Madurodam — Attraction in The Hague

Disclaimer: I can't speak for the actual experience when going as a family, we took the visit as two adults without kids (but with kids in mind). Madurodam was honestly an underwhelming experience especially with consideration for the high pricing. The miniature landscape is elaborate but kind of lifeless and doesn't spark the same joy and care for detail as other miniatures lands did for us. The main focus lies on the plain architecture, but missed the kind of small stories you can thread with figurine placement etc. But then again they didn't go the educational route either, because there's nothing more but a plate telling you about name, year and location of the building.

Everything feels like a backdrop not meant to interact with but boeing to look at as well. I didn't feel like many of the children present were impressed or entertained by the miniature world per se either. Especially since some of the interactive stuff was broken (apperentley for years if you check older reviews) and other exhibits, like the mini rollercoaster park, were literally behind a pay wall, meaning it will only move after one pays 20ct (not much but still?? they already charge you a lot at the entrance, that stuff should not cost money).

The additional 'attractions' were kind of cute ideas but mostly it's a decorated room and then they play a record that will educate you about Dutch history in a playful dialogue manner, with little possible interactions and I doubt kids older than 8 will enjoy this. (We didn't try the new Windjager because of a long queue, maybe this has some actual entertainment value).

Yes, they also have a playground and water park but that's not what people would especially choose Madurodam for, would it?

The exploration of the park can provide hourlong preoccupation, no doubt, but predominantly in the sense of 'maybe this thing/corner will finally be worth my money and time' and not in a 'i wonder what other great stuff they have here'. Maybe the target group are really only pre and primary schoolers, but as and adult/parent or older children I'd feel incredibly bored..

My review might be better if Madurodam was just a cute little park with a entrance fee of a few euro and didn't price and advertise itself like a great (family) attraction. So, that way the place sadly felt like a cash grab, that neither really caters to children nor to miniature lovers and one really wonders where all the money from the ticket fee goes to. I would not go there again, not even with children,...

Prepare to feel like a magnificent, benevolent giant! Forget what you think you know about theme parks—Madurodam isn't just a collection of cool replicas; it’s an absolute love letter to the Netherlands. This is a place where you can quite literally walk all over Dutch history and feel utterly charmed while doing it.

This place is a genius Dutch innovation, a true testament to meticulous, beautiful craftsmanship. You'll want to get down on your knees and inspect every tiny detail, and trust me, you'll be glad you did. Imagine strolling past the Rijksmuseum, the Binnenhof, and a full-blown miniature Schiphol Airport, all in one glorious, god-like walk. It's exhilarating to feel like a benevolent giant, a tiny tourist in a world of your own making.

But let's get to the real heart of the matter—the Queen! The sheer adorableness of the fact that Queen Beatrix, who I immensely adore, was the mayor of this very miniature city when she was a princess is what elevates Madurodam from "cool" to "legendary." I remember visiting here during my childhood, wide-eyed and wanting to get my hands on those planes. I even tried knocking on the windows to see if anyone would answer! The looks the onlookers gave me said, "That's not a toy, that's Dutch heritage!" Honestly, who could blame me? It's that beautiful, personal history that makes this place so special. It's a living monument to both Dutch ingenuity and a royal who dedicated herself to it.

The scavenger hunt is a brilliant idea because it forces you to slow down and notice every perfect little detail, and the designers have thought of everything. Plus, the new theme park extension is a fantastic modern touch, showing that even a place rooted in history knows how to keep the fun fresh for a new generation of giants. Sure, you might pay a little extra for a snack, but that’s the deal with all theme parks. It's a small price to pay for a priceless experience. The true cost isn't a ticket, but the effort of walking around with comfortable shoes and a fully charged phone, because you will be taking endless photos. So go on, visit Madurodam. Find that scavenger hunt. Feel like a giant. And most importantly, feel that magical, personal connection to a truly wonderful country and its incredible Queen. It's an experience that’s big on fun and even...

I visited here 50 years ago and even though I was a child when I knew we were coming to the Netherlands I remembered this place and knew I wanted to bring my own kids here. Even though they are 14 and 16, they still had a blast. My husband and I did too. we only spent a couple of hours but could easily have spent a couple more. So much to see and fun activities to do. When you first walk in, you’ll see a boat that has a fire on it that you need to pump the water and then try to put the flames out. That was the memory that my brother had as well. There are an incredible number of miniaturized buildings that are incredibly accurate and even have miniature trees and bodies of water but more fun than those are the interactive water games and. Visit the technological or industrial sites. The very most fun activity is writing in the airplane the Flying Dutchman. It’s a five minute experience that makes you feel like you’re riding on a real plane over Paris. Everyone including the adults come off with big smiles. My teenagers loved the playground. You learn a lot and you wow a lot and do smile a lot. Definitely a fun way to spend a few hours in the Netherlands in the Haag. Make sure to find the little factory that brings it a pair of clogs and a tulip pin ...