NEMO Science Museum
A green copper building shaped like a ship's bow rising out of the water, with the roof open as a public square.
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NEMO stands directly over the entrance to the IJ tunnel, and Renzo Piano used that: the building follows the tunnel's rise, so it climbs out of the water as a long sloped green copper wedge that reads as a ship's bow lifting, one of the most recognisable modern buildings in Amsterdam. It opened in 1997. Inside are five floors of hands-on science exhibits aimed at children and families - chain reactions, a water zone, a laboratory where visitors run experiments in coats and goggles, a section on how the brain works, and demonstrations of chemistry and electricity - and it is loud and busy by design. The roof is the other half: a stepped public square open free to anyone, climbing to about thirty metres with a view over the old harbour, the city and the Oosterdok, with a summer terrace on it.
What you actually see
- A rising green wedge - Piano's building following the tunnel out of the water.
- Five floors of hands-on exhibits - built for children to operate rather than watch.
- A working laboratory - visitors running experiments with coats and goggles.
- A free rooftop square - stepped to thirty metres with a view over the harbour.
When to go
All year. A day.
Honest expectations
It is designed for children and is loud and crowded, especially in school holidays - adults without children may find it hard going. Book timed tickets. The roof is free and open separately.
Nearby
The National Maritime Museum is next door; Centraal Station is a short walk.
What to pack for NEMO Science Museum
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
