What is NEMO?

NEMO Science Museum is Amsterdam's largest science museum, housed in one of the city's most distinctive buildings: a copper-green hull-shaped structure designed by Renzo Piano, jutting out over the entrance to the IJ Tunnel in the old harbour. It opened in 1997 and has become one of the Netherlands' most visited attractions with nearly 700,000 visitors per year.

Unlike traditional science museums, NEMO is almost entirely interactive — designed around the philosophy that understanding comes from doing. Five floors of exhibits cover chemistry, biology, technology, physics, and human nature, with the vast majority of activities hands-on. It is aimed primarily at children aged 6–16 but is genuinely engaging for adults too, and particularly good for mixed-age family groups.

💡 Free Rooftop: NEMO's rooftop terrace is free to visit without a museum ticket — simply go to the entrance and ask to access the roof. It offers one of the best elevated views of Amsterdam's old harbour and canal ring. In summer it hosts an outdoor café and paddling pools for children.

What to Do Inside: Floor by Floor

Floor 1: The Lab

A hands-on chemistry lab where visitors conduct real experiments under the guidance of staff demonstrators. Activities change regularly but typically include extracting DNA, creating chemical reactions, and building models. Popular with school groups — arrive early to get a spot at a demonstration.

Floor 2: Phenomena

Physics and natural phenomena: water experiments, light and colour, and a fascinating section on the science of sound. The bubble-making station is a perennial favourite with younger children.

Floor 3: Chain Reactions

Technology and mechanics — visitors can build and test machines, create energy chains, and operate a working miniature factory. The “Rube Goldberg machine” demonstrations (chain reaction machines) are some of the most popular activities in the building.

Floor 4: Search Light

Brain science and human perception — how do our senses work? What is memory? This floor includes exhibits on optical illusions, psychological experiments, and a fascinating section on sleep and dreams. Older children and adults tend to spend the most time here.

Floor 5: The Wonder of Life

Biology and reproduction — pitched at older children and teenagers, this floor covers human development, health, and relationships with straightforward scientific honesty. Well designed for the age group it's intended for.

Practical Information

  • Address: Oosterdok 2, 1011 VX Amsterdam
  • Opening hours: Daily 10:00–17:30 (closed Mondays September–May)
  • Tickets: Adults €17.50 | Under-4 free | Museumkaart accepted
  • Duration: 2–4 hours (longer for young families)

Tips for Visiting with Children

  • Book tickets online — it's slightly cheaper and avoids the entrance desk queue.
  • The museum's café (ground floor) is excellent and reasonably priced compared to most Amsterdam tourist attractions. The terrace café (in summer) has fantastic harbour views.
  • The busiest time is between 11:00 and 14:00 on weekends and school holidays. Arriving at opening (10:00) or after 14:30 makes a significant difference.
  • The building's exterior staircase leads to the rooftop even outside museum hours — a free viewpoint well worth seeking out.
  • The nearby Scheepvaartmuseum (National Maritime Museum) is five minutes' walk away and excellent for older children interested in Dutch naval history.

Getting There

NEMO is in the eastern docklands area, a 15-minute walk from Amsterdam Centraal Station along the waterfront. Bus 22 stops nearby. The canal cruise docks at Amsterdam Centraal are walking distance away, making NEMO a natural stop after a canal boat trip.

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