The world's first museum about microbes: living microorganisms under the microscope, a lab you can watch and interactive stations at ARTIS in Amsterdam.
Together with the Rijksmuseum, Micropia uses a life-size reproduction of the “Nachtwacht” to show which microbes live on Rembrandt's painting; the installation grows with every newly analyzed sample from the lab.
Om museet
ARTIS-Micropia opened on September 30, 2014, as a stand-alone museum of the Amsterdam zoo ARTIS and is considered the first museum in the world devoted entirely to microbes. It is located on the publicly accessible Artisplein on Plantage Kerklaan and has its own entrance and its own tickets.
The museum's aim is to make the mostly invisible world of microorganisms visible and to convey a more positive image of bacteria, fungi, algae and microscopic animals, which are indispensable for health, food and ecosystems. Every person carries trillions of microbes around with them. On display are more than 40 species of living microbes, which are cultivated and cared for in a glass laboratory inside the museum, complemented by virtual displays and hands-on stations.
In 2016 Micropia received the Kenneth Hudson Award of the European Museum Forum, which honors innovative museums. Since 2026 it has been working with the Rijksmuseum to study the microorganisms on Rembrandt's “Nachtwacht” (The Night Watch); the results will be on view in a dedicated installation from November 2026.
Højdepunkter
More than 40 species of living microbes under microscopes
Glass laboratory where the microbes are cultivated
Hands-on stations “Kiss-o-meter” and “Bodyscan”
Water bears, slime molds and glowing bacteria
2016 Kenneth Hudson Award of the European Museum Forum
Grundlagt
2014
Ejer
ARTIS (Koninklijk Zoologisch Genootschap Natura Artis Magistra)
Entrépriser & rabatter
Voksne
17 €
Nedsat pris
9 €CJP holders
Børn og unge
gratisgratis til og med 12 år · Free up to and including age 12.
Pensionister
–No senior discount mentioned.
Personer med handicap
–ledsager gratis · Visitors who cannot come alone may bring a companion free of charge; the Prikkelpas, Autipas and Sunflower lanyard are recognized.
Studerende og elever
10,50 €
Grupper (fra 8 pers.)
–Packages for groups of 8 to 40 people on weekdays.
Familier
–No family ticket; children up to age 12 free.
Ticket at the ticket desk
18 €Always cheaper online
Late-afternoon ticket (Mon–Fri from 16:00)
9 €Ages 13 and up; valid since August 31 outside school holidays and public holidays, limited availability
Combination ticket ARTIS Zoo + Micropia or Groote Museum
35,50 €Online from €35.50, ticket desk €38.50; children aged 3–12 from €26.50, students €22.25
Dynamic pricing: online from €17 (depending on the day), €18 at the ticket desk. Free with the Museumkaart; also free for VriendenLoterij members and with an ICOM card.
Tilgængelighed
Kørestolsvenlig
Elevator: ingen oplysninger
Handicaptoilet
Handicapparkering
Servicehunde tilladt
Taktile tilbud: ingen oplysninger
Rundvisninger på tegnsprog: ingen oplysninger
Letlæste tilbud: ingen oplysninger
Synstolkning: ingen oplysninger
One loan wheelchair available without a deposit (reservation recommended). Five accessible parking spaces in the ARTIS parking garage, two free ones on Plantage Kerklaan. Assistance dogs wearing the vest or harness of their training organization are welcome. Many stations have audio, which helps blind and visually impaired visitors. Low-sensory visiting hours from October 2026.
Børn og familie
Velegnet til børn og familier
Entré for børn
gratis til og med 12 år
Familieomvisninger & workshops
Opgavehæfte, skattejagt eller audioguide for børn
Interaktive stationer
Children up to age 12 free. All-day stamp collecting activity “Collect all microbe stamps”, interactive stations such as the Kiss-o-meter and Bodyscan. Strollers allowed for children up to age 3.
Transport & parkering
Med offentlig transport
ARTIS/Holocaust Museum
Trams 7 and 14 to the ARTIS/Holocaust Museum stop right in front of the main entrance. Metro 51, 53, 54 to Waterlooplein (about a 15-minute walk), bus 42 to Kadijksplein (about a 10-minute walk).
I bil
Betalingsparkering
ARTIS parking garage: €17.50 per day for visitors, otherwise €6.98/hour, 12 charging stations. Alternative garages: Markenhoven (about a 10-minute walk), Stadhuis/Opera (about a 15-minute walk) and Q-Park Oostpoort (reservation only, about a 20-minute walk). P+R RAI, about 30 minutes from there.
Handicapparkering
Micropia is on the freely accessible Artisplein next to the zoo entrance. By bike about ten minutes from the major train stations (OV-fiets).