Amsterdam - Amsterdam Bruges and Brussels - page 59

they point out, is enshrined in the UN's Universal Declaration of
Human Rights). This being Amsterdam, the library has almost
twice as many bike racks as parking places. Everything's relaxed and
inviting, from the fun kids' zone and international magazine and
newspaper section on the ground floor to the cafeteria with its dra-
matic view-terrace dining on the top (La Place, €10 meals, salad bar,
daily 10:00-21:00). The library is a three-minute walk from Central
Station (daily 10:00-22:00, tel. [phone], www.oba.nl).
NeMO (National Center for Science and Technology) —his
kid-friendly science museum is
a city landmark. Its distinctive
copper-green building, jutting up
from the water like a sinking ship,
has prompted critics to nickname
it the Titanic . Designed by Italian
architect Renzo Piano (known
for Paris' Pompidou Center and
Berlin's Potsdamer Platz com-
plex), the building's shape reflects
its nautical surroundings as well as the curve of the underwater
tunnel it straddles.
Several floors feature permanent and rotating exhibits that
allow kids (and adults) to explore topics such as light, sound, and
gravity, and play with bubbles, topple giant dominoes, and draw
with lasers. Whirring, room-size pinball machines reputedly
teach kids about physics. English explanations are available. Up
top is a restaurant with a great city view, as well as a sloping ter-
race that becomes a popular “beach” in summer, complete with
lounge chairs, a sandbox, and a lively bar. On the bottom floor is
an inexpensive cafeteria offering €3 sandwiches (€11.50, includes
rooftop beach in July-Aug, €2.50—beach only July-Aug, combo-
ticket with VOC Ship Amsterdam -€13.50; Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00,
generally closed Mon but open daily June-Aug; Oosterdok 2,
above entrance to IJ tunnel, tel. [phone]—€0.35/min, www
.e-nemo.nl). It's a 15-minute walk from Central Station or bus #22,
#42, or #43 to Kadijksplein stop. The roof terrace—which is open
later than the museum in the summer—is generally free.
VOC Ship Amsterdam —While the nearby Maritime Museum
is closed (see next page), the good ship Amsterdam moors near the
NEMO, welcoming kids (and kids at heart) to join its crew.
The Amsterdam is a replica of a type of ship called an East
Indiaman, which had its heyday during the 17th and 18th cen-
turies, sailing for the Dutch East India Company (abbreviated
VOC, for Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie—you'll see it on
insignias throughout the boat). Even though trade was the name
of the game, with scurvy thieves in the waters, ships such as the