The NAP Monument & Visitors Centre in Amsterdam.

I was immediately intrigued by the NAP Monument & Visitors Centre because it stood out as something a bit different from the rest of the typical tourist activities in Amsterdam.  The acronym NAP stands for Normaal Amsterdams Peil (or Amsterdam Ordnance Datum in English), which is a centuries old measuring unit and vertical reference point for water levels.  The NAP is roughly the same as the MSL (Mean Sea Level), but it was based off of the older term Amsterdam Peil, which referenced the water level of the main waterway of Amsterdam.

Why does this matter?  Because Amsterdam is actually 6.6 feet (2 meters) below sea level (and nearly 30% of the Netherlands is below sea level, as well).  In fact, Amsterdam’s original name, Amstelredamme, was inspired by the dam built in the 12^th century in an effort to stop the river Amstel from repeatedly flooding.  Today, the consistent water levels in Amsterdam’s 60 miles (100 kilometers) of canals are a testament to city planning and engineering, which you can learn about at the NAP Monument and Visitors Centre!  The exhibit includes the NAP monument itself, which has been around since 1988, and a renovated Visitor’s Centre.

To see this display, you’ll want to head to the City Hall, which is connected to the Nationale Opera & Ballet building (at Amstel 1).  It’s hard to explain where in the building the exhibit is exactly, but it’s near the entrance to the Waterlooplein Market.  We got lost inside the building, but it was all good because we found this guy while we were wandering.

 

 

If you get lost like we did, just head to the information desk (which is marked on the maps throughout the building).  You’ll know that you’ve found it when you see three large cylinders rising up from the floor.

 

 

Since the NAP Monument is marking the true zero level you have to descend into the basement in order to see it.  I was so excited that I put in a one euro coin into the gate and started down the stairs before I even checked to see if Mr. Meena had a coin (he did, fortunately).  But before you head downstairs take a moment to view the 26 meter relief of the Netherlands that runs along the wall.

 

 

The relief is a cross section of the Netherlands from east to west, showing the relative positions of Amsterdam, the North Sea and the sand dunes.  Some of it is obstructed due to the building layout, but it’s very beautiful.

Once you descend to the basement level you’ll see a somewhat creepy room that glows blue… I’m not entirely sure what that’s about.  Then you’ll turn the corner to the right and see the zero level.

 

 

On top of the while pillar is a brass bolt, and the top of that bolt marks the exact NAP zero level.  Next to it you will see three water columns, showing the current water levels in Ijmuiden (a city located at the mouth of the North Sea Canal to Amsterdam) and Vlissingen (a city located between the North Sea and the Scheldt river, south of Amsterdam) as well as the water level at the time of the 1953 flood disaster in the Netherlands.  The water in the third column will gradually rise upwards to a staggering 4.53 meters (almost 15 feet) above the zero mark to show how high the 1953 flood waters were.

 

 

After you’ve had your fill of the monument you can visit the two small rooms that have interactive exhibits, historical information, and examples of the measuring equipment used to establish vertical datums in the Netherlands.  All of the information is available in English and Dutch, and you’ll definitely get your one euro’s worth out of the experience.

Cost: €1 per person
Location: Amstel 1 (Gemeente Amsterdam / City Hall) Amsterdam
Hours: 9:00 am – 18:00 pm (closed on the weekend and public holidays)

So what do you think?  Would you go visit?

 

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This post is linked up with Monday Escapes.