Located in the south of the Netherlands, in the North Brabant province, you will find the fifth largest city in the country – Eindhoven. The city dates back to the 13th century and was a place where local farmers gathered to sell their goods. Over the following centuries, Eindhoven was severely damaged multiple times but in the 19th century, thanks to the Industrial Revolution, the city faced rapid economic and population growth. In the 19th and 20th centuries two huge companies were established – Philips, one of the largest electronics companies in the world, now focusing more on health technologies, and DAF Trucks, a truck manufacturing company. The foundation of the largely popular companies in Eindhoven meant many job opportunities which allowed the small town to grow into a buzzing city that we know of today.
While at first glance the city might not provide many impressive city sights and it may seem like one day is enough to see everything, it turns out that it has quite a lot to offer – from the adorable city center streets to eclectic vintage stores and boutiques, to exquisite cafes and restaurants, and finally a staggering selection of museums and galleries to visit.
Eindhoven can be easily reached from Amsterdam by train which costs around 23 Euros and the journey takes a little bit over an hour which is also a great opportunity to admire the country while on the go. However, Eindhoven also has an airport, considered one of the most rapidly growing airports in the country, making it easy to visit straight from other countries in a shorter time. This budget-friendly guide to Eindhoven includes the best places to visit and things to do in the city that you can manage in a one or two-day trip but still have a memorable time!
The Blob
A great place to start exploring Eindhoven is right in the city center and one of the most interesting sights there is the Blob. The futuristic building created by Italian architect Massimiliano Fuksas is an immense asymmetrical dome-shaped building created from glass and steel that immediately catches your eye from afar. Reaching 25 meters in height, it leads to the Admirant Shopping Mall where you can explore different stores and food options. The Blob is truly an impressive sight to explore either just walking by it and taking a picture or from inside to have a memorable shopping experience.
Saint Catherine’s Church
Exploring the city center is a must-do activity in any city and while wandering through Eindhoven’s center, an unmissable stop is the Saint Catherine’s Church. The Roman Catholic church is a majestic building in a Gothic Revival architecture style with two extensive towers that represent the purity of Mary and the strength of David. Originally, at the same place, a church was built around the 13th century but was greatly damaged and demolished in the 16th century. The current church was built in 1867 by architect Pierre Cuypers but also faced some renovations after World War II. Nowadays the church is not only a National Cultural Monument from 1972 but it’s also famous for different music events and even hosts a concert series, called Muziek in de Cathrien that attracts many locals and travelers from afar. The church is open every day except on Mondays, and the entrance is free.
Strijp-S
For a unique experience in the city, a former industrial park that now is a vibrant neighborhood, the Strijp-S is a must-visit spot. Once home to an electronics company Philips factory, now it houses different companies and creative establishments framing a unique and exciting spot in the city. The first Philips factory for incandescent light bulbs was built in 1916 and later the first radio, television, and much more were manufactured. Starting from the 1990s until 2006 most of the Philips company’s work was moved to Amsterdam and other locations as a result leaving the factory buildings empty.
The Strijp-S area is a great example of what once an industrial site can now be a great place to explore art and design, enjoy many different events, have a memorable meal, and even rent a flat there. Only 20 minutes of walking distance away or 10 minutes by public transport from the city center, this was my favorite spot in the city packed with exciting history and outstanding artistic ambiance.
Volta Galvani
An extraordinary hidden gem in Eindhoven certainly is the Volta Galvani area. The name refers to discoveries of galvanism and battery – Galvani and Volta. Located in the Woensel-West neighborhood, it offers striking colors and great influence from countries around the Mediterranean Sea. Upon entering the area, you will encounter a large entrance gate with a notable ball of light in the middle that resembles a lamp and immediately prepares you for the unique experience of exploring the few streets. While the Volta Galvani area is quite small it’s truly worth visiting and is the perfect place for any photographer to capture some exciting shots. After that, you can stroll through the Woensel-West neighborhood which offers a large variety of remarkable shops, restaurants, and cafes.
Dutch Design Week
Eindhoven is famous for a couple of things and one of them is the annual event called Dutch Design Week. Considered the largest design event in Northern Europe, it takes place every year in October and lasts for nine days showcasing works, concepts, and ideas from hundreds of designers. Focusing on innovations and designs of the future, it is a one-of-a-kind event with different exhibitions, events, debates, lectures and so much more. During the week you can find different events located throughout the city in numerous locations with a huge hotspot being the Strijp-S area.
Very unexpectedly when we visited Eindhoven, we stumbled upon the Dutch Design Week and it made our visit to the city so much more memorable – we saw so many unique exhibitions, and innovative ideas presented and the city had such a lively atmosphere from the many different events being held. What surprised us the most was the amount of events we attended without any entrance fees or reservations which meant that without much planning and being on a budget we still saw so much. For more information about the program and tickets for the next event, you can find here on their official website: https://ddw.nl/
Museums
- The Philips Museum is at the top of most visitors’ choice when exploring Eindhoven. There you can learn about the company’s history starting from 1891 when Gerard Philips created the first light bulbs to today’s innovations and what impact they play in our world currently. The museum is open every day except on Mondays and one adult ticket costs 12,50 Euros and also includes an audio tour which can be bought online. Also, guided group tours are available for additional cost, and interactive activities for kids as well as you can enjoy the museum’s cafe and shop with books and other souvenirs that represent the Philips company’s history.
- DAF Museum is a fascinating place to learn about the famous DAF truck manufacturing that takes you back to 1928 when construction started in Eindhoven implementing new innovative ideas. The museum displays different examples of the vehicles bringing you through the years of production and also offers interactive activities. A full adult ticket costs 12,50 Euros as well as guided tours are available with advanced reservation.
- Van Abbemuseum presents different exhibitions of modern and contemporary art as well as interactive expositions. The museum offers guided tours, workshops for children, a family art club, tours for people with health conditions and so much more. A full adult ticket costs 16 Euros and the museum is open every day, except on Mondays.
- preHistoric Dorp is a fun open-air museum where you can learn and experience how people lived in prehistoric and medieval times with a replica-built village and demonstrations that teach more about that time. At the museum, you can also learn about archaeological techniques and try them yourself as well as rent historical costumes to immerse yourself fully in the past times. An adult ticket costs 12,50 Euros but the museum is open only during warmer months, being closed usually from November to the end of March.
- Evoluon might be the most unique place to visit in the city – a former science museum building from the 1960s that looks like a UFO and offers memorable experiences. Used as a conference center, it also hosts events that bring together technology, nature, and people, exhibitions about what our future holds, a virtual reality time machine that allows us to travel to the future, a souvenir shop, and more. The museum is open every day, except on Mondays and Tuesdays and a full adult ticket costs 14,50 Euros.
- MU Hybrid Art House is a contemporary art gallery located in the former Philips factory building and showcases remarkable art from young artists that asks the question – what art is and what art can be. With exciting exhibitions in different mediums, it is truly a captivating experience that makes you think more about our world and future. Open every day, an adult ticket costs 6 Euros but on Wednesdays, you can explore the museum for free.
- Motion Imagination Experience makes you discover a colorful world that stimulates your senses and makes you amazed. Offering a special experience for kids on certain days, the museum welcomes people of all ages to explore a different world and have fun, and even offers yoga sessions with different sounds, images, and smells that create an exceptional experience. An adult ticket costs 15 Euros and the experience lasts from 1 hour to 1,5 which you can enjoy every day, except on Mondays and Tuesdays when the museum is closed.
Vintage shops and cafe
When visiting new cities, I love to explore different boutiques, vintage stores, bookstores, and charming cafes. I found that in the Netherlands there is one of the best second-hand/vintage store selections in Europe with many amazing options and you can find pieces for very affordable prices. Eindhoven wasn’t an exception to having a great array of places to offer so let’s dive into some that I enjoyed!
NineLives vintage clothing store had not only the nicest women working there and affordable prices but also the coolest selection of unique pieces of clothing. Tucked in a courtyard, it might not be immediately found if not looked for but it also meant that there were only a few other customers, making the shopping experience so calm and enjoyable.
Books 4 Life bookstore is located right by the NineLives clothing store and you can find books both in Dutch and English. I was so surprised by the large collection of books in English and a few popular releases as well. The amazing part is also the prices – all books have a sticker that indicates a certain price for the book, which usually is around a few Euros, making this such a great spot to purchase some amazing books for 2 or 3 Euros.
Motta Art Books is the perfect spot for any art and design lover. In the store, you can also find books about different ideas, concepts, and ways to look at life and enjoy different modern art, photography, architecture, and graphic design examples from different artists and cultures. I could have spent hours browsing through the shop, that’s how good it is!
Zwartwit Koffie from Google Maps search promised to be one of the best coffee places in Eindhoven and it truly was outstanding. As a huge coffee lover, it’s sometimes hard to find a good cup of coffee that I fully enjoy from the first sip to the last one but in this Australian-style coffee shop, I had one of the best coffees of my life. Not only the coffee is great but the atmosphere is very cozy and relaxed and you can also order something for breakfast or lunch and unwind between exploring the city.
Final thoughts
Eindhoven is the perfect place and totally worth visiting for anyone interested in a city that has a huge influence on the design and art world, has fascinating museums and galleries, lively theater and other cultural event life as well as a great selection of cafes, restaurants and bars. I feel so grateful that we managed, without even knowing, to be in the city at the same time while the Dutch Design Week was in full swing, and had the chance to experience such a unique event that I can see myself visiting again in the future. Truthfully, Eindhoven wasn’t my favorite city in the Netherlands based on the city sights but the amount of history and art it holds is enough of a reason to highly recommend exploring it at least once if visiting the country.
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