Eindhoven Attractions

A trip to Eindhoven is worth it. The capital of 'Dutch Design' with plenty of street art, architecturally impressive buildings, and great museums has captivated us.

Additionally, the Van Gogh village of Nuenen is just a few kilometers away. Here, you can walk in Van Gogh's footsteps and bike along an illuminated bike path inspired by him.

We spent three days in Eindhoven and will reveal all attractions and sights for a weekend in Eindhoven.

During our stay in Eindhoven, we feel like we're in a large open-air museum. Futuristic architecture is everywhere. Van Abbemuseum, De Blob, Philips Museum, and the subway entrances. Everything here is wonderful in modern design.

And if it's not in an extraordinary design, it's colorful. Street art is found everywhere! And just when you think you've seen a lot, the street art bike tour leads you to many more amazing places. Wow, impressive.

Many design events take place annually, but this year they had to be canceled due to COVID-19.

In November, the GLOW event is the highlight. The many futuristic buildings are brought to life at night by light installations from artists around the world. This will be my next destination. How I wish to see this spectacle!

By the way, you can also enjoy fantastic shopping and nightlife in Eindhoven. This mix makes the modern metropolis in North Brabant, just after the border, very attractive for a short trip.

Did you know that Eindhoven is also called 'City of Light'? This nickname is due to the brand Philips, which was founded in Eindhoven in 1891.

The most distinctive Philips building is located opposite the Blob. The Light Tower is a white tower that bears the striking blue Philips logo. Since light bulbs were once tested in the upper floor, and the tower was always illuminated, it was named the Light Tower.

Eindhoven offers some noteworthy places, especially for street art and architecture fans. There are also a few attractions you should visit. Here are my highlights:

We love street art, do you too? Then you're in the right place in Eindhoven. The scene here is very vibrant, with new artworks emerging daily. Especially at Strijp-S and De Berenkuil, you'll find large murals. The latter is especially fantastic, as the complex of walkways and bike tunnels beneath the Insulindeplein traffic circle is colorful all around.

Every year, the Street Art Festival Step in the Arena takes place, attracting artists from around the world. Before each event, all the walls are painted black. Well, street art is ephemeral.

Our tip: Take a street art bike tour with City Tours Eindhoven. During the three-hour tour, you will learn valuable information about the artists and their works.

De Berenkuil, the largest legal graffiti spot in the Netherlands

Strijp-S, for example behind the Klokgebouw

Along the train tracks (take the train)

Dommel Tunnel

Tunnel along the Tongelreep River

Along the Dommel River under the De Hogt intersection

The 220-meter long wall across from the PSV Eindhoven Stadium

There's much more street art in the center of Eindhoven. Check out this map and download the app to discover the latest artworks.

Here are the Street Art app or map to download

Strijp-S was once the heart and factory town of Philips. Until Philips moved its headquarters to Amsterdam, Strijp-S was a city within a city.

Today, the former factory buildings are a creative hub with many apartments, studios, shops, and restaurants. It also hosts Area 51, one of the largest indoor skate parks in Europe (currently being renovated).

We wander through the individual shops and restaurants: Can Shop, Radio Royaal (restaurant), Ontdekfabriek, Bagel & Juice, MU Artspace, and Yksi Expo.

Did you know that Strijp-S was once known as the 'Forbidden City'? Because only employees were allowed to enter the Philips site.

De Bergen is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Eindhoven, which was spared from bombs during the war. If you love beautiful old and well-preserved buildings, this is the place for you. Our hotel, The Match, is located in the midst of De Bergen. The streets are lined with cozy cafes, restaurants, second-hand shops, and art galleries.

Arriving here was very easy for us. My favorite neighborhood in Eindhoven!

By the way, the name 'De Bergen' comes from the sand hills on which this pre-war district was built.

In the middle of the old center of Eindhoven stands De Blob. The futuristic building catches the eye immediately. You really can't miss De Blob.

Inside, there isn't a museum - as one might expect from such a building. The 25-meter high structure houses the De Admirant shop. De Blob was designed by the Italian architect Massimiliano Fuksas. Specialists from Switzerland were brought in to install the uniquely shaped glass panes individually.

De Blob quickly became a kind of landmark for Eindhoven. Nearby, you'll find another similar building and two futuristically shaped entrances to an underground bike garage for nearly 2000 bicycles.

Another attraction of the design capital is the oversized Flying Pins. This artwork was designed by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen and unveiled on May 31, 2000.

You can find the bowling ball with its twelve flying pins at the top of John F. Kennedylaan on the south side of the street, at the corner of Fellenoord. Check out my Eindhoven map at the end of the article, where I've marked the Flying Pins.

The Evoluon is yet another architectural highlight. It's uncertain whether it was meant to resemble a disc or a UFO. It definitely stands out and is one of the attractions in Eindhoven.

The Evoluon was built in 1966 by Philips to emphasize its modernity for its 75th anniversary. Until 1989, there was a technology museum inside. Today, only rare exhibitions or recordings for TV shows take place.

The area is fenced off and can only be accessed through the parking lot. We simply asked if we could take a photo. We couldn't get inside.

The museum, built in 1936, contains artworks by modern and contemporary artists, including pieces by Picasso, Rodin, and Kandinsky. The collection is one of the most important in the Netherlands.

The building itself is, of course, designed with extraordinary architecture. Worth a visit, especially if the weather is nice and you prefer to stay outdoors.

The 225-meter long Stratumseind is not only the longest bar street in the Netherlands but in all of Benelux. Due to COVID-19, many pubs were still closed during our visit. However, you should definitely visit Thomas. Best during the day when the wonderfully designed walls by artist Studiogiftig are visible! Street art meets nightclub.

In normal times, this street reportedly attracts more than 25,000 visitors in a week. With over 54 pubs and bars, there's plenty of space.

In the Piazza, you'll find the latest attraction in Eindhoven: Motion Experience (or Dinner in Motion in the evening). The light show is the Instagram place to be for younger audiences, a playground for kids.

We checked out Motion. It's a fun distraction that quickly becomes boring.

See details about Motion on the website

Ticket: 13 Euros

The former church still looks like one from the outside. Inside is now the luxurious boutique hotel Mariënhage. The church also hosts concerts and events. You must see this!

A highlight of our short trip is the visit to Nuenen. As we enter the village, I marvel and find myself repeatedly saying 'oh how beautiful it is here!' Incredible.

We spend the night at Het Kostershuisje, one of the oldest houses in Nuenen. An converted and restored house that is now available to guests. We feel right at home here, even if we have to get used to ducking our heads at the doors. People were shorter back then.

We explore the Vincentre. A modern museum about Vincent van Gogh with many interactive features and audio comments available in English.

After our visit, we walk along various places that remind us of the artist through Nuenen.

This includes the Van Gogh church, the former home of his parents, his monument, and an image of the Potato Eaters in the center of Nuenen near where the painting was made.

We visit the watermill in Opwetten (where you can eat excellently) and the Van Gogh-Roosegaarde bike path at dusk.

On the ground, thousands of little stones sparkle in the dark. The bike path was inspired by Van Gogh's painting Starry Night by the Dutch artist Daan Roosegaarde.

If we had had more time, we would have gone into the Philips Museum. It apparently looks great and stands out even from the outside!

Do you enjoy football? Then you must visit the 35,000-capacity PSV Eindhoven stadium. The stadium is located in the city center and stands out immediately.

DAF (Van Doorne's Automobiel Fabriek) is a famous vehicle manufacturer from Eindhoven. The museum showcases over 80 years of company history.

Start your virtual tour

Reserve tickets in advance

Tickets: 10 Euros

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10 AM - 5 PM

If you're planning a trip to Eindhoven, you'll find useful tips and information here that will assist you with your travel planning. These tips are especially helpful if it's your first trip to Eindhoven in the Netherlands.

In the heart of our favorite neighborhood, De Bergen, is Hotel The Match. Check-in and check-out can be done via computer. The motto 'Check-in stay out' reflects our philosophy. If you want a coffee or snack at the hotel, you can purchase this at the hotel's supermarket using a credit card.

The rooms are functional and very modern. The room showers are not always ideal for non-couples. The shower is quite spacious. We can definitely recommend this hotel. A parking garage is available for a fee.

Bicycles are even free to use. Since Eindhoven is best explored by bike, this is perfect!

Book the hotel on the website

In Eindhoven, the nearest cafe, restaurant, or bar is never far away.

Here are some places we've tried and can recommend:

Breakfast/Lunch: Lucifer Coffee Roasters (right next to our hotel)

Breakfast: Hooghuys 'Breakfast, Lunch and drinks

Breakfast/Lunch: Bagel & Juice. Delicious bagels and fresh juices in a great atmosphere.

Down Town Gourmet Market: Food from all over the world in the center. At 21 food stalls, you'll find food for every taste. A street food festival in a market hall. Thanks to the ordering app, you can have everything delivered to your table in accordance with COVID-19 guidelines.

The Cyclist: Meeting point for our street art bike tour. A cafe with food

If you're coming from West Germany, Eindhoven is very close to Germany. A little over an hour by car from Cologne, about 2 hours by train.

You can quickly reach North Brabant by train. Sparpreis Europa tickets start at €22.50.

Since we traveled from southern Germany and had other plans afterward, we drove by car.

-> Want to see more of North Brabant? Check out my travel report on the road trip in Brabant: Breda, de Biesbosch National Park, Willemstad, and Oudenbosch!

-> You can find the most beautiful sights in Amsterdam here

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