Seeing as I’ve recently built up my own little family in recent years, I jumped on board the opportunity to get the Düsseldorf Family Card (for free) which includes all sorts of different discounts and perks to being a family living in Düsseldorf.
Who doesn’t love a few good discounts, right? So, I figured I’d show you how you can get your own Düsseldorf Family Card too (so long as you actually have some youngsters in the family). It’s actually quite simple, but as we all know, without the ability to speak/understand German, sometimes we can feel like we’re left out in the cold a little bit, am I right?
PS: If you’re a fan of discounts like I am, you might also enjoy checking out some of the other awesome discounts you can find on Groupon – my go-to when planning our weekends in Düsseldorf and evenings out!
So, here it is, in English, the easiest way to get a Düsseldorf Family Card for free!
No, this is not a sponsored post, I simply thought the opportunity was great and wanted to share it with other new families just arriving in Düsseldorf!
Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Your Düsseldorf Family Card for Free
There are two ways you can apply for the Düsseldorf Family Card – you can apply online or you can call the Jugendamt (Child Services) on their hotline: 0211 – 8999051. My guess is if you’re anything like me, you avoid phone calls in German at all costs, and you’d rather apply online.
First Step: You’ll need to fill out the online application – “Antrag Stellen“
You can access the online application using this link here: >> Antrag Online Stellen <<
It is a rather easy process as you are only required to fill out the basic information (name, address, date of birth, and email address). Once you’ve completed the form, click “Senden“. This will lead you to the confirmation page where you can check to make sure all your details are correct. Once you’ve done so, you can then click “Endgültig absenden“. Once both steps have been completed you will receive a notification that they’ve received your request and the administration team will take care of it.
Second Step: You’ll receive a form in the mail which you are to sign and send back to the Jugendamt
The form is mostly filled out (thanks to you conveniently doing it all online) a few more sections may need to be filled out and then it just needs to be signed. You can simply sign the form, put it back into the envelope, and send it away!
Third Step: It’ll take a few weeks, but your Düsseldorf Family Card should arrive shortly
While it might not be just a one-step process, it really isn’t all that hard to get your Düsseldorf Family Card for free. If you do have any questions or need any help, feel free to reach out to me and I can try and help you through the process.
What discounts are offered with the Düsseldorf Family Card?
That is a tough question to answer in one small blog post. There are hundreds of family-friendly shops, restaurants, and events that offer up great discounts and deals to Düsseldorf families. There are so many, in fact, that the City of Düsseldorf has a drop-down search menu on the website so that you can search for activities by their location, name or category.
Here are a few examples:
- 20% discount at Aquazoo
- Multiple discounts at Cosmo Sports
- 10% discount at Burger King (Hunsrückenstraße)
- 10% discount at Bobbolino Kinderwelt
- Discounts for Movie Park tickets
- 2 Euro discount at the Neanderthal Museum
- 1 Euro discount at Okidoki-Kinderland Willich
- Multiple discounts at Pantakea
- Multiple discounts at Terrazoo Rheinberg
- 20% discount at Volkshochschule (family courses)
To see all the deals are currently being offered, visit Die Familiekarte Angebote website.
Who can get the Düsseldorf Family Card?
As long as you have a least 1 child (maximum age of 18 years) and are registered as their legal guardian and living in Düsseldorf, Germany, you can register for a Düsseldorf Family Card. Each legal guardian will receive a card (my husband and I received 2 cards in the mail). If you have children between the ages of 12 and 18 who often go off and explore with their friends, they are also eligible to receive their own Düsseldorf Family Card to carry around too.
Do I have to re-apply for the Düsseldorf Family Card every year?
According to the City of Düsseldorf, the new card will be automatically sent to all families who were previously registered and who are still eligible for the Düsseldorf Family Card. That means while the application process may be a little bit longer, you’ll only have to do it once.
Of course, this is always subject to change. You can check the City of Düsseldorf website for more information (in German).
Looking for some inspiration about what you can do in Düsseldorf with the kids? Check out 10 Things to Do in Kaiserswerth with Kids, Things to Do at Unterbacher See, or 100 FREE things to do in Düsseldorf.
