NEMO Science Museum is a science and technology museum located in one of Amsterdam’s most renowned buildings. Book your tickets to NEMO here
NEMO is great for both kids and adults alike, with exhibitions academically designed in order to inspire and actively stimulate the mind.
NEMO is a striking green building sited on top of the IJ river car tunnel. The sloping copper-cladded structure creates a transition between the city centre and Amsterdam’s harbour – although to some observers it looks like a ship’s hull.
Opened in 1997, NEMO was designed by famous Italian architect Renzo Piano whose other work includes Pompidou Centre (Paris), Potzdammer Platz (Berlin) and the Shard (London).
NEMO has a collection of around 19,500 artefacts which tell the broad story of humanity and energy. The core collection is particularly focussed on lighting, electrical engineering, energy generation/storage and early 20th century home technology.
Spread over 5 floors, there are a number of fascinating science-themed exhibitions with plenty of hands-on equipment. The permanent exhibits at NEMO currently on show are named and themed as follows:
Fenomena (Level 1) – ‘experience how science works’ – exhibitions: Sensational Science, Science throughout the Ages.
Technium (Level 2) – ‘unravel everyday technology’ – exhibitions: World of Shapes, The Machine, Energize, Water Power, Constructions, Innovation Gallery.
Elementa (Level 3) – ‘learn about the building blocks of the cosmos’ – exhibitions: Life in the Universe, Laboratory.
Humania (Level 4) – ‘discover more about who you are’ – exhibitions: Humania.
Energetica (Level 5) – ‘play with energy’ – exhibitions: Energetica.
There are several entertaining shows, demonstrations and lab projects everyday. Exhibits are labelled in Dutch and English.
Facilities include a bookshop, a café (2nd floor) and the museum restaurant – located on the 5th floor at NEMO’s sloping roof terrace which offers panoramic views of Amsterdam. The terrace is also accessible to non-museum visitors and includes the interactive Energetica exhibition with a renewable energy theme.
NEMO De Studio
Opened in 2021, NEMO De Studio (The Studio) is an off-site location which presents science and technology exhibitions for more adult audiences. It is located in the Marineterrein area of Amsterdam. The small building used to be a gym for Netherlands Marine Corps.
The inaugural exhibition at NEMO Studio was Bits of You (2021-2022) which looked at the digital world of data privacy and algorithms.
The current NEMO Studio exhibition is Energy Junkies (running 8 Jun 2022 to 29 Oct 2023) which is about the effects of energy consumption on society.
How To Book NEMO Science Museum Tickets
To visit NEMO you must book a ticket and an entry timeslot online in advance. It is not possible to turn up and buy a ticket over-the-counter at the museum. Note, even those with an Iamsterdam City Card and Museumkaart must pre-book their timeslot!
NEMO Science Museum Essential Info
| Opening Times | Open 1000-1730 (Tue-Sun); note, in 2023 it is also open 1000-1730 on Mondays between April and August plus on other Dutch school holidays. NEMO De Studio is open 1200-1730 Wed-Sun, closed Mon-Tue. |
| Admission Prices (2023) | Entry to NEMO costs €17.50. Whilst children 0-3 get in for free, those 4 and over have to pay the full admission price. Museumkaart and I Amsterdam City Card holders get free entry. Pre-book your tickets to NEMO online here NEMO tickets are valid at NEMO De Studio. Entry to De Studio only costs €7.50 – this ticket is not valid at the main NEMO museum. Free entrance for Museumkaart and I Amsterdam City card holders. Alternatively, order the I Amsterdam City Card online here which includes free entrance to NEMO and NEMO De Studio. |
| Getting There | NEMO is easily reached walking east from Amsterdam Central Station towards Oosterdok (15 mins walk). By public transport take GVB bus 43 (direction: Borneo Eiland) from the Central station IJ-side. Get out at stop Kadijksplein and walk 5-10 mins. NEMO De Studio is located in building 027A of the Marineterrein. Although just across the water from NEMO, it takes about 15 minutes to walk there. From NEMO walk via Prins Hendrikkade, pass the Maritime Museum and continue about 200m when you can enter left into the terrain entrance at Kattenburgerstraat 5. Follow signs from there. |
NEMO Science Museum, Oosterdok 2, 1011 VX Amsterdam
T: +31(0)20 531 3233, nemosciencemuseum.nl
Last updated 26 June 2023. This article was first published in 2008 and has been regularly updated.
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