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There are many sights and sounds for a tourist to take in in Amsterdam. Many of them offer insight into Dutch culture and history. These make for interesting places to stop and enjoy yourself, but are certainly not as a universal as they could be. Micropia, a museum in Amsterdam, is almost the opposite. It strives to provide a universal experience by touching on part of life that we all experience: microbes. No matter how clean you feel and no matter where you go, you’re surrounded and filled by microbes. These microscopic organisms are generally thought of only as nuisances and the sources of illness. It is an unfair reputation given how vital microbes are to the healthy functioning of the human body. Micropia tries to change the bad reputation of microbes by providing a glimpse into all their roles in natural so that you can learn just how much of the world is out of sight.

Why?
Micropia is strikingly different from the museums that most of us know. Yes, they serve the function of public education, but these are generally for subjects like art and history. Instead, Micropia attempts to stride the line between displaying depictions of microbes and descriptions of the place in life, and that of a zoo. This blending of styles allows it to act as a public focal point for the discussion of microbes and microbiology. The hope is that people will be inspired by all of this information and have a great appreciation for microbes by the time they’re done with the museum. It also helps to capture the public imagination to keep people excited and interested in the potential applications for microbiology across multiple disciplines of science from medicine to potential means for cleaning up our damaged environments.

How?
As highlighted before, Micropia actually serves as a zoo to a degree. Technicians help keep microscopes trained of samples of microbes so that people can get a clear look at our “invisible” companions in the world. It provides a more compassionate look at some of the most resilient organisms on the planet as they simply go about their day to day lives. This is a far different from the clips and illustrations of microbes attacking cells and other actions that most of the public know. One of the prides of Micropia is that they focus their exhibits around our interactions with microbes in our day to day lives. They help people understand that they themselves are the environment for microbes both within their body and all across the outside of their body as well. It could potentially unsettle those who consider themselves clean, but it is important to remember most of our microbe companions are there because we’re healthy and help keep us healthy.

A Macroscopic Vision
Micropia’s far-reaching goals of enlightening the public mean that it strives to be consistently relevant. They consider their displays and adjust them as necessary. Additionally, the museum includes various activities that can help highlight the information that the museum centers on. Micropia is actually part of the Natura Artis Magistra, Amsterdam’s zoo. It means you can combine a visit to one with the other for additional enjoyment. One of the most relevant aspects to those with busy lives is that Micropia is actually open every day of the week for visitors to enjoy with only a modest fee for entry. You don’t need to plan your trip around visiting the museum and only need to make the time to visit between your other stops in Amsterdam. That makes it both informative and convenient.

Museums serve to educate the public on many topics. This is true regardless of the topic and Micropia is actually serving a vital role by helping the public to understand a branch of science that frequently seems opaque. It also helps dispel the idea that there are only supposedly harmful bacteria everywhere. Microbes are everywhere whether we like them or not, we should never mistake them for a bad thing. After all, cultivating the right bacteria throughout probiotics may be in the future of both health and beauty.