Amsterdam · Science museum

NEMO Science Museum Amsterdam: The Green Ship on the IJ

NEMO is the largest science centre in the Netherlands — five floors of hands-on experiments inside a giant green copper building shaped like a ship rising from the water, crowned by a free rooftop square with one of the best views in Amsterdam. Here is its story, the highlights, and how to visit.

By the AllTrips Editorial Team ·

The NEMO Science Museum building in Amsterdam illuminated at night and reflected in the harbour water
NEMO lit up at night, mirrored in the Oosterdok — the green copper hull is one of Amsterdam's most recognisable silhouettes.

NEMO Science Museum at a glance

Location: Oosterdok 2, on the waterfront east of Centraal Station. Allow: 2–3 hours, more with children. Entry: ticketed (rooftop free). Nearby: the National Maritime Museum, Centraal Station and Artis Royal Zoo.

The story of NEMO

Amsterdam's science museum began in 1923 as the Museum of Labour, a collection about technology and industry. Renamed NEMO in 1997, it moved in 1997 to its present home on the Oosterdok: a daring green copper building designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano — the same architect behind Paris's Centre Pompidou and London's Shard.

The building is the attraction before you even step inside. Shaped like the hull of a ship rising out of the harbour, it sits directly above the entrance to the IJ tunnel, and its sloping roof was designed from the start as a public square in the sky. Today NEMO welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, making it one of the most visited museums in the Netherlands.

The green copper exterior and brick tower of the NEMO Science Museum in Amsterdam on a sunny day
Renzo Piano's green copper 'ship' by day — the tower carries the museum's glowing NEMO logo.

What you will see

  • Five floors of hands-on science — nearly everything can be touched, pulled, built or launched, from giant soap bubbles to chain-reaction machines.
  • The chemistry lab and science shows — daily live demonstrations where experiments fizz, bang and smoke.
  • The human body and mind exhibitions — playful, sometimes cheeky galleries about how people work, aimed at curious kids and adults alike.
  • Engineering and energy — build bridges, generate power and explore how the Netherlands keeps the water out.
  • The rooftop square — a free-access sloping piazza with a café, water features and a panoramic view over the harbour, the Maritime Museum's tall ship and the old centre.
Visitors relaxing on the sloping rooftop terrace of the NEMO Science Museum in Amsterdam with historic sailing barges in the foreground
The rooftop square in summer — part viewpoint, part city beach, with historic barges moored below.
The NEMO Science Museum in Amsterdam at dusk with its green copper facade reflected in the calm harbour
The museum at dusk, when the copper facade glows green against the evening sky.

Tickets

Entry is ticketed, and booking online ahead of time is recommended for weekends and school holidays, when the museum regularly sells out its time slots. The rooftop square is free and does not require a ticket. The Museumkaart is valid for the exhibitions.

Plan ahead

NEMO Science Museum tickets

Compare NEMO Science Museum tickets — a good option when you want to book ahead.

Check prices on Tiqets

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Official information

NEMO — official website

For current opening hours, admission prices, exhibition programmes and science show times, always check the official website before your visit.

Visit nemosciencemuseum.nl

Getting there

NEMO is at Oosterdok 2, about a ten-minute walk east of Centraal Station along the waterfront — just follow the green copper hull on the horizon. Several buses stop at Oosterdok, and the museum sits beside the National Maritime Museum, which makes an easy pairing for a harbour-side day.

Practical tips

  • Book a morning time slot in school holidays — the museum is at its busiest from midday.
  • Even without a ticket, walk up the outside stairs to the rooftop for one of the best free views in the city; it is especially good at sunset.
  • Check the day's science-show schedule at the entrance and plan your floors around it.
  • Combine NEMO with the National Maritime Museum next door or a harbour cruise from the nearby piers.
  • See every stop on our Amsterdam attractions map.

Frequently asked questions

How much does NEMO Science Museum in Amsterdam cost?

Entry is ticketed, with reduced prices for children and free entry for the very young; the Museumkaart is accepted. Check the official website for current prices, or compare options via the booking link in this guide.

Is the NEMO rooftop free to visit?

Yes — the sloping rooftop square on top of the building is freely accessible via the outside stairs when the museum is open, with one of the best free views over Amsterdam's harbour and old centre.

How long should I spend at NEMO?

Most families spend two to three hours inside, plus extra time on the rooftop. With five floors of interactive exhibits, children can easily fill half a day.

Is NEMO Science Museum worth visiting?

Yes — it is the largest science centre in the Netherlands and one of the most family-friendly museums in Amsterdam. Even if you skip the exhibitions, the building itself and the free rooftop view are worth the short walk from Centraal Station.

Where is NEMO Science Museum in Amsterdam?

It is at Oosterdok 2, on the waterfront about a ten-minute walk east of Centraal Station, next to the National Maritime Museum. You cannot miss it — it is the huge green copper building shaped like a ship's hull rising out of the water.

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