"I wanted to make local family life easier to understand and help parents feel more connected to the city and to each other."

Samira and I share a mission — to centralize information for local parents and make it that much easier to discover all of the amazing things this city has to offer. She founded Amsterdam Kids back in 2023, gathering places, activities, events, and now services that help all parents navigate family life here in Amsterdam. It's one of the most established platforms of its kind here in the Netherlands.

Samira recently had another daughter, and is experiencing postpartum life all over again — just this time, with her baby AND 8 year old in tow. It has been lovely to connect with her to hear how second-time-mom life is treating her, as well as how it has shaped what she's focusing on with Amsterdam Kids.

The One Ask

So many community parents have one cause or action that could really help shift the needle on something they care about. Let's celebrate both asking for help and small acts of community service ❤️

Samira's One Ask: If there's a service, class, or baby-friendly place that made your postpartum experience easier, share it with Amsterdam Kids. A recommendation that takes you two minutes could help another parent find exactly the support or connection they need.

Bio

Name: Samira E.
Originally from: London, UK
Age and gender of your children: Two daughters: 8 years old and 3 months old
Service/expertise: Founder of Amsterdam Kids, a family discovery platform connecting parents with places, activities, events, and services across the Netherlands
Company: Amsterdam Kids

Interview

Tell us about what you do for the postpartum community!

Through Amsterdam Kids, I help parents find the support, activities, and connections that can make the postpartum period feel less overwhelming and isolating. For a long time, I've wanted to make it easier for families to find and connect with postpartum service providers. Our new and growing Family Services section brings together pregnancy and postnatal support, including doulas, lactation consultants, sleep consultants, therapists, and childcare providers. We also share baby-friendly places, classes, and events, helping new parents get out of the house, meet others, and find the support they need.

What inspired you to start your postpartum business and/or deepen your expertise?

I'm driven by connecting and helping people, spotting what's missing, and turning scattered information into something genuinely useful. I created Amsterdam Kids because it was the platform I'd been looking for when my eldest daughter was little. Information about places, activities, and family support was spread across different websites, social media accounts, and parent groups, so I wanted to bring it together in one trusted and easy-to-use place. Over time, Amsterdam Kids has evolved into a wider family platform. Experiencing the postpartum stage again eight years later with my second daughter has also given me a fresh understanding of how much practical information, connection, and support matter during those early months.

What has your work as a postpartum expert taught you about yourself, as a parent and professional?

It has taught me that the things I naturally do — connecting people, noticing gaps, and making information easier to access — are also the things that give my work meaning. As a parent, I've learned that I don't need to have every answer. Often, what helps most is knowing where to look and having people around you who understand. Professionally, it has reminded me to listen closely to what parents actually need rather than assuming I already know.

What has been easier about postpartum the second time around than you thought it would be?

"This time [in postpartum], I've felt more confident trusting my instincts and less pressure to do everything perfectly. I'm also more willing to accept help, slow down, and appreciate how temporary each stage is."

The adjustment has felt easier than I expected, especially after an eight-year age gap. I thought I might feel like I was starting completely from scratch, but a lot came back naturally. There are still difficult days, of course, but I'm much kinder to myself than I was the first time around.

What has been more challenging?

The mental load has been harder than I expected. Even when things are going well, there is so much to remember, organize, and second-guess. Returning to the baby stage after eight years has also meant finding a new rhythm as a family while making sure my eldest daughter still feels seen and included. Building a business at the same time adds another layer, so I'm learning to be more realistic about what can fit into one day.

What's a postpartum belief you find yourself talking about (and perhaps correcting) often with new parents?

That you should be enjoying every moment. Postpartum life can be beautiful, exhausting, lonely, and joyful — sometimes all within the same hour. Finding parts of it difficult does not mean you are ungrateful or doing a bad job. I also think parents need to hear that asking for help is not a sign that they are failing. Support is part of how families are meant to function.

Why have you chosen to practice here in Amsterdam?

Amsterdam is where I'm raising my own family, so the platform has grown from real life here. It's a wonderful city for families, but useful information is often scattered, and many international parents are navigating a new language, healthcare system, and community without their usual support network nearby. I wanted to make local family life easier to understand and help parents feel more connected to the city and to each other.

What is one area of postpartum support in Amsterdam that you believe is currently underserved or needs more development?

I'd like to see more attention given to the period after the kraamzorg ends. The first days are well supported, but parents can feel quite alone once that immediate care stops, especially if family lives abroad. There is a real need for clearer signposting to practical and emotional support, affordable drop-in spaces, and opportunities to meet other parents without feeling that everything has to be a formal class or appointment.

A recent win has been finding a rhythm that allows me to get out with both daughters and enjoy Amsterdam together, despite their eight-year age gap. It sounds simple, but managing a baby's needs while making sure my eldest still has fun and feels involved has taken some adjustment. Those outings have also reminded me why Amsterdam Kids matters and helped me rediscover the city through a new stage of parenthood.

What is one current goal you have for yourself: as a parent, expert, or business owner?

My goal is to grow the Family Services section of Amsterdam Kids into a trusted place where parents across the Netherlands can quickly find the right support, from pregnancy and postpartum care to childcare, therapy, and family services. I want it to feel useful rather than overwhelming, with clear information and genuine recommendations from the community.

What's your best piece of advice for parents-to-be or new parents?

"Find out who you can call, which local services are available, and where you can meet other parents. You do not have to use every option, but it helps to know what is there."

Build your support network before you think you need it. You do not have to use every option, but it helps to know what is there. Try not to measure your experience against someone else's highlight reel. Take the help that works for your family and give yourself permission to do things your own way.

Connect with Samira

You can find Amsterdam Kids' full directory of family services, activities, and events at amsterdamkids.com, or follow along on Instagram.