Why go

NEMO is the largest science museum in the Netherlands and one of the best family days out in Amsterdam. It occupies a huge green building, designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano, that rises out of the water of the Oosterdok like the bow of a ship, a short walk east of Amsterdam Centraal.

Inside, five floors are packed with hands-on experiments, demonstrations and exhibitions on physics, chemistry, technology, the human body and more. Almost everything can be touched, pushed or tried out, which is why children love it, but the exhibitions are clever enough to keep adults busy too. On top of the building, the sloping rooftop square offers one of the best views in the city.

The museum’s aim is to make science and technology understandable and fun, so explanations are short and practical, and most labels are in English as well as Dutch. Exhibitions are refreshed regularly, and the building has places to sit and eat on several floors. On a rainy day it is one of the most popular places in Amsterdam for families, so arrive with a ticket already booked. A visit pairs naturally with a walk along the Oosterdok and the eastern docklands, where old warehouses and modern housing line the water, or with lunch in the busy Nieuwmarkt area.

What to see

  • The chain reaction. A giant machine of balls, levers and gears that sets off a chain of events.
  • Hands-on labs. Spaces where visitors can carry out their own experiments with real equipment.
  • Exhibitions on the human body. Interactive displays on how we think, feel and grow up.
  • Demonstrations and shows. Live science shows take place through the day.
  • The rooftop square. A wide terrace with views over the harbour, the old city and the Oosterdok.

Plan your visit

NEMO is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10am to 5.30pm. It also opens on Mondays during school holidays, on public holidays and from April to September. Tickets cost €21.50 per person from age 4, and Museumkaart holders go free if they book a slot online and show their card. One companion of a visitor with a disability can enter free.

Tickets have a start time, to spread visitors through the day. The museum is usually quietest on weekdays after 2pm and outside school holidays, while mornings in the holidays are the busiest. Children under 13 must be with an adult, and some activities are for visitors aged 6 and over. There are cafés and restaurants inside serving lunch, snacks and drinks, and the whole building is smoke-free. Most families spend two to four hours here.

NEMO is about 15 minutes’ walk from Amsterdam Centraal along the waterfront, or ten minutes from Nieuwmarkt metro station.

Nearby

The National Maritime Museum, with its replica of an 18th-century East India ship, is a short walk east along the water. The Public Library (OBA), with its rooftop restaurant and views, is just across the Oosterdok. Artis Royal Zoo and the Jewish Cultural Quarter are about 15 minutes away on foot.