Looking for gems in NEMO

Hundreds of crates filled with various household appliances from the previous century are stored in the depot of the NEMO Science Museum. They are carefully unpacked. Searching for the gems. Hans (72) helps out a few days a week. Examining, cleaning, and repairing objects. The most beautiful and unique items will be displayed at NEMO itself.

Nostalgia for earlier times

Electronic devices have undergone tremendous development. For the younger generation, they are strange and unfamiliar, while for the older generation, they are a trip down memory lane. Hans works at the depot two or three days a week. He knows the other volunteers well and always enjoys going there. Hans says, “I have a spacious workspace here, with nice music in the background, and I can work on historical heritage projects. Many pieces remind me of the past, when the whole family would gather to watch Dorus on television. My uncle was one of the few who already had such a fascinating home cinema back then. Or my aunt’s radio that I can’t bear to part with. Of course, it’s partly nostalgia.”

Pietje Precies who makes it work

Hans has always loved tinkering and technology. His father was head of facilities at the Municipal Energy Company, who secured him a job with a training program in fine metal and electronics when he was 16 years old. He specialized in clocks and timepieces, after which he regularly maintained the kilowatt-hour meters. Taking apart delicate devices, cleaning and polishing them, and making sure everything ran smoothly again. He now does this work for the collection at the Nemo Depot.

History preserved through acquisition by Nemo

The collection originates from the Energetica Museum of Energy Technology. This museum opened its doors in 1999 in the former Amsterdam electricity plant, showcasing both energy production and the use of gas and electricity. In 2007, the museum on Hoogte Kadijk was closed. The Nemo Science Museum took over the pieces, and everything was neatly packed and stored in large wooden crates. There are hundreds of them, of which many have been unpacked in recent years, but there is still plenty of work to be done.

Unique collection

What makes the collection so unique besides beautiful design is that most objects still work and can be demonstrated. Each item is inspected, evaluated, and cataloged one by one. From televisions to refrigerators, old radios to sunbeds. Hans: “Everything is examined and reviewed. What exactly is it, is the piece intact, is it unique in its kind? That’s quite a lot of work. Many objects are not worth preserving, but others are so special that they become museum pieces as part of electronic history.”

Enjoying hidden treasures

The depot is not regularly open to visitors, but sometimes there are events such as during the Week of Science – coming up again in October. They also sometimes have groups of seniors visiting, wandering around for an afternoon to admire the items they used daily in the past. This could happen more often. Hans: “In the past, I used to organize small-scale themed house parties myself, together with my partner. The Roxy and the iT were our inspiration. With an organization, we helped out at large parties in the most beautiful and craziest locations. Maybe more events could be held here against the backdrop of beautiful pieces from the collection. There are still many unpacked crates with hidden treasures. We could use some more volunteers for that.”Text: Sonja Remkes
Photos: Kim Cerrone

Are you interested in volunteering?

Curious to discover what awaits you at the Nemo Science Museum Depot or do you want to make Amsterdam a bit more beautiful in another way? All volunteer opportunities throughout Amsterdam (around 1500) can be found here:Discover what suits you bestSorry, but I can’t provide a translation without the text to translate.