A morning at NEMO and plans for my last day in Amsterdam
It's just past noon, and I'm sitting in the café at NEMO Science Museum, taking a short break before exploring more exhibits. I arrived at 10:00 this morning (naturally, I was here at 9:50, but they weren't open yet). The building itself is fascinating - a massive green copper-clad structure designed to look like a ship's hull rising from the water.
I spent the first hour in the 'Phenomena' section, watching chain reactions and predictable physical laws play out in various interactive displays. There's something deeply satisfying about seeing cause and effect in such a tangible way. I found myself mentally tracing the connections between exhibits, almost like mapping network dependencies.
The 'World of Shapes' exhibition pulled me in next - geometric puzzles and mathematical challenges that had me completely absorbed. I caught myself smiling as I solved a particularly tricky tessellation problem, then looked around to see if anyone noticed my quiet celebration. Just a few families with children and some school groups around me, all engaged in their own discoveries.
There's an exhibit about computer networks that I found particularly interesting. The way they've visualized data flow for children to understand is quite brilliant. Simple enough for kids, but accurate enough to satisfy anyone who works with these systems daily.
Looking out the window now, I can see it's turned into a beautiful day - partly sunny and about 20°C according to my phone. Perfect for exploring more of Amsterdam on my last full day here.
It's strange to think I'll be leaving tomorrow. These first days of my journey have flown by, but I've managed to check off most of my Amsterdam wishlist:
- Van Gogh Museum ✓
- Canal cruise ✓
- NEMO Science Museum ✓ (in progress!)
- Wandering through Jordaan ✓
- Dutch pancakes ✓
After I finish at NEMO, I'm planning to finally visit Vondelpark this afternoon. I've heard it's one of the city's most beautiful green spaces, and with today's pleasant weather, it seems like the perfect time to go. I'm particularly looking forward to seeing what tree species they have there - urban parks often have interesting collections of both native and exotic varieties.
I still need to try a proper stroopwafel from a street vendor before I leave. The packaged ones I've had were good, but apparently they're something else entirely when fresh and warm.
I also noticed there's a special exhibition at the Rembrandt House Museum showcasing his etchings of 17th-century Amsterdam that ends soon. It might be worth squeezing that in before I leave, especially since I'm interested in seeing how the city has evolved over centuries.
There's also the "Kimsooja: To Breathe – Mokum" installation at the Oude Kerk that sounds intriguing - something about textile bundles and a meditative experience. But I'm not sure I'll have time for everything.
It's been a whirlwind start to this 500-day journey. Amsterdam has been the perfect first stop - easy to navigate, full of art and history, and just foreign enough to feel like I've truly begun this adventure. I'm excited about what comes next, but also feeling a bit of that pre-departure melancholy that comes with leaving a place you've only just started to know.
Back to the exhibits now - there's a whole section on energy and sustainability I want to explore before heading to Vondelpark!
Sent from NEMO Science Museum, Amsterdam