NEMO (museum)

NEMO Science Museum is a hands-on science centre in Amsterdam, located in the Oosterdokseiland neighbourhood between Oosterdokseiland and Kattenburg. It occupies a building designed by Renzo Piano since 1997 and contains five floors of interactive science exhibitions, making it the largest science centre in the Netherlands.

Don't miss

• On the first floor, look for the giant domino set with contraptions including a giant bell and a flying car, alongside a large chain-reaction circuit.
• The second floor has a ball factory where you sort plastic balls by weight, size, and colour, then send them in metal boxes with magnetic barcodes.
• The third floor contains a giant science lab where you can test vitamin C in substances and examine DNA.
• The fourth floor focuses on the human mind with memory tests, mind problems, and sense testers; note the dark lighting that adds to the atmosphere.
• The fifth-floor upper deck offers a children’s play area and a great view of the city surroundings.

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit NEMO (museum)

Cheapest way inAmsterdam Classic Saloon Boat Cruise with Drinks and Cheese4.8★ · 33,201 travelers~1 hourFree cancellationFrom$19 per personSee dates →Most bookedAmsterdam Luxury Canal Cruise + Unlimited Drinks & Bites option4.9★ · 31,482 travelers~1 hourFree cancellationFrom$23 per personSee dates →Private & flexibleVan Gogh Museum Amsterdam Exclusive Tour w/ Reserved Entry4.9★ · 1,797 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$185 per personSee dates →

Getting there

Know before you go

• The museum has five floors of hands-on science exhibitions, so plan to spend time exploring each level.
• The fourth floor is quite dark, which adds to the eeriness of the human mind exhibits.

A bit of history

The museum began in 1923 as the Museum van den Arbeid (Museum of Labor), founded by artist Herman Heijenbrock on the Rozengracht. It was renamed the Nederlands Instituut voor Nijverheid en Techniek (NINT) in 1954, then newMetropolis in 1997, and Science Center Nemo in 2000. The current name NEMO Science Museum was adopted in 2016.