| Eindhoven | ||
 | ||
Coat of arms and flag   | ||
| State | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Inhabitants | 775.345 (2008) | |
| Prefix tel | 31 40 | |
| POSTAL CODE | 5600 - 5658 | |
Position
| ||
| Institutional website | ||
Eindhoven it's a city Dutch in the province of North Brabant.
To know
The name of Eindhoven is closely linked to that of the Philips industries. It was in fact in Eindhoven that Gerard Philips set up an incandescent light bulb factory. It was the year 1891. At that time Eindhoven was only a provincial town known for its tobacco manufactures but it grew rapidly in tandem with the company destined to mark prodigious developments in the following decades.
Thanks to Gerard's entrepreneurial initiative, the original production of incandescent bulbs extended to other fields of technological research and new factories for the mass production of tungsten tubes were inaugurated. In 1929 the Polytechnic was founded by a joint project of Philips and DAF, the automotive industry also based in Eindhoven.
Unfortunately, its industrial importance earned it repeated and heavy bombings during the Second World War which led to the destruction of many of its neighborhoods. The reconstruction program undertaken after the war gave Eindhoven a modern and often futuristic character as happened in the nearby Rotterdam albeit on a less conspicuous scale.
The city's long association with Philips industries broke up in 1998 when the multinational's headquarters were moved to Amsterdam. The numerous testimonies of the company remain scattered all over the place such as the employees' lodgings, the offices of the Witte Dame (The White Lady) and the initial factory today transformed into a museum. On the eastern outskirts stands the Evoluon, a futuristic construction completed on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the founding of Philips. Evoluon was a gift from Frits Philips to the city aimed at hosting the science museum. Today the museum has been abandoned and the building in the shape of a flying saucer has been used as a conference center.
How to orient yourself
Center of Eindhoven: full screen map.The center extends south of the train station and is largely a pedestrian precinct.
The station area is an entertainment area thanks to a high concentration of restaurants and various clubs.
Going through the center, take the Vestdijk, on which the town hall is located (stadhuis) built in 1955 and the monument to the Liberation.
- De Markt is a tourist square in the heart of Eindhoven. It is as old as Eindhoven and appears mentioned in 1232 when the center acquired the title of city. Even today there is a flea market every Saturday where antiques and various trinkets are treated. De Markt is surrounded by clubs, especially restaurants and bars with terraces that are always very popular with passing tourists. From the square you enter the shopping centerHeuvel Galerie inside which is the Eindhoven casino of the Holland Casino chain.
- Stratumseind it is in a certain sense the Eindhoven course that cuts the center in the sense of longitude. It goes from the church of Santa Caterina to the bridge over the Dommel and forms a pedestrian area and comes alive especially at night. In its vicinity is the Van Abbe museum. Its extension beyond the bridge is called Stratumsedijk with a couple of gay clubs. The area requires caution from foreign visitors as it is also frequented by drug addicts in search of their daily fix.
- Wilhelminaplein is another tourist square in the center of Eindhoven. It is located on the Willemstraat, west of de Markt. It is dedicated to Queen Wilhelmina (1880-1962) and was set up at the beginning of the 20th century. It is another recreation area. In the clubs that surround it, live singers often perform even outside if the weather permits. Among the most famous places are the restaurants of the Nassau and hotels Benno[link previously not working]. All the names of the premises refer to members of the house of Orange-Nassau.
Other neighborhoods
- Bergen - Located north of Wilhelminaplein, Bergen is, as its name suggests, a neighborhood on a slight rise, which is enough to make it a privileged area in a country with completely flat landscapes. Bergen's old houses were spared from World War II bombs so the area was able to retain the evocative air of bygone days. There is the Witte Dame (White lady) a factory that later housed the offices of Philips. It was built between 1928 and 1931 by the architect Dirk Roosenburg according to the dictates of style "New Objectivity". The building was taken over by the municipality, which restored it by entrusting the work to the architect Bert Dirrix. Today the Witte Dame houses the Academy of Design, the Library and the Art Mu Foundation.
- Fellenoord it is the district north of the station, separated from the center by the railway lines. Semi-destroyed by bombs several times during World War II, it was largely demolished in the post-war period and is now a modern area where offices and banks are located. The Baekelandplein (1.7 km from the station) is in the center of Eindhoven's red light district with four brothels still in operation.
How to get
By plane
Eindhoven Airport [1] It is 11 km northwest of the city center Ryanair with flights from Alghero,Toast, Milan-Bergamo- Orio al Serio, Pescara, Pisa, Rome-Ciampino,Trapani,Catania.
The whole area is covered by free wi-fi, so you can call home (with a VOIP service) to say that you have arrived well.
The connection with the center is ensured by frequent bus lines on weekdays, less on holidays.
The 401 line ends at the central station while the 145 leads to the Best railway station, useful for those wishing to reach by train Haarlem or Amsterdam without going through Eindhoven. The AirExpressBus bus lines [2] provide a direct connection between the airport and Amsterdam.
How to get around
By public transport
Public transport consists of buses, some of which terminate in nearby towns such as Nuenen is Geldrop.
What see
- 1 Church of Santa Caterina (Sint-Catharinakerk). Catholic church built in 1867 in neo-Gothic style. The towers are 67 m high. from the ground. The music box is a gift from Philips and dates back to 1960. Inside is a large pipe organ
- 2 Van Abbe Museum (Van Abbemuseum), Bilderdijklaan 10. The Van Abbe Museum is dedicated to modern and contemporary art with works ranging from the early 1900s to the present day. It was established in 1936 thanks to the bequest of Henri J. van Abbe, a tobacco industrialist. The collections were initially housed in a traditional-style building designed by the architect Alexander Kropholler but with the acquisition of new works in increasing numbers, the construction of new buildings became necessary. These were built on the design of the architect Abel Cahen who also designed the 27 m tower. in the center of the complex. The new wing was inaugurated in 2003 by Queen Beatrix. Many of the works on display bear the signature of Dutch artists. Among these, the oil paintings by the Cubist painter Piet Mondrian stand out. There are also works by Pablo Picasso, Wassily Kandinsky and the Russian Lazar Markovich Lissitzky.
- 3 Philips Museum, Emmasingel 31. The museum is housed in an 1891 Philips factory where bulb light bulbs were produced.
- Artificial light in Art (Centrum Kunstlicht in de Kunst), Emmasingel. The museum aims to show its collections under the suggestive effects of artificial light. It is housed in the Philips factory.
- 4 DAF Museum, Tongelresestraat 27, ☎ 31 40 244 4364. Dedicated to DAF, the Dutch industry which produced, among other things, a famous small car. A permanent exhibition is dedicated to Charles Burki (1909-1994), the designer who designed DAF vehicles for 30 years.
- 5 Open-air Museum of Prehistory (Stichting Historisch Openluchtmuseum Eindhoven), Boutenslaan 161 (South of the center in the Stadswandel park). Outdoor reconstruction of a prehistoric settlement made with finds from archaeological excavations carried out in North Brabant. A very nice place, suitable for families passing through
Events and parties
- Dutch Design Week. Dedicated to design, it occurs every year in October.
- Lichtjesroute (Street of lights), September 18th. Parade in the streets.
What to do
- 1 "De Splinter" playground (Speelpark de Splinter), Rode Kruislaan 2, ☎ 31 40 241 5416, @[email protected].
Mon-Sat free; Sun and holidays € 1.50. Renowned park for children who can choose from a thousand activities.
Mon-Sat free; Sun and holidays € 1.50. Renowned park for children who can choose from a thousand activities.Shopping
How to have fun
Shows
- 1 Pathé, Dommelstraat 27. cinema multiplex with a total capacity of 1957 seats.
- 2 Effenaar, Dommelstraat 2 (Near the train station), ☎ 31 40 239 36 66. Concert hall where international music stars perform on tour in Holland. There are also dance performances and concerts.
- 3 Philips Stadion, Frederiklaan 10A. The football stadium where the matches of the local PSV team take place. It has a capacity of 35,000 seats.
Night clubs
The Stratumseind features an uninterrupted string of venues throughout its length. from the Church of Santa Catharina to the Dommel bridge, after which there are a couple of gay clubs.
- 4 Dynamo, Catharinaplein 21, ☎ 31 40 239 31 10. Young people, even those passing through, should not fail to make a visit to the Dynamo center where musical bands whose genre ranges from rock to hip hop perform. The cultural center also offers the opportunity to practice various activities from dance to sports and crafts with exhibitions by creative groups.
- Wilhelmina cafe. Live music venue that has dominated the local music scene for decades. It has kept its clientele that has now passed the ... door but tends to be deserted by young people.
- Pallaz Club, Stratumsedijk 14. Gay bar-dancing.
- Genestho cafe, Stratumsedijk 21, ☎ 31 40 212 2637. Gay club.
Where to eat
Moderate prices
- 1 Eetcafé Bommel, Kleine Berg 32 (400 m. by De Markt), ☎ 31 (040) 245 29 22. Bommel is a place frequented by students. You don't have the choice. The menu is fixed and cost 12.50 euros in 2012.
- 2 Grand Restaurant Le Connaisseur, Kleine Berg 12 (close to the previous one), ☎ 31 40 2 460 960. Only affordable if you order a three course dinner before 6pm. You will pay a total of 17.00 euros (year 2012) and you are given the right to choose from a limited number of courses. The restaurant is renowned and reported by various guides (year 2012).
- 3 Friture Dik & Lang, Jan van Lieshoutstraat 28. €5. Renowned and inexpensive fast food that features in its menu various fries covered with abundant mayonnaise.
- 4 [link not working]Grand Café De Wildeman, Markt 10, ☎ 31 40 245 23 00. Among the cheapest of the clubs surrounding de Markt.
- 5 Kentucky Fried Chicken, Marktstraat 1, ☎ 31 40 269 1950. Fast food made from one of the oldest houses overlooking the Piazza de Markt.
Where stay
Moderate prices
- 1 Hotel-O-Theek De Zwaan V.O.F (Budget Hotel), Heilige Geeststraat 1 (On the Wilhelminaplein, the square dedicated to Queen Wilhelmina), ☎ 31 40 244 8992. €26. More than tourists, the hotel customers are workers on business trips to Eindhoven. The rooms are spartan but comfortable.
- 2 [link previously not working]Raku BB, Heezerweg 41, ☎ 31 40 40-2112949. € 60 per bed. Bed & breakfast offering beds in rooms with shared bathroom. It has only one single room.
- 3 B&B De Ster, St. Adrianusstraat 29 (3 km from the center, Bus 10 from the station to the Sint Jansweg stop), ☎ 31 40 211-5487, @[email protected]. € 30 per person (breakfast not included). It has two doubles and one single.
- [link not working]pensionindhoven. 4 pensions located in different parts of the city.
- Stayokay Valkenswaard, Heerkensdreef 20, 5552 BG Valkenswaard, The Netherlands (It is about 10 km from the railway station), ☎ 31 40 201 5334. It is a hostel located in a green area south of the center.
- 4 3BE Backpackers Bed & Breakfast, Stratumsedijk 31, ☎ 31 40 212 0416. Private hostel on the main street in the center.
- 5 Woonhotel Eindhoven, Leenderweg 285, ☎ 31 40 211 2111, @[email protected]. 11 o'clock. Among the least economical in the category (€ 50 for a double room in 2012) the Woonhotel, however, is one of the few in Eindhoven that offers its guests a kitchen area. It has annexes in various parts of the city but the one located on Leenderweg is the best. The reviews on the web, however, give a poor score.
Average prices
- 6 Crown Inn Eindhoven, Markt 35 (On the central market square), ☎ 31 40 245 4545. 3 star hotel.
- 7 Restaurant Hotel Benno, Wilhelminaplein 9, ☎ 31 40 236 6070. Prices for the year 2011: 75 euros for the double and 47 for the single. Breakfast included in the price. Renowned two-star hotel in a good location in the center.
- 8 Hotel-O-Theek Ton Smits / De Zwaan, Wilhelminaplein 4, ☎ 31 40 244 8992. Another unpretentious hotel on Piazza Guglielmina. free wi-fi.
Safety
How to keep in touch
Internet
Eindhoven has infinite hot spots but all protected with passwords so you will have to ask the manager of the club or hotel. Sometimes it's free and sometimes it's not.
The public library at 22 Emmasingel has wifi that is not password protected. You also have the possibility to connect from inside the premises but in this case you will not be able to use voice chat (Skype) so as not to disturb the reader. Better to fall back on the La Place shopping center in Heuvel Galerie where you will connect automatically without requiring a password.
Around
- Nuenen - Less than 10 km from the center, the town of Nuenen is linked to the memory of the painter Vincent Van Gogh who stayed there between 1883 and 1885, as a guest of his father, a Calvinist priest. At number 13 of the street "Weiseind" is "Vincent van Gogh documentatiecentrum" (Van Gogh Foundation Museum Documentation) which collects sketches and paintings by the artist. It was in Nuenen that Van Gogh produced one of his most famous paintings, "The Potato Eaters".
- Helmond - Famous for its castle in the middle of a park, Helmond is 15 km from Eindhoven.
- Groote Peel National Park - Peel means swamp and in fact the park covers a swampy territory where numerous species of migratory birds all heading south stop in autumn. Groote Peel It is 37 km from the center of Eindhoven.
