Welcome to Eindhoven! Your adventure in this city is about to begin. We bet you have plenty of questions about Eindhoven, Dutch culture, and how the public transport system works. This guide will address (almost) all of them, helping you settle in smoothly.
Just moved to Eindhoven? Don’t miss Homewards, our social onboarding program designed for all newcomers.
Are you planning to move to Eindhoven soon? Be sure to check out our ultimate guide for moving to Eindhoven first.
First off, congratulations on your new home! After such a hectic period, you're likely in need of a little relaxation. Sink into your sofa and put the unpacking on hold. We’ll go over a few practical matters you’ll need to tackle in the coming days or weeks.
By now, you’ve surely noticed: Eindhoven locals are avid cyclists. Biking is great for your health, wallet, and the planet. Plus, it’s a fast and convenient way to get around almost everywhere. Now’s the time to get your own set of wheels! There’s a wide variety of bikes available, so step into one of the local bike shops for some advice. Tip: No need for a fancy model—a basic bike will do the job perfectly.
Not up for cycling today? Public transport is a great option! With two train stations and excellent bus connections, you can navigate Eindhoven easily. You can either buy separate train or bus tickets or check in using your bank card or mobile phone. For a more convenient experience, apply for an OV-chipkaart (public transport chip card). This card allows for easy check-ins and check-outs and offers discounts when traveling with Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) (Dutch Railways). Want to learn more about the various NS season tickets? Click here.
For your daily shopping in the Netherlands, you can visit either a supermarket or a local weekly market. There are several supermarket options available. While you can do your weekly shopping at any supermarket, keep in mind that prices and available brands may vary.
In Eindhoven, your grocery options include the following:
Albert Heijn, often referred to as ‘AHA’ or ‘Appie,’ is the largest supermarket chain in the Netherlands. You can find nearly everything you need here, including a variety of products from Asian and Mediterranean cuisines. While shopping at Albert Heijn may be slightly more expensive than at other supermarkets, many items marked as ‘Bonus’ (identified by their orange labels) are typically offered at significant discounts. Additionally, you can purchase items nearing their best-before date at a 35% discount.
Jumbo Supermarkets also boast a wide range of products. Many items available at Albert Heijn can be found here as well, but Jumbo typically offers slightly lower prices. The exact difference will depend on your specific purchases.
Aldi and Lidl are two distinct supermarket chains that share many similarities. Both offer budget-friendly shopping options, allowing you to buy quality products at lower prices. While their store designs may not be as appealing as those of Albert Heijn and Jumbo, they are perfect for shoppers who prioritize savings over aesthetics.
If you enjoy shopping at local markets, Eindhoven has plenty to offer. Almost every neighborhood hosts a weekly market. Here’s a list we’ve put together for you:
You should definitely give Dutch classics like split pea soup and ‘bitterballen’ a try, but we know you’ll also crave the tastes of home. Thankfully, Eindhoven has plenty of international grocery stores to choose from.
Now that you’ve landed in Eindhoven, it’s time to furnish your new space. Whether your budget is big or small, there are plenty of stores to explore. As the design hub of the Netherlands, Eindhoven has a lot to offer design lovers. You can also find a variety of second-hand furniture throughout the city. Click the links below to discover the nearest shops.
From cleaning supplies to kitchenware and little touches to brighten your home, you’ll gather these in the next few days or weeks. There’s no rush, but it’s good to know where to go. First up, we have Hema, a Dutch favorite, where you can find almost everything for your home at an affordable price. Don’t be alarmed by the ‘rookworsten’ (Dutch smoked sausages) on display! For more household essentials, you can also visit Blokker. Both Hema and Blokker have multiple locations throughout the city, so with your new bike, you’ll have everything you need in no time.
There is nothing more important than your health. In the ultimate guide for moving to Eindhoven, we talked about applying for health insurance and finding a local family physician, but there is more to health than that. In this part, you can read everything about a healthy lifestyle in Eindhoven.
In the Netherlands, it is easy to make a dentist appointment, or at least when you are registered with a dentist. There are many dentists in Eindhoven. Often you can register via the website of the dental surgery. Do you prefer to talk to someone on the phone? Almost every dental surgery has reception staff you can call if you have any questions. All you have to do is call.
Medicine without a prescription, care products, and vitamins: you can get them all in the drugstore. You can also come here for advice about the products they are selling. And that's quite handy because you don't need to make an appointment with the family physician. The most well-known drugstores in Eindhoven are Etos and Kruidvat. You can be sure that one of them is near you.
Did you go to the family physician and did you get a prescription? Then you can get the medicine in the local pharmacy. Costs are covered by the Dutch health insurer when you get medicine on prescription. You can also get medicine from the pharmacy without a prescription, but then you will have to pay for it. Do you need advice about a specific medicine? The pharmacy is the place to be.
You already have your own bike. Well done! But exercising is more than going from A to B. Exercising is good for your body, fun to do, and a chance to meet new people easily. There are many different sports clubs in Eindhoven that you can join. And there is a wide option when you are looking for a gym. Are you curious to know about the unique sports locations in Eindhoven? Then check our list with special sports venues.
We talk about the weather, complain a lot, and are not scared to ask you about anything. We can tell you many things about Dutch culture, but you will learn all about it when you start participating. It is, of course, a little scary, but we will help you in the right direction.
The ultimate topic of conversation for Dutch people. The holy grail for small talk. And the reason we feel amazing or not so well: the weather. Dutch people talk about it almost all day. Not surprising because it changes all the time. Rain and wind characterize Dutch street scenes, and as soon as the first rays of sunshine appear, everyone in Eindhoven starts hanging out on terraces. See you there!
The Dutch are free spirits. We can say whatever we want and be who we want to be. And yes, you can smoke a joint here. Dutch people respect other people's choices to a great extent, but they also grab every chance to give their opinion on them. We are a small country with many different cultures, movements, and groups. Just be you!
It’s hard to miss: Dutch people are known for their directness. We don’t shy away from saying what’s on our minds. It may seem a bit blunt at first, but rest assured, we always mean well.
Dutch people really like to party. We meet each other on festive days to celebrate them together. Here is a list of the main festive days in The Netherlands.
We close the end of the old year and celebrate the new year with a huge party. People light fireworks, drink champagne, and eat ‘oliebollen’ (doughnut balls).
The south of the Netherlands is all about carnival in February or March. People dress up and party in the streets and there are parades and fantastic festivals. The carnival period has a rich tradition that goes back to the time of the Romans. That’s why people from Brabant, Limburg, and Zeeuws-Vlaanderen take this period very seriously. So dress up crazy and join the party!
On this day, we all celebrate the birthday of our King. Everybody wears orange and takes to the streets. There are flea markets everywhere where children and adults sell their old stuff. Many big cities are bustling with people partying. Especially the night before, ‘King’s Night’, is famous. A pleasant chaos with lots of beer. Tip: Go to the bakery and get some tompoezen. Thank us later.
In the USA, you have Santa Claus; in the Netherlands, we have Sinterklaas. The saint celebrates his birthday on December the 5th and brings presents for everybody with him on this steamboat. We eat ‘pepernoten’ (ginger bread nuts) and chocolate letters, and in most cities, there is a parade for children.
In the Netherlands, like in many other countries, we celebrate Christmas. We eat a lot of food, give each other presents, and have lovely decorations with small lights everywhere.
Are you starting your new job shortly? These tips might just come in handy!
Wait, before we dive into the tips, did you move to Eindhoven for your partner? Now looking for a job yourself? The Expat Spouses Initiative is here to help. Or, if entrepreneurship excites you, check out International Creative Women Eindhoven.
The Dutch drink the most coffee in the world. Not tiny espressos; we are happiest with a full mug. Unsurprisingly, everyone on the work floor keeps going to the coffee machine. People chat with each other here and then continue to work again. Do you prefer coffee with sugar or black coffee?
On the Dutch work floor, people usually take a half-hour lunch break. They often bring their own lunch: their famous boterhammen. Simple and delicious. Dutch people put peanut butter or hagelslag on their bread and they love their cheese. What are you going to put on your first boterham?
Of course, every company is different, but work happiness is a high priority in the Netherlands. It means that companies where hard work and good results are essential also pay much attention to pleasant and meaningful work. In short: in the Netherlands, we want to work to make people happy.
We don’t take things easy, and we like to keep going. Dutch people are fast and efficient. Part of our success is the result of our fast and efficient working. Choices are made quickly, and we keep our lines of communication short when cooperating. On the other hand, we invented the concept of ‘polderen’ (seeking consensus). We like to consult with everyone first to get support for any decision.
Dutch people like to be on time and expect others to do the same. In practice, you should try to arrive ten minutes before your appointment.
But what if you do arrive too late? No worries! After all, you are now in Brabant and here we have the Brabants kwartiertje (Brabant smalltalk). In short, arriving at a meeting a little later is fine. The first fifteen minutes are usually spent talking about nothing particular anyway.
Don’t get upset if your colleagues want to know your ins and outs. We like to chat about the weekend or how you are feeling. Are you not in the mood to talk about these things? Just start talking about the weather, that's always a good topic.
You will be much more than just a Dutch person in a while. Soon you will be someone from Eindhoven above all. But what does this mean? Despite being a small country, our cultural differences are pretty significant. In this part, we tell you more about the Culture in Eindhoven.
Eindhoven obtained its town privileges in 1232.
With 246,000 inhabitants, Eindhoven is the fifth-largest city in the Netherlands.
Eindhoven is located in the province of North Brabant in the south of the Netherlands (and thus not in Holland).
In Eindhoven, many people have a Brabant accent and speak with a soft ‘G’.
Eindhoven has a rich history, full of creativity and innovation.
Football is very popular among its inhabitants. That’s quite obvious, considering that we have a gigantic football stadium in the city's center.
You may have come across them already: the vibes of Eindhoven. The vibes stand for the creative and unconventional energy of the city. The logo of Eindhoven is used for everything these days. Posters, food, and even tattoos. You see it everywhere. Share the vibe!
Eindhoven is known as a city that has village characteristics. People do not just greet you in the morning. You can also count on them to help you. Whether you want to borrow a drilling machine or need extra muscle power during moving, help is always nearby. All you need to do is ask.
When you walk in front of the Catharina Church, you literally walk across dead bodies. Under the illuminated glass covers lie victims of the plague who died during the Middle Ages. During excavations, researchers discovered that these bones had unique DNA. The epidemic caused mutations in their DNA that are now very valuable for research into HIV. How interesting!
Eindhoven and Philips go hand in hand. What started as a small light bulb factory gradually became one of the world's best-known innovative companies. Everybody has a Philips product at home, or not? Philips is the founder of many things in Eindhoven and is interwoven with the DNA of the city. When you walk through the different districts, you can recognize many of the old factory buildings. It’s hard to believe, but behind those thick concrete facades, they used to assemble radios and televisions. These days, most Philips has moved to the city's edge, and the work floors have changed into trendy restaurants, innovative companies, and a flourishing creative sector. Typical for Eindhoven!
Yes, correct. The Eindhoven region accommodates the world’s most important company you might never have heard of. ASML produces the best chip machines in the world, manufacturing the chips in almost all your equipment. Also, in your smartphone!
Eindhoven is the most prominent design city in the Netherlands, and that title is not surprising. In addition to one of world’s best design schools, Design Academy Eindhoven, and a large design community, we also have Dutch Design Week. With 2,600 designers, more than one hundred locations, and some 350,000 visitors, it is the largest design festival in North Europe. Will we see you there?
Another event that became ingrained in the culture of Eindhoven. GLOW. Every year, November is marked by this enchanting light festival. Local and international artists connect the power of light, innovation, and technology by creating unique light artworks. This light festival is a beautiful walking route, and it is traditional for many people living in Eindhoven to walk it together with friends and family.
18 September 1944 is a unique date for Eindhoven. On this decisive day, Eindhoven was liberated, and the war seemed to be over in our city. The people from Eindhoven welcomed the liberators with lights behind the windows. We commemorate and celebrate this every year with the Lichtjesroute. A beautiful route with up to 60 different light objects and 100,000 lights. Join us again by foot, bike, or car this year and experience it yourself!
Humans are social creatures, and we all prefer company to solitude. What about you? Luckily, Eindhoven is a highly social city with all its kind inhabitants. You should meet them! We will help you with your new social network.
Almost everybody in Eindhoven speaks English. Brilliant, but you will notice that speaking Dutch will help you to become part of the Eindhoven community. You can get help to learn Dutch in many places, and we have listed some valuable tips.
Did your family come along? Great! Especially when you think of everything you and your family can do in Eindhoven. We have listed quite a few great spots for you to give you some ideas.
Scouting, tennis, bowling, climbing, and theater: Eindhoven has countless clubs and associations. Such clubs are ideal places to make new friends and to get to know Eindhoven better. There is also a wide choice for expats, so grab your chance and join a club.
If only you could order a box of new friends from your online supermarket. Friendly, funny ones who totally get you, please! Alas, it doesn't work like that. But making friends is essential and also significant fun to do. The following guide will help you find new best friends.
A lot! Our events calendar is bursting with gigs, expositions, performances, and so on. You will meet new people and get to know the city better in these places. Don’t wait any longer and discover what you can do in Eindhoven.
This guide is full of sustainable tips for anyone who likes to be kind to the planet. And to themselves, because sustainable choices are often the best choices, if you ask us. So get that vintage look, hop on your bike and explore the greenest side of Eindhoven, literally and figuratively.
Let's go green!
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