Travel with Children - Amsterdam or Munich (4 days with an 11-year old)

Hello everyone. My 11 year old son and I are going to Turkey next summer for two weeks, flying from San Francisco. To break up the trip and to adjust a bit, we are going to do a 4 day layover in Europe. We are arriving in Munich from SFO. My question is, is it worth spending 4 days in Munich (before we head to Istanbul), or taking a 90 minute flight and spending those 4 days in Amsterdam instead? My sense is Amsterdam may be more interesting, but it's adding on one more flight (although a short one) and I've heard some nice things about Munich as well. Not trying to do both--seems like that would be too much. Any suggestions are most welcome--thanks very much.

Speaking as a former 11-year-old who loved Munich during visits at that age, I think Munich is a great choice.

There are so many things for you, from the Deutsches Museum to the BMW Welt and BMW Museum to the Olympic Park not to mention a possible one-day excursion to Berchtesgaden or Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

My article, Jonathan Spira's Munich (http://www.executiveroadwarrior.com/2010/05/jonathan-spiras-munich/), might be helpful here as well.

Ditto the above... Love that region! but I don't know Amsterdam very well. Only been there once. I will admit, I'm not the best one to answer this one!

Have you asked him which he's like to do? Sit him down at the computer and talk about what there is to see in both.

Though AMS is a great choice with an 11 yr old - I'd stick to Munich to reduce travel.

Thanks to all of you for your responses. JSpira--not sure if you wrote the article just for me ;), but that helped cinch the deal--we'll stay in Munich. Appreciate your assistance. Regards, FD