Area-tip: Kanaalzone

Can you really say you’ve been to Dutch Design Week, without visiting Kanaalzone? We don’t think so! Kanaalzone, home to the former Campina site and old gas factories of the NRE grounds, is where your design-loving heart will beat faster.

Where?

Just outside the city center, you will find the NRE grounds (Gasfabriek and Gashouder). Follow Kanaalduik-Zuid and you’ll end up at Het Koelhuis (Dirk Boutslaan 1).

Need a ticket?

Yes, if you want to see everything. Don’t have a ticket yet? Grab one here.

How to get there?

From the DDW location DOMUSDELA, you can bike to the NRE grounds in just five minutes. Another five minutes of pedaling and you’ll reach Koelhuis. Along the way, you’ll find plenty of spots to make a pit stop. Rather want to move on four wheels? With a DDW ticket, you can use the XPENG Design Rides for free.

Why do you want to go here?

Want to explore Dutch Design Week at a more relaxed pace? Kanaalzone is the perfect starting point. While the buzz builds at Strijp-S (which is also a blast), here you can wander without the enormous crowds. Bonus: immerse yourself in a slice of Eindhoven’s history while witnessing the transformation of these industrial sites up close. And, let’s be honest—on your way back to the city center, you’ll catch some of the best views Eindhoven has to offer.

Highlight locations

• NRE site: At the NRE site, you’ll find 19 DDW projects, plus a handful of top spots for food and drinks, like Fifth and Cyklist.
• Het Koelhuis: Take a little trip towards Eindhoven’s brand-new arts and culture hotspot. Cool? Absolutely!
• Kiki and Joost: After graduating from the Design Academy Eindhoven, Kiki van Eijk didn’t just walk away with a diploma—she also met her partner Joost van Bleiswijk. Together, they’ve become an inseparable part of the design scene.
• NULZES: One of the cool spots at the NRE site is NULZES, a creative hub and breeding ground for designers, architects, and researchers.
• Phood Farm: As a leader in sustainable and eco-friendly production and consumption, the urban farm Phood Farm knows all about hyper-local growing and gastronomy.

Our recommendations

• Fiera del Suono: Simply put, it’s an immersive experience you can’t miss—though, to be fair, we say that about everything. Inside the big hall of Het Koelhuis, you’ll be greeted by colorful abstract carnival rides. What’s going on? A fortune teller takes you on an audio adventure through a carnival. Did you know that for centuries, carnivals were the breeding ground for innovation, art, and theater?
• Depth Array - Reflections: Hang out a little longer at Het Koelhuis, till hanging for a sensory exploration of depth and perception through light, movement, and sound. Don’t let it throw you off balance!
• Cooling down the City: Often, a factory site is seen as bleak and gray. Well, not if Elho has any say in it. On the NRE site, visitors experience the power and positive impact of greening through their green installation surrounding one of the site’s oldest residents: the large oak tree.
• The Playground: Ever wanted to be part of a playground for creative minds? At The Playground, you can meet designers and bring materials to life with hands-on workshops. Playtime galore!
• Girls 9 to 11: Research shows that kids aged 9 to 11 are playing outside less and less. The project at NULZES shows the city through the eyes of these young residents and highlights how we can make cities livable for everyone.

More DDW nearby

Need some fresh air? We recommend checking out Salon Veneman on Tongelresestraat. Inside this art gallery, literal junk is blown up into giant inflatables—everything from paperclips and dice to glasses cases. Turns out that junk drawer is useful after all!

Other fun things to do nearby

Basically, all options are back on the table at this point. Yep, you’re back in the heart of Eindhoven, and there’s plenty to check out. Depending on the time, we wouldn’t say no to a beer at Stadsbrouwerij 100 Watt or lunch at Down Town Gourmet Market. Cheers!