Nemo Science Museum

All You Need to Know About the Nemo Science Museum

Children at Nemo museum.

In a nutshell

  • NEMO Amsterdam is a science museum and one of the best attractions in Amsterdam with children.
  • In this article, we will share our experience and give you all the important tips for tickets and your visit to the NEMO Science Museum.

5 Exciting Facts about Nemo Amsterdam

  1. NEMO Amsterdam attracts 650,000 visitors every year.
  2. This makes it not only one of the most famous museums in Amsterdam, but one of the 5 most visited museums in Holland.
  3. The museum building stands on the foundations of the IJTunnel. The entrance to the tunnel is underneath the building.
  4. The museum was opened in 1997 under the name NewMetropolis, and in 2000 the name was changed to NEMO for short.
  5. NEMO was named the most child-friendly museum in Holland.
The NEMO Museum building looks spectacular even from the outside

Prices and Tickets

Admission prices

Admission to the NEMO Science Museum costs 17.50 euros per person from the age of 4.

Admission for children up to the age of 3 is free, there are no further discounts.

If you have an I Amsterdam Card, admission to the museum is also free.

Access to the roof of the museum is free.

Buy tickets for Nemo Amsterdam online

You can buy tickets directly at Nemo Amsterdam. At peak times, e.g. at weekends or during vacations, we recommend that you buy your tickets online in advance.

Tickets cost the same online as on site. You don’t have to print out the tickets, you can simply show them on your smartphone.

When buying, you have to choose a time. However, we honestly don’t think it’s a problem if you’re not there at the exact time specified.

Tickets are available on the museum’s official website and on well-known ticket platforms. The price is the same everywhere, it’s often just the available times that differ.

Buy tickets on Getyourguide

Buy tickets on Tiqets

Buy tickets on the Nemo website

Our Experience: What to Expect at Nemo Amsterdam

We went to the Nemo Museum with two children (5 and 2 years old) on a rainy Saturday. It’s often full at the weekend anyway, and even more so when the weather is bad.

We were there shortly before 10:00 am. It was still pleasantly empty at this time. So if you are for a weekend in Amsterdam, try to get there as early as possible.

There was an incredible amount to discover and try out on four floors. NEMO is completely interactive. There is nothing here that the children can’t touch and try out.

All explanations are in Dutch and English.

The 4th floor is all about the human body

Our age recommendation for the NEMO

Our 5-year-old was really excited and ran from one station to the next. However, a certain amount of sensory overload was unavoidable.

There wasn’t so much for the 2-year-old to do yet, but we didn’t expect anything else. She still had a lot of fun as she was able to push and look everywhere.

We would recommend NEMO for ages 4 and up. To really understand everything, children should be a bit older. From the teenage years onwards, it probably gets boring again.

Even our two-year-old daughter was able to join in at some stations

Our highlight: the chain reaction

Every hour on the hour, a small experiment takes place on the second floor in which a chain reaction is triggered and various things are set in motion on a previously set up course.

We watched the chain reaction three times.

The chain reaction was demonstrated here every hour on the hour

Our conclusion: a super attraction for children

There are now science museums in many large cities. We have already been to a few with our children and these visits are often absolute highlights for the kids. For example, take a look at our article Lisbon with children, where there is also a great science museum.

Our visit to the Nemo Museum in Amsterdam was also great fun for the children and we can highly recommend it.

The only downside was that it was just a bit too crowded. We would therefore definitely recommend not going at the weekend and preferably not when it’s raining. That makes the visit even more fun.

We loved it. Well, mainly our children. Haha.

How to get to NEMO Amsterdam

NEMO is about 15 minutes’ walk from Amsterdam Centraal station.

Alternatively, you can take bus 22 from the station. Get off at the Kadijksplein stop, which stops almost directly in front of the museum. It is only two stops from the station.

You can find all the information about buses and trains in our article on public transport in Amsterdam.

Tips in the Vicinity

Right next to NEMO Amsterdam is the Amsterdam Maritime Museum. Although it’s not quite as exciting for children as NEMO, our kids found the faithful replica of a large ship from 1749 very exciting.

The Bakers & Roasters café is also very close by. We had breakfast there beforehand and absolutely loved it – definitely the best breakfast we had in Amsterdam.

FAQ about the Nemo Science Museum

Is the NEMO Amsterdam also worth it for adults?

We would say clearly: No! The museum is designed for children and all experiments and exhibits are always designed for young children to try out.

Without children we certainly wouldn’t have had as much fun there.

That’s why we wouldn’t recommend a visit without children. There are so many sights in Amsterdam that are much more exciting for adults.

Is there a restaurant at Nemo Amsterdam?

At the top of the 5th floor you will find a large restaurant with a very good selection. There are child-friendly dishes like pasta and pizza, but also things like tikka massala and salads. The quality is okay for a museum restaurant, and the prices are also reasonable.

Can you bring a stroller or buggy in?

Yes, buggies and strollers are allowed.

There is also a place to park buggies in the entrance area, although not guarded.

Can you hand over bags and backpacks?

There are lockers in the entrance area where you can store your luggage.

For the lockers you need a 50 cent coin as a deposit. If you don’t have one, you can use your credit card to buy a chip for the lockers at a machine.

Do children under 4 also need a ticket?

Children under 4 pay no entry but still need a free ticket. You can get this at the checkout or simply order it in the online shop.

How much time should you plan for the NEMO Museum?

We were at Nemo for about 4 hours including about an hour for lunch.

For us that was enough, it could have been a little shorter. Since we caught a rainy day in Amsterdam, we didn’t feel the need to go out again quickly.

With older children you can probably spend a whole day here without any problems.

Your questions and experiences about the Nemo Amsterdam

Have you already been to the Nemo Museum and can you share your experiences with us? Or do you still have a question about your visit to Nemo? Then we look forward to your comment!