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Eindhoven is about one hour +/- from places like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Maastricht . Eindhoven has a youthful dynamic aura, but a warm, country heart. With 200,000 residents, it is the fifth largest city in The Netherlands and the centre of a region with 700,000.

Located along the important trading-route from Holland to Luik (Liege in Belgium) it was destined to flourish. It got it's town rights in 1232 after having existed as a village for many more years previously. But there's hardly any evidence left of this long history. In the 80-years war things rapidly went downwards, and after that Eindhoven did not really get important again until the early 19th century, when the first industries settled in the town. Secondly this city must have attracted the sickest politicians around in the more recent history. I thought Tilburg was bad. But even more than their colleagues in Tilburg, the big men in charge of Eindhoven left no stone unturned to achieve their goals. What were they thinking? Tilburg's centre was mutilated, but at least there are several places there that remained mostly untouched. But in Eindhoven's centre every old building looks sadly out of place, surrounded as it is by a modern, "prestigious" and hostile looking environment.

Today Greater Eindhoven has more than half a million inhabitants and has expanded into a commercial, industrial and cultural centre of international standing. With everything to match. World-famous companies, the highest concentration of high-tech industry in the Netherlands, its own airport and excellent hotels and conference centres. Shopping centre (Heuvel galerie), accommodation for large-scale events (Beursgebouw), Holland Casino and the Frits Philips Music Hall. Plus every facility in the field of culture, sports and recreation. Surrounded by the most beautiful natural scenery and typically Brabant.

St.Catharina One of a few attractive sights in Eindhoven's sad, office-block-dominated skyline are the two towers of the St.Catharina This church was built from 1859 to 1867 by a design of Pierre Cuypers. A remarkable feature of this church are the two different towers. The catholic architectural theorist Alberdink Thym had decided, judging from French examples, that these had a symbolic value, and prompted Cuypers to use them.

Augustinian monastery Mariënhage - was built at the site where once a castle stood. Already in 1420 the castle became a monastery, and a few parts from that time have survived, but most of the complex dates from the early 20th century. At left, a chapel which was built in 1924 and designed by French Benedictine monk and architect Dom. Paul Bellot and J. Hegeman in an expressionist style that owes much to the Catalan brick-architecture of the 19th century.

A magnificently restored old brewery, the site of the small workshop in which Hub and Wim van Doorne started the DAF company in 1928, now houses the DAF Museum. Kempenland Museum The museum is housed in a former church and shows the history of the Kempen region of Brabant. The Prehistoric Open-air Museum shows how people lived in prehistoric times. The Van Abbe Museum, with varying exhibitions of modern art, is internationally famous for its commitment to following new trends in pictorial art.

The Philips lighttower, also known as The White Lady, once Eindhoven's most dominant building and one of many buildings in Eindhoven courtesy of electronics-giant Philips. Philips made Eindhoven a big city, and up to this day a visitor will quickly discover Philips still dominates the city in many aspects. Only the head-office has gone. A few years ago an ex-coffeesalesman named Cor Boonstra was given the task to reorganise the firm. But the most substantial thing this extremely superficial and selfish man came up with was to move the head-office to Amsterdam. Prestige, you'll understand. Eindhoven was not good enough for the company's image.

The major shopping area is called Heuvel Galerie and contains a number of retail shops from clothing to homewares to bicycle shops. The main supermarket called Super de Boer stocks most of the necessities and doubles as a butcher/fruit store. The Heuvel Galerie comprises only a small amount of the shopping here though, as there are many other outlets in the areas surrounding it. Wandering around the paved sidewalks you can find bookstores, electrical goods, clothing stores, popular department stores, patisseries, chocolateries and much more. Plus on Tuesdays around The Heuvel Galerie is a market where an enormous range of items like fabric, clothes, cheese, chocolates etcetera are sold. A hint for those who don't like to push their way through the crowds - avoid going shopping on Saturday, it's the day when everyone seems to be out and about. Weekdays and their afternoons seem to be the best times to venture out and beat the masses.

Eindhoven Airport is an efficient gateway for city-trips, scheduled flights or holiday flights. Easy to reach, both by car and by public transport. Every day, many passengers use Eindhoven Airport as a starting point for their journey to one of the European destinations.

The Technische Universiteit Eindhoven provides engineering, postgraduate design, and teacher-training programmes, and post-academic courses. Education is based on the universities own research activities with a focus on design. Lecturers and students make use of modern information and communication means.

The Frits Philips Music Centre - home of the Brabant Orchestra - the City Theatre, film and theatre house Plaza Futura and many smaller stages, galleries and movie houses ensure a wide supply of culture. The city is also listed on international calendars in the area of sports with its marathon, show jumping competition and top events in the Indoor Sports Centre. And the PSV football club (soccer) plays at European level. The active sportsman can enjoy swimming pools, sports halls, hockey and football fields and a skating rink.

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