5 Easy Easter Family Holidays

The Easter school holidays are a great opportunity for a family holiday in Europe. There are so many fantastic destinations within easy reach of the UK, and travelling by ferry means you can take your car with you. This usually makes things a lot easier when travelling with kids, as they feel totally at ease in the family car.

We’ve come up with five great destinations in Europe for fun and easy family holidays.

Efteling, Netherlands

For an especially magical family trip, Efteling in the Netherlands is perfect for families looking for some fun. This theme park and resort offers something of the unexpected, with famous fairy tales such as Hansel and Gretel, Sleeping Beauty and Tom Thumb to be found in the enchated forest. There are rides and attractions aimed at all ages, including daredevil rollercoasters for older ones and performances for the whole family.. Demonstrating extraordinary creativity, Efteling is whimsically-designed and imaginative. There’s also a choice of hotels and holiday homes at the park, each with their own special charm.

Rouen, France

Normandy offers a huge range of places to visit, with no end of attractions to keep kids and adults entertained. Rouen is a good city base, and is only around an hour’s drive from the DFDS ferry port at Dieppe. Transport the little ones to a medieval realm of cobbled pathways, cathedrals and timbered houses. It’s like a land from the stories you tell them at bedtime come to life. From here you also have access to the neighbouring Boucles de la Seine, a beautiful rural wonderland set among the meandering river, with picturesque farms, villages, and historic sites.

Amsterdam, Netherlands  

The Dutch capital is fantastic destination for almost any kind of holiday, and being within such easy reach makes it ideal. The DFDS ferry from Newcastle takes you directly to Amsterdam, with an overnight crossing, giving the whole family a chance to enjoy all the fantastic onboard facilities. The city is full of delights and attractions, from canal cruises to exciting museums, petting zoos, parks and Holland’s oldest zoo. Head to the Tropenmuseum for interactive and immersive displays, or Madam Tussauds to catch a picture with your favourite celebrity waxworks.

Boulogne, France

This city offers lots to see on a family holiday, and is just a stone’s throw from Calais. Since its beginnings as a Roman port, Boulogne has soaked up a great deal of history, and remains the largest fishing port in France. Described by Charles Dickens as ‘picturesque’. Boulogne’s charming old quarter is perfect for quiet family strolls, and the castle and towering cathedral make for fantastic sight-seeing. There’s also the Nausicaa sea centre, which houses an aquarium along with many fascinating exhibitions about humanity’s relationship with the sea.

Edam, Netherlands

A cycling holiday is ideal at Easter time, as the weather is usually warm, with clear skies, but not too hot, and the Netherlands is the perfect destination to take your bike. The lack of hills makes it much more manageable for kids, and it’s a country that puts a lot of thought into its cycling infrastructure. Edam is a perfect area to head with bikes in tow, offering endless countryside dotted with windmills and flower-filled fields. The town of Edam itself also provides a picturesque and pleasant place to stay between cycling excursions.