NEMO Science Museum is completely different from Amsterdam's art museums - and that's exactly what makes it so refreshing! The building itself is a marvel, designed by Renzo Piano to look like a massive ship emerging from the water. Even if you don't visit the museum, the rooftop terrace is worth the trip - it's free to access and offers stunning 360-degree views of Amsterdam.

Inside, NEMO is pure interactive fun. This isn't a "look but don't touch" museum - it's designed for you to experiment, play, and learn through doing. I spent nearly 20 minutes at the chain reaction exhibit, setting up dominoes and ramps to create elaborate sequences. The physics of motion exhibit lets you build structures and test their strength - I watched families compete to build the strongest bridge.

The Wonder Lab on the ground floor is particularly impressive, with live science demonstrations throughout the day. I caught a show about electricity that included creating lightning bolts and making volunteers' hair stand on end. The biology section upstairs has fascinating exhibits about the human body, including a giant walk-through brain and interactive displays about genetics and DNA.

What surprised me most was how engaging NEMO is even for adults without children. Yes, there are lots of families (especially on weekends and school holidays), but the exhibits genuinely teach you something while being entertaining. The temporary exhibition when I visited was about sustainable energy and climate change - serious topics presented in an accessible, hands-on way.

The rooftop café serves decent food with incredible views. In summer, the rooftop becomes a beach with deckchairs and a café - it's a popular spot for locals. NEMO is perfect for rainy days or if you need a break from traditional museums. It's also excellent if you're traveling with kids who are "museumed out" from all the art galleries.