Visiting Eindhoven: what are the best things to do and see in the Netherlands’ fifth-largest city, one of the country’s most modern and dynamic places?
To visit Eindhoven is to take a gamble on modernity. Bombed out during the Second World War, the city lost many of its historic buildings. However, some of them are still there, and Eindhoven has managed to rebuild and develop in a particularly exemplary way.
Eindhoven is a shopper’s paradise, but it has much more to offer. Art, culture, design, let yourself be carried away by this often little-known Dutch destination.
If you’re wondering what to do in Eindhoven, we’ve put together a list of must-sees.
1. The Van Abbe Museum, one of Europe’s largest collections of modern art
Photo credit: Flickr – Thomas van de Vosse
The Van Abbemuseum is undoubtedly the city’s most popular attraction. It houses one of Europe’s largest collections of modern and contemporary art. You’ll find works by Chagall, Picasso, El Lissitzky, Kandinsky, Mondrian and many others among the 2,700 or so works on display in one of the city’s most striking contemporary buildings.
2. Sainte-Catherine or Sint-Catharinakerk church
Photo credit: Flickr – Gerard Stolk
This neo-Gothic church was built in 1867. The 73-metre-high, Gothic-inspired twin towers, named David and Mary, are particularly impressive. And don’t forget the building’s interior, with its two organs and stained-glass windows. A first monument was erected in the 13th century in honor of Saint Catherine, but it was repeatedly damaged by bombing and fire.
3. Dive into the past at the Eindhoven Museum or PreHistorisch Dorp
Photo credit: Flickr – Thomas van de Vosse
History buffs will be delighted. This open-air archaeological museum features a reconstruction of the village of Eindhoven in the Middle Ages, as well as relics from the Stone Age. The museum aims to give visitors an idea of how people lived in these different periods. A must for families with children!
4. Philips Museum
Photo credit: Flickr – Canadian Pacific
If you’re about to visit Eindhoven, you’ll have read the expression « city of lights ». It owes this nickname to the strong presence of the Philips brand, an electronics and lighting company. The museum in question is located close to the site where the first incandescent light bulb was developed in 1890, and traces the evolution of this small company that soon became a giant. This reputation as a city of lights has given rise to the Glow Eindhoven event, which takes place every year and brings together the world’s best light installation designers.
5. Spend the evening in the long Stratumseind street
Photo credit: Flickr – Jos Dielis
The Stratum is a must for the city’s nightlife. Wondering what to do in Eindhoven after dark? Take a stroll along the 225-meter-long avenue, which is packed with cafés, bars and restaurants. A festive place to end a day of sightseeing.
6. Also in Eindhoven
Bike path inspired by Van Gogh’s « Starry Night
Would you like to continue visiting Eindhoven? Don’t worry, the city still holds many secrets:
- Designhuis, the House of Design
- Ride on the Van Gogh bike path, an illuminated trail inspired by the artist’s works.
- Evoluon, a « UFO » building commissioned by Philips
- De Blob, futuristic building and entrance to the De Admirant shopping center
- De Admirant, the city’s tallest tower
- DAF Museum for car enthusiasts
7. Things to do near Eindhoven
The landscape of Nuenen, Van Gogh’s village – Photo credit: Flickr – Andrew Black
Now that you know all you need to know about « What to do in Eindhoven », we invite you to discover the city’s surroundings:
- Nuenen, Van Gogh’s village
- Tilburg, its museums and restaurants
- Efteling, Holland’s largest theme park
- De Ploeg, a remarkable building by Gerrit Rietveld
How to get to Eindhoven
Eindhoven airport is located 7 km northwest of the city center, and is served by direct flights from the French cities of Marseille and Nice. The 401 bus is direct to the central station. You can also reach Eindhoven by train from Amsterdam and other Dutch cities. To find a cheap flight to Eindhoven, you can search on the website of our partner Ulysses.
Where to stay in Eindhoven?
For your accommodation in Eindhoven, aim for city-center hotels that will make your stay easier: several districts, from the historic center to Elzent-Zuid and Schrijversbuurt, offer you the chance to be close to everything. You can find a cheap hotel in Eindhoven by searching on this hotel comparator.
Map of hotels and accommodation – Eindhoven