The city of Eindhoven, located in the southern Netherlands, is the fifth largest city in the country and a mere stone’s throw from Belgium. With strong design, technological, and creative ties, the city is both progressive and exciting, and there is no shortage of such things to do in Eindhoven.
Discover our list of top things to do in Eindhoven below and get a small introduction into what makes this buzzing city tick.
Read more: Where to stay in Eindhoven – the complete guide of the best places to stay in town
Contents
- How to get to Eindhoven
- 15 Top things to do in Eindhoven
- 1. Motion Imagination Experience
- 2. PSV Stadium Museum
- 3. Strijp-S Industrial Park
- 4. Van Abbemuseum
- 5. Evoluon
- 6. Philips Museum
- 7. DAF Museum
- 8. St. Catherine’s Church
- 9. Het Veem Food Market
- 10. preHistorisch Dorp
- 11. Berenkuil Street Art
- 12. Kazerne Expo
- 13. Piet Hein Eek Design Store and Restaurant
- 14. The Blob
- 15. GLOW Festival
- Final words
DISCLOSURE: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase via one of those links, I will earn a commission at no extra cost for you.
How to get to Eindhoven
Eindhoven’s a got a secret. It’s the 2nd most accessible city in the Netherlands for tourists. With the 2nd biggest international airport in the country (6,8 million passengers in 2019), Eindhoven is still an off-the-beaten track destination in Europe.
The good news is that Eindhoven is also a short distance from other major airports both in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Brussel Airport is only 1 hr 15 min drive and Cologne-Bonn is just under 2 hrs drive.
When you arrive at the Eindhoven International Airport, take bus line 400 or 401 to the city centre. The bus stop at the airport is underneath the huge parking house in front of the airport. Then get off at Einhoven Centraal. The bus trip takes about 20 minutes.
Tip: Read this post about using the public transport in the Netherlands. It’s packed with tips that only a local knows!
Here are some distances from other major cities in the Netherlands to Eindhoven by car and he times by car and by train:
- Amsterdam – Eindhoven: 125 km/1 hr 25 min; by train: 1 hr 20 min
- Schiphol – Eindhoven: 130 km/1 hr 25 min; by train: 1 hr 25 min
- Groningen – Eindhoven: 260 km/2 hrs 50 min; by train: 3 hrs
- Utrecht – Eindhoven: 90 km/1 hr min; by train: 50 min
- The Hague – Eindhoven: 140 km/1 hr 40 min; by train: 1 hr 50 min
- Den Bosch – Eindhoven: 40 km/30 min; by train: 18 min
- Rotterdam – Eindhoven: 115 km/1 hr 20 min; by train: 1 hr
- Maastricht – Eindhoven: 100 km/1 hr 10 min; by train: 1 hr
Pro tip: Buy your train tickets online with the Dutch Railways (NS) for hassle-free travel. On the website of NS you can also check for any discounts.
The best way to find out how to travel from A to B in the Netherlands is to use the Glimble app. You can buy your tickets in the app and travel hassle-free. The app is absolutely free to download.
Besides a train connection with the largest Dutch cities, Eindhoven is also well-connected by bus. Check out the website of FlixBus for more information. For international travel options, check out Omio, where you can also buy train and bus tickets.
15 Top things to do in Eindhoven
Read further to find out which are the best things to do in Eindhoven. On the handy map below I’ve marked all tourist attractions in Eindhoven. You can add the map to your Google Maps and use it even if you are offline.
1. Motion Imagination Experience
When deciding on what to do in Eindhoven, a good starting point is the Motion Imagination Experience. It’s the ideal way to get your imagination working as you experience digital light art and discover this new form of artwork. This is an awesome fantasy family outing for all ages and bound to be an adventure for all.
Buy here your tickets for the Motion Imagination Experience.
2. PSV Stadium Museum
One of the favorite Eindhoven tourist attractions that you cannot miss is the PSV Stadium Museum tour. The Philips Sport Vereniging football club, or PSV Eindhoven as it’s affectionately known, has been around for more than 100 years and you are able to learn about the history of the club at the stadium museum.
We’re talking trophies of past victories, photos of historic club events and players, and various other memorabilia on display for you to really capture the essence of the red and white.
It’s one of the favorite museums in Eindhoven for football fans and there is also a PSV Stadium Tour that you’re able to embark on after discovering the museum. Here you will get to go behind the scenes and visit the off-limits areas normally reserved for players and officials.
You can pop into the players’ changing rooms and feel what it’s like to be there as a player as well as the luxury boxes, post-match conference room and directors’ box.
Buy here your ticket for the PSV Stadium tour.
3. Strijp-S Industrial Park
Next on the list of things to see in Eindhoven, is the lively district of Strijp -S. The area used to belong to Philips, the electronics company but since the year 2000, the buildings in the former complex have been converted into creative shops, restaurants, and housing. It is now open to the public for all to visit – a stark contrast to the old times when only employees of Philips were allowed to enter.
Book here a walking tour of Strijp-S Industrial Park.
4. Van Abbemuseum
The Van Abbemuseum houses modern and contemporary art and is the only museum of its kind in Eindhoven. It’s one of those Eindhoven attractions that is named after its founder – Henri van Abbe. He loved these modern forms of artwork and wanted to be able to showcase them in Eindhoven, thus founded the museum in 1936.
The collection on display at the museum includes a vast number of artworks from the likes of Picasso, Rodin, and Kandinsky – considered some of the largest in the Dutch, Flemish, and German region.
5. Evoluon
After being built in 1966 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Philips, Evoluon was gifted to the public by Mr. Frits Philips. It served as one of the only science museums in Eindhoven, and later became used for receptions and conferences for the Philips company.
Today, the UFO-esque building is one of the most popular things to see in Eindhoven and is used for meetings, events, and conferences.
There’s a super fun exhibition at the Evoluon: RetroFuture, which explores the future of yesterday, how we envisaged the future in the past. Being the capital of innovation and design, Eindhoven is the right place to host an exhibition of this kind, and what better place than the UFO building!
Buy here tickets for the RetroFuture exhibition.
6. Philips Museum
When deciding on what to visit in Eindhoven, the Philips Museum should be on your list. It provides an important look into the history of the electronics brand and their development of products in the music, lighting, health, and communications industries. The company was founded in 1891 by Gerard Philips and the most famous product that put it on the map was the lightbulb.
The Philips Museum is one of the most fascinating things to do in Eindhoven as you take a look at the historical timeline of the company. From the first carbon wire lightbulb through to the most modern lighting systems and the X-ray machine – it’s very much worth a visit.
7. DAF Museum
The DAF Museum in Eindhoven houses a vast collection of trucks, production vehicles, and other prototypes that never made it into production. The museum also tells the story of the Dutch vehicle manufacturer and is considered to be one of the few specialist museums in Eindhoven.
8. St. Catherine’s Church
Regarded as one of the most spectacular churches in Eindhoven, St. Catherine’s Church was built in honor of the late Saint Catherine of Alexandria. The Roman Catholic Church is one of the most popular Eindhoven tourist attractions and today.
Collegium Musicum Eindhoven organizes “Muziek in de Cathrien” – one of the things to do in Eindhoven that has become a living concept in the city.
Book here a walking tour of Eindhoven to see all famous attractions in Eindhoven.
9. Het Veem Food Market
On your Eindhoven sightseeing field trip, you’re bound to build up a healthy appetite whilst exploring the city and all it has to offer. One of the best things to do in Eindhoven is to pop into the Het Veem Food Market in the Strijp-S for a bite to eat.
There are many local vendors selling their artisanal products, from cheeses and meat, to breads, vegetables, and everything in between. There is also cold beer and wine available to quench your thirst and soak up the lively environment.
10. preHistorisch Dorp
The preHistorisch Dorp is one of those things to do in Eindhoven that really transports you back in time with its array of prehistoric villages, demonstrations, and dwellings. You will learn about the everyday goings on of these villages as well as farming methods, metal work, and other forms of craft used in this prehistoric era.
11. Berenkuil Street Art
When visiting Eindhoven, things to do are plentiful and a quick pass through Berenkuil street is both hip and fun. The two-story traffic circle is covered with graffiti from local artists and serves as a modern open-air museum.
12. Kazerne Expo
The Kazerne Expo is a place where designers are given a platform to showcase their works. An array of designers and exhibitions are on display and it’s a place where the worlds of design, art, and technology come together in a harmonious environment.
13. Piet Hein Eek Design Store and Restaurant
Located in the former Philips ceramic workplace, Piet Hein Eek has several different entities under one roof. A factory, restaurant, hotel, rooftop bar, and more!
14. The Blob
If at this point, you’re still asking yourself what to see in Eindhoven, fear not. There is still hope! The Blob (Binary Large Object) is the futuristic, space-like entrance to The Admirant shopping centre and an example of modern, futuristic architecture in the city.
15. GLOW Festival
Rounding off the list of things to do in Eindhoven is the Glow Festival, a week-long festival of light that occurs yearly in November. There are some 35 light artists that participate in displaying their most spectacular pieces of light art, as well as local talent showcasing some unique artforms.
Final words
From the list above, it is clear that there are many unique and interesting things to do in Eindhoven, making it a definite must-see city when visiting the Netherlands. It’s the perfect stop if you’re en route to Belgium and fancy admiring some of the lesser-known sights in the country.
Being such a creative hub, the city oozes great ideas and inspiration and there is something for everyone to see and do. From shopping to museums, restaurants, and other hotspots, it’s one of the cities in the Netherlands that is off the beaten track, yet still has so much to offer.
Do you need some extra help to plan your trip to the Netherlands? Join the dedicated Exploring the Netherlands Facebook Group, where you can get tips from other travellers and locals. Or perhaps you have questions or comments? Join the group and I’ll be happy to answer them.
