Hi, I'm taking my 17 and 15 year olds for a week in The Netherlands in July. They are both autistic, and my youngest, especially, will find Amsterdam too overwhelming to spend the whole week there, plus I'm on a budget, so it makes sense for us to base ourselves outside Amsterdam and visit for a couple of daytrips, as well as days at the beach. We will need self catering rather than a hotel, and won't be hiring a car. We're getting the Eurostar from London and it's going to be really hard work for my youngest, so somewhere easy to get to from Amsterdam Centraal would be great.
My kids are both into quite alternative stuff - my youngest is really into art and music (as am I), my oldest is a huge film buff, both are LGBTQ. We want to stay somewhere relaxed near water, with outside space, with lots of opportunities for urban wandering and cool things to see, with easy access on public transport to the beach for me, but on a smaller scale than Amsterdam. I've found an air b n b apartment in Alkmaar we really like the look of, but I'm worried it may be a bit staid for them.
Anyone have any idea whether Alkmaar would be a good base for us, or where would be a good alternative? (Haarlem? Leiden? Rotterdam? Utrecht?)