Happy Monday 🫡
The last week has been riddled with tiny coughs 🥺 Nothing like dealing with sickness — both for your kid and yourself — to be reminded that the expat support line of defense is often quite shallow. As in: If you’re unable to operate normally, the whole system of life kind of falls apart. When they can’t go to daycare, you’re scrambling to work alongside a sick kid; when you’re sick yourself, it’s a lot of takeout, exhausted parenting, and a house that’s getting progressively messier. The guilt mounts as high as the pile of laundry in the corner.
I was juggling a lot of balls this week while she was sick, and it was really hard to let some of them drop. But: grace is easily given, and people are genuinely eager to step in and help. Done is better than perfect — and perfect can wait another day ❤️
One of our first Post Perks: A free babyccino at Papote Cafe in De Baarsjes (West)
💌 Post Perks are here!
APP’s whole mission is to connect local parents to each other and to the experts that serve them — and now that mission has expanded to the businesses that serve them, too 🔥
For members of Postpartum Post — your monthly personal introduction to the parents with kids the same age around the corner from you — every round now comes with Post Perks: free treats and discounts from local, family-friendly businesses alongside your hand-picked match. There's already more than €20 worth of perks to use (more on the way!) — which means that a subscription now pays for itself in savings on stuff you’re probably already doing.
Which brings us to the fun part: crowdsourcing 🤩 Want a free babyccino at your local café, or discounted entry to your favorite indoor play spot? Share it with us on the Post Perks page for a chance to win a free round to the Post, perks included. More submissions mean more chances. Free to enter, and winners are drawn at random and announced on October 21.
Conveniently, today’s the last day to opt into October's round, so joining today gets you a new parent friend this month plus perks to enjoy together. Drop a perk idea, sign up for a match, and let the collective power of parents, experts, and businesses coming together in harmony make its magic 🪄
The Stedelijk Kids Festival (10-18 Oct) is centered around the Kusama exhibit
🗓️ What’s happening around town
Looking for something fun to do with your little one? Here's a selection of upcoming activities and events for babies, toddlers, and their parents.
APP & Friends
Sat 10 Oct @ 10:00-11:00 — Online
You've got the basics of breastfeeding and/or bottle-feeding down. Now you're wondering: "How can we possibly keep doing this for the next 6 months?" Learn our inclusive approach to feeding that grows with you and your baby — so that mom, dad/partner, and baby all get what they need in this special yet intense time. Led by pumping expert (Pumping Queens founder & admin!) Dr. Miriam Domachowska and postpartum doula Danielle Bensky as part of the First Year Program.
Sat 31 Oct @ 10:00-11:00 — Center
Join APP and Paola Bucciol from Museum Beginnings on Halloween morning to explore the Ancient Egypt rooms at the Allard Pierson Museum! Learn about the real stories behind popular Halloween symbols like mummies, and embark on a "seek and find" adventure just for toddlers and their parents. Dressing up is welcomed and encouraged! 👻🎃🦴
Free stuff
Beyond the free Post Perks babyccino at Papote, I mean 😎
Wed 7 Oct @ 13:00-14:00 — Oud-West
Celebrate Kinderboekenweek with a bilingual Dutch-English book reading of Welterusten Beertje Goodnight Bear by the authors themselves. After the reading, there are free activities for the kids. Plus, you're in De Hallen, which means that a) fun food is nearby, and b) the Zimmerhoeve petting zoo and playground are also nearby — perfect follow-up plans for after the reading!
Fri 9 Oct @ 10:00-11:30 (Weekly) — Osdorp
Kleintjekunst invites babies, toddlers, and their parents to explore creative materials like clay, water, and fabrics in their weekly play ateliers. The sessions are free and come recommended by my friends who live locally.
Sat 10 Oct (Daily) — Elzenhagen
The CineKid Festival is celebrating its 40th year, and they're hosting a free special event for the toddler attendees! You'll watch a short film together and then get creative — create a long party streamer, draw squiggly lines in the air with others, make the biggest drawing in the world, magically project your drawings onto the big screen, and even make edible drawings 🍝
13-15 Oct @ 14:00-17:00 (Tue), 10:00-13:00 (Wed, Thu) — Oosterpark
Stichting Zacht Beton is filling up a former gymnasium with curious materials and guiding workshops so that kids can discover how things work through play. For little makers, big explorers, and curious parents. Free to drop in — no registration needed unless you're coming as a group.
13-16 Oct @ 09:30-11:30— Slotervaart
A few Slotervaart-based nonprofits have come together to put on Fall in the Neighborhood, a series of events for families to enjoy over Herfstvakantie. For the baby & toddler crew, there's MiniLab, a space where the littlest ones can discover how to make things roll, slide, and ride in a safe place primed for discovery. Registration is free, with food included.
Sat 24 Oct @ 10:00-15:00 — Weteringschans
Nonprofit Amsterdam Mamas is preparing for Spooktacular (their annual Halloween event) and is currently seeking volunteers from the community! In exchange for your help, you and your kid get a free ticket to the event.
South
Thu 8 Oct @ 10:30-12:00 (Weekly) — De Pijp
Thursday mornings are for little hands at Monti's World: painting, threading, kneading, and a snack they make themselves. Certified Montessori Assistant Lorena is leading the season-themed sessions for a 10-week autumn term, but you're welcome to drop in at any time.
Thu 8 Oct @ 11:30-12:30 (Weekly) — Vondelpark
A new pre/postnatal yoga class just started up at De Roos, next to Vondelpark. Alessandra is a twin mum to two boys and has been teaching yoga for a decade. She's now leading this class for expecting and postpartum moms, helping you maintain, build, or regain essential mobility, stability, energy, and community during matrescence — through intentional movement, breathwork, guided relaxation, and a welcoming space.
10-18 Oct — Museumkwartier
Over Herfstvakantie the Stedelijk is going full Yayoi Kusama: dots everywhere, and even the littlest ones can be part of it. The festival includes the Obliteration Room (stick your own colored dots on a white room until it's ✨ art), dancing in a light installation, a photobooth, a mini-universe art expo, and decorating your own gym bag. Book this one ahead, as tickets are going fast. I’ll be going on Tuesday!
Sat 10 Oct @ 13:30-17:00 — Bijlmermeer
What does queer parenthood look like — in all its forms, stories and possibilities? The first-ever Queer Parenthood Conference is happening this Saturday: a gathering focused on queer parenthood, community, knowledge-sharing and imagining futures together. Whether you are already a queer parent, hoping to become one, supporting queer families professionally or personally, or simply interested in the subject, you're warmly invited.
Sun 11 Oct @ 15:00-18:00 (Monthly) — De Pijp
Sunday Good Vibrations Club is a monthly gathering for families to explore world culture via live music: listening, singing, dancing, discovering instruments. This month, the Club is heading to Spain with a flamenco show and workshop, crafts and drawing, and delicious tapas and drinks. Half price for siblings! The event page does say 4+, but I think some 3 year olds could handle it 😁
West
Tue 6 Oct — De Baarsjes
Happening tomorrow! Baby clothing company Zipster is looking for parents and babies for a breastfeeding photoshoot at Papote Cafe. Coffee, snacks, and €100 + Zipster swag are on offer for the attendees! Join the Pumping Queens group (link in the Groups Directory) for details on how to sign up.
Sun 11 Oct @ 11:00 — Schinkelbuurt
Kids and parents work together to build life-size articulated cardboard puppets — drawing, painting, and assembling body parts that actually move. Once everyone's puppet is ready, Brazilian artist Raquel Diniz leads the whole group in a dance party with the recycled creations, set to live piano music. Part of Munganga Theater’s Family Sunday mornings. Babies under 1 free!
Everywhere
Mom in Balance is a workout community for women at every stage of motherhood, with over 1,000 women training weekly across parks like Vondelpark, Noorderpark, Flevopark, and more. They offer programs for pregnancy, postpartum recovery (Back in Shape), and general fitness (Mpower) — flexible scheduling means there's almost always a class that fits your week.
Did you find an event today? Consider donating to support our work and keep this newsletter free for the community.
Until next time,
Alex from Amsterdam Parent Project (APP)
