STORY | AMSTERDAM

Favorite Stuffed Animals on the Amsterdam Canals

By Aleksandria Rudenko | Published 1 November 2026

Laughing family on a canal bridge, the two little girls holding their stuffed animals, a cream teddy bear and a white bunny

Ellie and June brought their favorite stuffed animals to the Amsterdam canals: a white bunny, a cream teddy bear and a bunny covered in tiny flowers. The sisters, five and two, had carried them all the way from the United States. So on an August afternoon, the toys joined the family session too.

Their parents, Hannah and Ben, wanted the girls exactly as they were on this trip, toys included. Small children with a toy are part of my family photoshoots in Amsterdam all the time, and I love it: with an old friend in their arms, even a busy bridge feels like home.

No Peeking on the Canal Bench

We started on a dark green bench by the water, with a houseboat right behind it. Hannah wore a white sundress and Ben a dusty pink shirt, and the girls matched them in blush pink and pale blue. When I asked the parents for a kiss, each of them covered one daughter’s eyes. Ellie giggled right through it.

Parents kissing on a dark green canal bench while each covers one daughter's eyes, the girls holding stuffed animals on their laps — A canal bench, a quarter past five

Then the girls had the bench to themselves. Ellie threw an arm around her little sister and kissed her cheek, while June held on tight to the teddy bear. Every frame of this session also came in black and white, and this one I love even more without color.

Black and white close-up of a girl kissing her little sister's cheek on a canal bench, the toddler hugging her stuffed animal — The same bench, in black and white

Tour Boats Under the Bridges

Next, we walked to the Reguliersgracht in the canal ring, where arched bridges line up one behind the other. A tour boat full of people passed right below the family, and some of them waved. Meanwhile, Hannah twirled Ellie in a little dance, and June took her father’s hand.

Family of four smiling on a bridge over the Reguliersgracht as a tour boat full of people passes below, canal houses behind them

Wide view of an arched brick bridge in the canal ring with a family standing on top and a small boat passing underneath — An arched bridge in the canal ring, 17:25

Mother twirling her older daughter on a canal bridge while the father holds the toddler's hand, an arched bridge behind

Favorite Stuffed Animals in Every Frame

By half past five, the girls’ favorite stuffed animals had become part of every family portrait. They changed hands all the time: first June had the bunny and Ellie the bear, and a few minutes later it was the other way around. On the next bridge, the canal behind them stretched away under the trees, lined with little boats.

Family on a bridge above a long canal lined with trees, parked cars and moored boats, both girls in their parents' arms

First, Hannah stood with both girls at the railing, and then it was Ben’s turn. When a boat sailed past, Ellie’s mouth fell wide open.

Mother in a white dress at a canal railing with her two daughters, who hold up their favorite stuffed animals for the camera

Bearded father in glasses holding his toddler and her stuffed animal, his older daughter laughing open-mouthed at the railing

Giggles and Stuffed Animals on a Stoop

At a quarter to six, we found a brick house with white shutters and a stone stoop. The whole family stood on the steps first. After that, Ellie leaned on the black railing with her bunny, and the sisters sat down side by side. June grabbed her sister’s cheeks, and Ellie shrieked with laughter.

Family of four on the stone steps of a brick canal house with white shutters, a black iron railing beside them

Smiling girl in a pink dress leaning on a black stair railing as she hugs her stuffed animal, a white bunny with long ears

Two sisters laughing side by side on a stoop, the older one with a white bunny and the toddler with a flowery stuffed animal

Black and white frame of a girl shrieking with laughter on a stoop as her little sister squeezes her cheeks from behind — On the stoop, in black and white

Their parents squeezed in around them, and for a moment, all four were laughing at once.

Parents and both daughters laughing together on a canal house stoop, the father sitting on the lowest step in a pink shirt

Running Ahead on a Quiet Street

Toward six, we turned into a quiet street with a stone strip along its bricks. June walked it like a balance beam, and then all four strolled toward me hand in hand. On the tree-lined street by the next canal, the girls ran ahead, and Ellie skipped off on her own for a moment.

Toddler in a pale blue romper walking along a stone strip in a brick street, her parents waiting farther back

Family walking hand in hand down a quiet street toward the camera, the older girl carrying her stuffed animal

Two girls running ahead along a tree-lined street by a canal, their parents strolling behind them hand in hand

Girl in a pink sundress walking away along a stone strip in a canal-side street, cars and lamp posts in the distance

Our last stop was a cast-iron fence in front of two dark green doors. Ellie kissed her dad on the cheek, while June leaned on the rail and laughed.

In black and white, a girl kisses her father's cheek behind a cast-iron fence while her mother and little sister laugh — Six o’clock, in black and white

A moment later, Ben flipped Ellie upside down, bunny and all, and June shrieked with joy at the fence.

Father flipping his daughter and her stuffed animal upside down behind an iron fence, the mother and toddler laughing at the doors — Dark green doors, just after six

Traveling with little ones and their toys? My guide to a photoshoot with little kids explains why a favorite toy is always welcome.

Coming to Amsterdam with your own little ones, stuffed animals and all? Discover how my family photoshoots in Amsterdam work.