Dutch Design of the Day: STEK kids furniture

I first came across Dutch kids furniture brand Stek on one of my favorite Mommy blogs Babyccino kids.
Dutch design is similar to that of the Dutch personality: simple, stoic and robust. All of their pieces look like they could withstand nearly any form of child abuse.

Chairs start at 99€ so they're not cheap, but they will probably last a lifetime. Available through the Stek webshop.

Best toy stores in the Hague (Den Haag)

{Taska INI MINI Kids shop}

Raise your hand if you feel like you're constantly buying toys for kids birthday parties, new baby or a plethora of other special occasions that require constant trips to the toy store. I know that I do. Between my 7 yr old, 6 yr old and 2 yr old, I sometimes feel like I have a toy store in my own house. This being the case, I really enjoy nice, durable items of good quality, especially if I'm going to be tripping over them all of the time.

When arriving in the Hague, I kept despairing that there were "no good toy stores here". It's not true! There are quite a few lovely, high-quality stores right here in Den Haag where you can get toys and objects that make lovely gifts and that won't make your house look full of junk "made in China".

Here are my favorite places to stop for kids toys in the Hague:

1. Matrushka
Anna Paulownaplein 11
2518 BK Den Haag
A lovely little toy shop with mainly wooden and sustainably made items on the Anna Paulowna circle. During the winter they also carry 100% wool items from excellent quality Danish brand Joha to keep the minis nice and warm.

2. De Kikkerkoning
Aert Van der Goesstraat 48
2582 AL, Den Haag
This is really my "go-to" place for kids gifts of all ages. There is usually something for everyone, lots of nice European brands of good quality and best of all, they're just nice people in there.

3. Kaatje aan de Rein
Frederik Hendriklaan 63
2582 BT Den Haag
A great shop for gifts in general, but with a super little kids corner. They have a fantastic Christmas shop over the holidays and lots of little trinkets, games and fun things for the smalls.

4. De Maan is Rond
Franklinstraat 95 (hoek Weimarstraat)
Den Haag
I'm not sure if I love this shop more for myself or for the kids. But it's a treasure trove of beads, baubles, DIY kits, vintage-style toys and everything you need to make a great jewellery party.

5. Spelenderwijs
Stevinstraat 118
2587ER Den HaagTucked away on a quiet street in Scheveningen, it truly feels like you are entering Ali Baba's cave when you step inside this store. It has an impressive and fun selection of all kinds of toys for kids of all ages - mostly from reputable brands and lots of wooden items. The only problem is the elderly woman who owns the store is seriously unpleasant to deal with and it's turned me off on more than one occasion. But if you can grin and bear the bad vibes in a good shop, it's worth a visit!

6. Inimini Taska
Prins Hendrickstraat 98 + 104
2518HW Den Haag
The original Tas-Ka store has always been one of my favorite places since arriving in the Hague. The selection never seems to vary much, but the store has a simple, clean refreshing feel to it with a nice blend of Dutch and scandinavian minimalist items. Last summer they came out with Tas-Ka "INI MINI" which is their kids lifestyle annex and is very much along the same lines as their flagship store. It's just nice to see a different and original selection of kids stuff, such as fun quirky stuffed animals from Donna Wilson, wooden toys from HAY and sleeping bags from French textile brand LAB.

7. Achtung Baby
Prins Henrikstraat 97
2518HM, Den haag
This is actually a consignment shop for kids clothing but it seems to have branched out in recent times to also selling kids toys and objects. The focus is on vintage, homemade, handmade and refurbished, which I like. In this day in age, it's all too easy to just throw things out and buy again. I like the idea of a shop that reuses and recycles - good principles to live by even for kid's toys!

8. Monsterjes
Prins Willemstraat 26a,
Den Haag
Another winner in the Scheveningen area, this is a good one to stop by after a trips to the International Health Center as it's a stone's throw away. I particularly like their selection of little party favors and the lady running is shop is also particularly nice. Always a plus in Holland!

9. Rood met Witte Stippen

Beeklaan 303
2562AH Den Haag
The toy shop that looks like it's housed in an old book store and with its red & white bakfiets often stationed outside. Not the trendiest spot with the newest selection of toys, but they have some oldies and goodies.

10. Pro Special Winkel
Herengracht 38
Den Haag
A good one if you're in the city center and HEMA just isn't cutting it. Mostly wooden toys and with a nice online selection too.

These are my favorite shops when I'm looking for something that's special, original and overall high-quality. For the rest of the times, there's always good old Bart Smit or Intertoys for the classic LEGO or Playmobil gifts. And I'll have to save my long, long list of online toy shops for a separate post.

Where do you like to buy toys for your kids in the Netherlands?

The cutest Dutch baby-toddler brands

If you live in the Hague with tots, you will most likely nod in agreement when I say that there just isn't a whole lot of cute gear for the kinderen here. So when you start going into Baby Gap withdrawal, check out these 5 cool Dutch brands for your kids.

1. Le Big Leggings & Tights.
You can't live without layering in the Netherlands. Le Big has a great assortment of tights and leggings. Mine have several pairs of these classic tights. For your little guy, the leggings work well as long johns and no one has to know. Another fave are these cute socks that actually stay on. Available in lots of different colors too.

2. Shoesme Babies and Toddler shoes.
I am the first one to complain about how ugly and expensive children's shoes are in the Hague. From between 50-90 Euros, Shoesmes are by no means cheap, but they're a good fit, decent quality and normally a pretty good design. At least they're not an eye-sore like the Lelli Kellies. Available through Sterre + Tijl, and Albert Nolten Kids.

3. Bugaboo strollers

If you're new to the Netherlands, you might be wondering why there is such an abundance of this super expensive but trendy stroller in the land of the cheap. Invented by a Dutch chap, the Bugaboo is the Dutch baby industry's one claim to fame. And with good reason, after several years on the market, the Bugaboo is still one of the trendiest rides around. Available in Sterre + Tijl and Baby Park.

4. Imps & Elfs clothing line

I&E may be my all time favorite Dutch children's brand. My kids practically lived in their super-soft leggings and cute t-shirts for the first months of their lives. Available in de Bijenkorf, Cotton Candy, and Zwanger & Co.

5. Kids Case clothing line
Kids Case is another environmentally friendly Dutch children's brand. Lots of organic cotton and great every day designs. Available online through the Orange Bag online shop.