The 10 most beautiful sights in Eindhoven

“Design capital of the Netherlands,” “city of innovation and technology,” “cradle of Dutch innovation”: Eindhoven has numerous nicknames, all of which have one thing in common: its vision for the future, which the Dutch city demonstrates every day.

Located in the province of North Brabant in the southern Netherlands , Eindhoven is known as a center of technology and design and the birthplace of the electronics giant Philips. It's no surprise, then, that the city is modern, open-minded, and almost visionary. We'll tell you which attractions you absolutely shouldn't miss during your visit to Eindhoven.

The history of Eindhoven is closely linked to the history of the electronics company Philips. The company's founder, Gerard Philips, was a visionary: He originally founded the company to manufacture light bulbs, but technical devices such as X-ray machines and kitchen appliances soon followed.

In Eindhoven, there is no way around the Philips Museum.

Source: IMAGO/Dreamstime

Today, the Philips Museum is located at the company's original location in the old factory, which dates back to 1891. A visit provides a glimpse into the past and teaches you how the first lightbulbs were manufactured, but also focuses on the company's future. The interactive presentation "Innovation & You" provides insight into the path of new products from idea to completion.

Art is the focus at the Van Abbemuseum, which was founded in 1936. This museum of modern and contemporary art displays works by René Daniëls, Marlene Dumas, El Lissitzky, and Pablo Picasso, among others.

The interactive aspect is exciting: The museum also sees itself as a laboratory designed to encourage experimentation, experimentation, and discovery. There are free guided tours, workshops, an extensive educational and inclusion program, a children's art club, a museum shop, and a museum café.

Just how futuristic Eindhoven's cityscape appears in some places becomes apparent when you stand in front of the Evoluon. The building was designed in 1966 for the Philips company to celebrate its 75th anniversary. Architect Louis Christiaan Kalff designed a prestressed concrete structure with a diameter of 77 meters, its futuristic shape reminiscent of an alien spaceship that has landed in the city center.

The futuristic-looking Evoluon was designed in 1966 for Philips to celebrate its 75th anniversary.

Source: IMAGO/Dreamstime

Originally a science museum, it later served as a showcase for Philips' products. Today, the international network "Next Nature" presents its future museum here. Spanning 3,000 square meters, it houses an exhibition centered on the themes of design, art, and science, as well as the experiences of thinkers, visionaries, and artists.

The De Blob building in the heart of the city is similarly futuristic. The striking building is 1,400 square meters in size, 25 meters high, and made primarily of glass and steel. It was designed in 2010 by Italian architect Massimiliano Fuksas. The idiosyncratic structure forms the entrance to the De Admirant shopping center.

Top attraction in Eindhoven: The futuristic building De Blob.

Source: www.imago-images.de

The name De Blob is an abbreviation for Binary Large Object. In the computer world, the term refers to a mix of data, and in architecture, it refers to a strange building that can take on all sorts of bizarre shapes.

Even though Eindhoven is considered a city of visions of the future, traces of the past can also be found. The Sint-Catharinakerk (St. Catherine's Church) tells a long story. Its two towers are the hallmark of this neo-Gothic church, built in 1867 according to the design of Pierre Cuypers.

Originally, a church stood on this site, first mentioned in 1340. Over the centuries, the church was destroyed several times by fire and war. The current building replaced the old church. Inside, you'll find one of the largest pipe organs in the Netherlands.

Eindhoven is not only modern and innovative, but also a student city and accordingly young. It's no surprise, then, that it also boasts a vibrant nightlife. The city is even famous for one superlative: Eindhoven boasts the longest bar street in the Netherlands: Stratumseind.

The Stratumseind ​​in Eindhoven is the longest bar street in the Netherlands.

Source: IMAGO/Zoonar

The "Stratum" is 225 meters long and stretches from the banks of the Dommel River to the city center. More than 50 dining establishments, including bars, clubs, cafés, and restaurants, line the lively street.

Eindhoven's up-and-coming and forward-looking character can be felt in the trendy Strijp-S district. The former industrial park has been experiencing new life since the early 2000s: Modern buildings now stand between old factories, home primarily to creative companies that shape the city with their visions.

The new trendy district Strijp‑S was created in a former industrial park in Eindhoven.

Source: IMAGO/Pond5 Images

The High Tech Campus, originally founded by Philips, is a pioneering example. Almost all of the old factory buildings have been converted into trendy shops, innovative restaurants, and creative workplaces. Events such as Dutch Design Week and the STRP Festival also take place in this trendy district.

The DAF Museum, dedicated to the automobile brand of the same name, offers an extraordinary experience. You don't have to be a car fan to be inspired. The museum is housed in the old steam brewery dating back to 1884, where Hub and Wim van Doorne started production of the DAF (Van Doorne's Automobiel Fabriek) when they founded the company in 1928.

The museum tells the story of Van Doorne's Automobile Factory. It features rare prototypes, vintage trucks, sports cars, buses, and other special vehicles from the 1930s to the present day. The ground floor recreates a nostalgic village square from the 1930s, complete with shops, a café, a garage, and a replica of the Van Doorne office.

Eindhoven owes its name "City of Light" to the electronics company Philips, founded in 1891. The city's lights still play an important role today. Every year in November, the Netherlands' largest light art festival takes place, illuminating Eindhoven in the most magnificent colors.

Colorful Eindhoven: Every year the city is artistically illuminated at Glow, the largest light art festival in the Netherlands.

Source: IMAGO/NurPhoto

During Glow , buildings, parks, roofs, and streets become light art works by over 35 light artists from Germany and abroad. An evening stroll through the city center reveals installations on squares, facades, trees, cars, churches, and the sky. Every November, the design city glows in the most beautiful colors.

Anyone taking a trip to Eindhoven should definitely also visit Nuenen. The small town is just ten kilometers away and is famous for one of its most prominent residents: Vincent van Gogh lived and worked in Nuenen for two years, from 1883 to 1885. He painted over 180 pictures here, including his famous painting "The Potato Eaters" ("De Aardappeleters").

That's why Nuenen can rightfully call itself "Van Gogh Village." There's no other place in the Netherlands where you can follow so many of the famous painter's footsteps. There are no less than 24 locations that van Gogh immortalized in sketches and paintings, or that are associated with him.

Looking for more inspiration? You can find tips for all the top travel destinations at reisereporter, and the best travel deals on our deals page .