Big NIOO Open Day 2026: Nature's networks
Big NIOO Open Day 2026: Nature's networks
Save the date: on Saturday 3 October 2026, NIOO will open its doors again to visitors for our Big Open Day. From 11:00 to 17:00, everyone will be welcome. Seize your chance to take a look in our labs and experimental gardens: only possible once in every three years!
Visitors from all ages are welcome during the Open Day. There will be enough to do for everyone; whether you're a family looking for children's games, a neighbour curious about what the inside of the building looks like, or a professional wanting to discuss a collaboration with one of our ecologists.
We are preparing an action-packed programme. The theme is Nature's networks, as ecology is all about the relations between species and their environment. We love to share what ecology is, why it is important and what we are studying exactly. And we will not only do that by talking, but also by involving visitors in stories, games and experiments.
NEW: Programme Science Café (in Dutch)
11.30-12.00: Waterkwaliteit in de stad | Vogels & westnijlvirus
12.00-12.20: Livemuziek van BioMusica over de dieren om ons heen
12.20-12.30: Gaia en de verborgen wereld onder onze voeten
12.30-13.00: Beleef de Lente met de koolmees | Mini-quiz nestkasten
13.00-13.30: Gaia en de verborgen wereld onder onze voeten | Mini-quiz bodem
13.30-14.00: Beleef de Lente met de koolmees | Citizen science | Vogels & westnijlvirus
14.00-14.20: Livemuziek van BioMusica over de dieren om ons heen
14.30-15.00: Waterkwaliteit in de stad | Mini-quiz water
15.00-15.15: 15 jaar NIOO in Wageningen: een gebouw dat leeft – interview Louise Vet
15.15-15.30: Gaia en de verborgen wereld onder onze voeten
15.30-15:50: Livemuziek van BioMusica over de dieren om ons heen
15.50-16.10: Beleef de Lente met de koolmees | Natuurkunst met Nikki van Es
16.10-16.30: Vogels & westnijlvirus | 70 jaar ecologisch onderzoek | Waterkwaliteit in de stad
16.30-17.00: Mini-quiz | 70 jaar ecologisch onderzoek | De open dag in beeld: wat is er getekend?
Tours
30 minutes
Register at reception (1)
GENERAL, start at 17:
11.15|11.45|12.15 EN|
12.45|13.15|13.30|13.45|14.15|
14.30|14.45 EN|15.15|15.45|16.15
ART (by Nikki van Es),
start at 17: 11.30|14.00
GREENHOUSE & PHYTOTRON: plants in the lab, start bij 26 om: 12.00|13.30|15.00|16.00
TECHNICAL, start at 20: 13.30|15.00
GARDEN, start at 22: 11.30|13.00|14.30|15.30
Workshop look at real dna!
Start at 12: 11.00,|13.00|14.30|16.00
A preview of the activities:
- Microbes around the world: fungae and bacteria from Galápagos to Greenland
- Phytoplankton museum: admire the beauty of planktonic plants
- Filter the water of the NIOO pond
- Walk through the labs and have a look at real DNA
- The Migration Route Quest: which route does each bird species choose?
- Soil animal safari
- Help us choose: the insect species of the NIOO green roof needs a Dutch name!
- Science cafe
- Meeting point for interested professionals
- Grand tour around the premises
Practical information
Food and drinks
Coffee, tea and lemonade are for free.
During the day, lunch or (vegetarian) snacks can be bought.
Science Weekend throughout the country
The big Open Day on 3 October 2026 at NIOO is part of the national Science Weekend (in Dutch) in the Netherlands, and Hotspot Wageningen.
More information
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Open Day programmeFind the list of activities here
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Download the programme and event mapsThe programme is also available at the entrance
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Save-the-date NIOO Open day 2026_eng.pdfDownload to the PDF Open Day poster
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Open Dagen bij het NIOO (in Dutch)Every three yours we joyfully show people around on our research terrain! Flashbacks from previous editions (aftermovie en photos)