Best for
Families with children roughly 6–14
Time needed
2–3 hours (or 15 minutes for just the free roof)
Worth it?
Yes for families — the free rooftop view alone is worth a stop for anyone
Skip if
You're travelling without children and have limited museum time
About NEMO Science Museum
NEMO opened in its current building in 1997, designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano to rise out of the water at Oosterdok like the hull of a ship — a deliberate nod to Amsterdam's maritime and shipbuilding history, and one of the most photographed pieces of modern architecture in the city. Inside, it's the largest science centre in the Netherlands, built explicitly for hands-on interaction rather than look-but-don't-touch displays.
Exhibits are organised across several floors around themes like chemistry, technology, energy and the human body, with a heavy emphasis on experiments visitors run themselves: a real chemistry lab where kids mix reactions under supervision, soap-bubble and construction challenges, and demonstrations exploring physics through play rather than lecture. It's aimed squarely at families with children roughly 6 to 14, though the building and its view work for anyone.
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The sloped roof, reachable without a museum ticket via an outdoor staircase, functions as a free public square and viewpoint in summer, with wading pools for children, café seating, and one of the better free panoramas over Amsterdam's harbour, Centraal Station and the old city skyline — genuinely worth the climb even if you skip the museum itself.
Because it sits right by Amsterdam Centraal and the NEMO roof costs nothing to visit, it's an easy add-on to a first afternoon in the city even for travellers not planning a full museum visit.
What to See: Highlights
- 1Renzo Piano's ship-hull-shaped building rising from Oosterdok
- 2Hands-on chemistry lab and physics experiments
- 3Free public rooftop terrace with harbour and skyline views
- 4Exhibits aimed at ages roughly 6–14
- 5Wading pools and café seating on the roof in summer
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Insider Tips
The rooftop terrace is free and open without a museum ticket
Best value for families with kids aged 6–14 rather than solo adult travellers
Combine with a walk along Oosterdok or a visit to the Maritime Museum next door
Book online — timed entry slots are required
Bring a swimsuit for kids in summer for the roof's wading pools
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Getting There
Oosterdok 2, 1011 VX Amsterdam
Open in Google Maps →- 115-minute walk east from Amsterdam Centraal, or bus 22/48 to Kadijksplein.
Where to stay
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you visit.
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Should You Visit?
Visit if...
- You're travelling with children aged roughly 6–14
- You want a hands-on, interactive museum rather than a look-only one
- You're near Centraal Station and want a free harbour viewpoint
- It's a rainy day and you need an indoor family activity
Skip if...
- You're a solo or couple traveller without kids and short on museum time
- You've already got a packed Museumplein day planned
Ready to Book Your Visit?
More to See in Amsterdam
Het Scheepvaartmuseum (National Maritime Museum)
The Netherlands' national maritime museum in a 17th-century naval warehouse, with a full-size replica VOC ship moored outside that visitors can climb aboard.
Artis Royal Zoo
The Netherlands' oldest zoo, open since 1838, with an aquarium and planetarium included in one ticket — home to over 700 species across leafy 19th-century grounds in the Plantage quarter.