Explore Eindhoven
Your perfect trip to Netherlands
Eindhoven is the city of light, but not in the romantic Parisian sense. It is the city of the lightbulb. For over a century, this was the company town of Philips Electronics. When Philips moved its HQ to Amsterdam in the 90s, Eindhoven could have died. Instead, it reinvented itself as the design capital of Northern Europe. It is gritty, raw, and fiercely creative.
This is a city of transformation. Old factories have become skate parks, laboratories have become restaurants, and power stations have become art galleries. The center is a bit ugly (bombed in WWII, rebuilt quickly), but the magic happens in the fringes, particularly Strijp-S. This former ‘forbidden city’ (Philips industrial park) is now a hipster utopia of lofts and design shops.
Eindhoven is the host of Dutch Design Week (October), the biggest design event in Northern Europe. It also hosts GLOW (November), a light art festival that illuminates the city. It’s a city that looks forward, full of students from the Design Academy and engineers from the Technical University. It’s not ‘pretty’ in the traditional sense, but it is cool.
The perfect plan for Eindhoven:
Day 1 Agenda
Theme: The Forbidden City
- Morning: Strijp-S. Walk the ‘Leidingstraat’ (Pipe Street)—old factory pipes turned into a garden walkway. Visit Vershal Het Veem for breakfast in an old warehouse.
- Afternoon: Philips Museum. Located in the original 1891 lightbulb factory. See how the technology evolved. Then, shop at Urban Shopper (indie designers in a factory hall).
- Evening: Dinner at Radio Royaal. A French restaurant inside an old machine room. The waiters skate around the machinery.
Day 2 Agenda
Theme: Art & UFOs
- Morning: Van Abbemuseum. One of the best modern art museums in Europe. A Picasso here, a Mondrian there. The building is stunning.
- Afternoon: Evoluon. You can’t miss it. It looks like a giant flying saucer. Built by Philips. Check if there’s an exhibition on.
- Evening: Down Town Gourmet Market. A buzzing food hall with 20+ stalls. Great vibes.
Day 3 Agenda
Theme: Design & Lights
- Morning: Piet Hein Eek. Visit the workshop/showroom of the famous scrap-wood designer. It’s on the edge of town (Strijp-R).
- Afternoon: Kazerne. A design gallery that is also a restaurant. Drink coffee surrounded by prototypes.
- Evening: Stratumseind. The longest pub street in the Netherlands. 50+ bars in a row. It’s sticky, loud, and student-heavy. Experience it once.
Weather
Spring (April-May): Kings Day is massive here (Eindhoven is the party city).
Summer (June-Aug): Terrace culture on the Market square.
Autumn (Sept-Nov): The Best Time. Dutch Design Week (Oct) and GLOW (Nov).
Winter (Dec-Feb): Industrial cozy.
Local Customs
- Carnival: Called ‘Lampegat’ during Carnival. It is rowdy and alcohol-fueled.
- Biking: Look for the Hovenring—a floating bicycle roundabout. It’s engineering art.
History & Culture
From a tiny village to an industrial giant. The Philips brothers started a lightbulb factory here in 1891. They built housing, schools, and stadiums (PSV Eindhoven) for workers. The city grew around the factory. The recent pivot to ‘Brainport’ region focuses on high-tech and design.
Getting Around & Safety
Bus network is extensive. Taxis are expensive.
- Bike: Essential for getting from Center to Strijp-S quickly.
- Walk: Strijp-S is a 20 min walk from the station.
Info for Nomads
Great tech scene, good co-working spaces. Very international community.
Workation Vibe
Speed: Blazing. 200+ Mbps.
Cafes: Lucifer Coffee Roasters (best brew) and Coffeelab (right at the station).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it pretty? +
No, not in a cute canal way. It is industrial, brutalist, and modern. You come for the vibe, not the gingerbread houses.
What is Dutch Design Week? +
A massive event in October where the whole city becomes a showroom for the future of design (sustainable, tech, material). Hotels sell out fast.
Where is the soccer stadium? +
Philips Stadion (PSV) is right in the city center. Matches are high energy.