with family to Amsterdam (Zaandam)- anyone stayed in Zaandam?

Hi!

My husband, 17 month old boy and are going to Amsterdam for a last minute short break. We are taking the overnight ferry instead of flying. We've been many times (pre-baby) and feel we've done all of the touristy stuff, so we booked our hotel at the Golden Tulip in Zaandam, instead of the heart of Amsterdam. Apparently it is only a 10 minute train ride to Amsterdam Central.

As we are travelling with a toddler, our trip will be mostly to relax, eat good food, take long walks and find parks to play in.

I'm wondering if anyone has done family trips to Amsterdam? If you have, do you have any recommendations of things to do/see/eat etc? We wouldn't mind exploring the Dutch countryside or seaside via public transport.

I'll look forward to your suggestions.

Thanks!

No one? 

I missed this.  I've done family trips to Amsterdam. 

I'll ask my husband because he's better at remembering stuff like that but I do know that an absolute must see is the Amsterdam Zoo.  It's a lovely zoo that you can get to by boat and it's a nice atmosphere and a bit out of the way.

I'd  also go with the zoo - it's lovely with playareas as well as the animals.  A canal trip might be fun - just don't drop the baby in!

http://www.amsterdam.info/parks/vondelpark/

http://www.amsterdam.info/parks/

http://goamsterdam.about.com/od/whattodoinamsterdam/tp/amsterdamwithkids.htm

http://www.iamsterdam.com/visiting_exploring/special_interest/children_families

Have you thought about staying out of Amsterdam all together and exploring some of the other towns? The country is well connected by rail and it is rather small which makes daytrips to just about anywhere very doable.

It's a bit like seeing other parts of England when you plan to stay outside of London.

eat good food

I can't say the food is all that memorable but the flowers are pretty. 

The food is fab. I love Dutch Indonesian food. And Casa di David used to be one of my favourite Amsterdam restaurants. Don't know what it's like now.

Haarlem gets me vote for walking / cycling. There's a market square in the town centre.  There is actually a great appartment hotel off of the quare and Haarlem is 20 minutes to Amsterdam by train. And Haarlemmerhout park.

Zandvoort is good if you need seaside.

We just got back. I do NOT recommend Zaandam! We did spend time in Haarlem- what a beautiful town! I wish we would have booked our hotel there instead. I ate the best Mexican food I've had in years there!

We only went into Amsterdam once, for a canal tour. I really like Holland, so many beautiful places to see.

Eachtime I've been in Holland, at least 2 people have asked me if I speak German. Guess I must look German!