Finding Nemo: What a find @ Nemo Science Museum, Amsterdam
My travels abroad have taught me one thing amongst others, how much Europeans feel responsible for the world they live in and to what lengths they go to , to inculcate the same amongst the Future Generation. That's the rationale behind the Nemo Science Museum in Amsterdam. Taking Science beyond the pages of the text book, this science museum allows people of all ages, especially children, to interact with and broaden ones information and application of science and technology. It has five floors of hands on activities that can turn out to be a full day activity , if one goes with children and adults who love pushing the boundaries of learning. You can find more about it at the official website of Nemo Science Museum, Amsterdam.
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Our main interest in this, however lay elsewhere. It was up on the roof . This is accessible to all and can be accessed by some shallow steps or a lift at the side of the building. The architect of Nemo, Renzo Piano wanted to design a terrace, not only for its panoramic views of the surroundings but also make it into a piazza or public square for people to meet, interact, at 22m height. There are music shows, movies screened from time to time. But much more than that, he wished to make it a spatial wrap of all that is interactive between man and the elements.
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Thus was created an open air interactive exhibition of various sources of alternative energy that man can harness for generations to come: Energetica. These art installation of energy sources are seamlessly designed as corners on the terrace which to the unknowing onlooker are useful and beautiful. The Solar island has three tunnel like spherical chairs that can be used as shady sit-outs. These special chairs are covered with a thin film of solar cells to trap solar enery for the water cascade fountains. There are LED lights to show the amount of energy. they produce.
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The Wind island has wind turbines which again produce energy for the water cascade. They also have these special installations and an interactive kite that show the speed of the wind. There is a round terrace which creates a sundial where a persons shadow can be used to tell the time. Running down gradually by shallow steps is a water cascade. In the middle section is a Rainbow maker, whereby if you turn the arc of water sprays against the backdrop of the sunlight, you can see how the water refracts the sunlight into the vibgyor colors. At the bottom of this cascade are twelve fountains of water, powered by the wind and solar energy created above.
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The terrace also has a huge Food Court, where we had our lunch. The food display, again is something to be seen, from the display of herbs to salads to the attention they bring to wastage disposal too is noteworthy. After our meal, we unconsciously imbibed lessons in wastage segregation and applied it then and there. That's the whole thing: its a true amalgamation of Learning and Life.
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Around NEMO is the Museum Haven Harbour / Harbour Museum Soceity, which contains a number of early 20th century boats. To the east you will see Amsterdam's Maritime museum and VOC ship. Founded in 1984, ore than 20 ships of the Vereniging Museumhaven Amsterdam (VMA) Association : Tjalks, clippers, towers, luxury motors and barges which look like cargo vie for attention as they are tied to the piers.
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Accesibility to the Nemo Science Museum is better by bike or walking down the bridge Mr JJ van der Veldebrug, from the side of Hotel Double tree by Hilton, which is only for pedestrians and cyclists. Follow the sign: Route To OOsterdok. You pass by Sea Palace, a floating (on Lkae IJ), Pagoda style, Chinese restaurant also. Otherwise take a private bus 391 or 394 (which is not covered under Travel Card though) from Centraal station to IJ Tunnel, or Take Bus 22 and get off at Kadijksplein
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