Eindhoven

📌 About

Eindhoven, located in the south of the Netherlands, is a dynamic city known as the country’s innovation and design hub. Often called the “City of Light,” it has a rich industrial history linked to Philips, the global electronics giant founded here. Today, Eindhoven thrives on creativity, hosting the Dutch Design Week and boasting a vibrant tech scene centered around the High Tech Campus. The city’s modern architecture, cultural hotspots like the Van Abbemuseum, and lively Strijp-S district showcase its blend of heritage and future-forward thinking, making it a must-visit destination for innovation enthusiasts.

🎭 Activities

Glow Eindhoven – November: The annual light art festival transforms the city into a vibrant artwork. Artists from all over the world create spectacular light installations scattered throughout the city. The event attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors and celebrates Eindhoven’s status as the “City of Light.”

Dutch Design Week – October: The largest design festival in Northern Europe. Dutch Design Week showcases innovative designs from both established designers and young talent. Exhibitions, workshops, and events across the city highlight the creative future of design.

“Lichtjesroute” – September: This historical route commemorates the liberation of Eindhoven during World War II. The route features dozens of light artworks and decorations throughout the city, blending history with modern art.

Strijp-S – All year: This former Philips site has been transformed into a creative district with trendy cafes, design shops, and street art. It’s the cultural and creative hub of Eindhoven, hosting events like markets, concerts, and street art tours.

Evoluon – All year: A futuristic building once used as a science and technology museum, built by Philips. Its iconic “flying saucer” design now hosts regular events and tech exhibitions. It’s a symbol of innovation in Eindhoven.

Feelgood Market – Monthly: A monthly market at Strijp-S spotlighting local products, handmade goods, and organic food. A place where sustainability meets coziness.

Van Abbemuseum – All year: An international hotspot for modern art, known for its avant-garde exhibitions. The museum features an extensive collection, including works by Picasso, Mondrian, and Chagall. The building itself is an architectural masterpiece.

Philips Museum – All year: Located in the old Philips factory building, the museum tells the fascinating story of Philips, from the invention of the light bulb to the development of innovative medical technologies. Perfect for technology and history enthusiasts.

Genneper Parken – All year (summer): This green nature area offers a peaceful escape from the city’s hustle. It features walking paths, a historic watermill, and animal parks. In summer, it hosts open-air concerts and sports events.

High Tech Campus Events – All year: Known as the smartest square kilometer in Europe, the High Tech Campus regularly organizes lectures, tech events, and innovation competitions. This is the place to glimpse the future of technology.

PSV Stadium Tours – All year: A behind-the-scenes look at Eindhoven’s pride, football club PSV. The stadium tour includes access to the locker rooms and the field where legendary matches have been played.

Parktheater Eindhoven – All year: One of the largest theaters in the Netherlands, offering a wide range of performances, from classical music and ballet to modern dance and comedy. The theater also hosts special festivals like the International Theater Festival.

🏛 Landmarks

The Blob: A futuristic glass building in Eindhoven’s city center.

Sint-Catharinakerk: A neo-Gothic church and one of the oldest historical monuments in the city.

Philips Museum: Tells the story of Philips and its impact on Eindhoven.

High Tech Campus: Innovation hub known as the “smartest square kilometer in Europe.”

Anne Frank Plantsoen: A serene spot for relaxation in the heart of the city.

Lichttoren: A former Philips building once used for light bulb testing.

🔹 Small Facts

Nickname “City of Light”: Eindhoven earned this nickname due to the founding of Philips and its light bulb production.

The Blob has no straight lines: This building in the city center was designed by Massimiliano Fuksas and symbolizes modern design.

GLOW started small: The light art festival began in 2006 with only a few installations but is now internationally renowned.

Strijp-S was once a closed-off area: This district was formerly accessible only to Philips employees.

Van Abbemuseum pioneered modern art: It was one of the first museums in the Netherlands to showcase works by Picasso and Kandinsky.

Eindhoven was bombed five times: During World War II, the city was a key target due to Philips.

Genneper Parken has a watermill from 1249: One of the oldest structures in the region, once used for grain and oil production.

Evoluon once symbolized the future: Opened in 1966, it attracted thousands of visitors with futuristic exhibitions.

Philips co-developed the compact disc: The CD as we know it was partly designed in Eindhoven.

Lichtjesroute commemorates liberation: Since 1945, this light route celebrates the city’s liberation annually.

Stories

The City of Light: From Bulbs to Brilliance

Eindhoven is often called the City of Light, a nickname that stems from its inseparable connection with Philips, the electronics company that put the city on the map in the 19th century. In 1891, Gerard and Frederik Philips opened a small factory on Emmasingel in Eindhoven, where they produced light bulbs.

The Evolution of Strijp-S

Strijp-S, once the industrial epicenter of Eindhoven, has come a long way from a closed factory complex to a vibrant creative district. In the early 20th century, the area was owned by Philips, which developed its most secretive and advanced technologies here.