From urban sports to street art, Eindhoven is the urban capital of the Netherlands. We defend that title every year during several events where both world-class and young talent meet to perform at a high level for the public. But that’s not all, the rest of the year, the city is also exuding urban culture. Whether you want to try it yourself or prefer to be a spectator, discover the Eindhoven urban culture with our tips!
At the Ketelhuisplein, located in the Strijp-S district, you can find the impressive skate park Area51. Go up the stairs, and stumble upon a gigantic hall full of skaters, BMX'ers, WCMX'ers, scooters, inline skaters, and MTB'ers. From young beginners to Dutch athletes preparing for the Olympics. As a visitor, you can just walk in and watch the tricks from the balcony. Order a drink at the bar and feast your eyes!
In the Drents Dorp, next to Strijp-T, lies the Urban Sport Park, known among the locals as 't Schoot. On weekends and weekday evenings, you can watch calisthenics training (or try it yourself). Calisthenics is a form of exercise using the weight of your own body. In addition to the calisthenics equipment, there is also a survival run course, a pump track, a playground, and a small football field.
Dynamo has been a local talent platform since the 1980s. It offers young people a place to develop in their own subculture. Within the urban scene, Dynamo has set up HipHopLab040. Breakdance crew The Ruggeds is one of the most well-known examples of a group that started out at Dynamo and now gives dazzling performances all over the world.
World Breaking Classic is the world's largest 2vs2 breaking competition. Each year, eight winners emerge from the qualification rounds and travel to Eindhoven for a weekend. Here, they compete in a packed arena against the 'established order': eight world top performers invited by the organization. The underdogs against the 'great eight'. Who will take home the win?
Every year in June, Strijp-S is all about urban culture! You can enjoy several disciplines in one day, from dance to freerunning, and from singing to spoken word. For amateurs and pros or just the curious. Get ready to be amazed by a day full of free workshops, shows, and battles.
MONK at Strijp-S was the first boulder gym in the Netherlands. After a few relocations, you can now find the club in the building of the former Philips Bedrijfsschool. With over 700 square meters of climbing walls divided over two floors, a training area, and a small café, this is the place to reach great heights!
Eindhoven is bursting with dance talent. Take The Ruggeds, for example. These world champions in breakdancing came up with their own festival, Jams & Gems. Here, the group provides a unique stage for dance and music gems from the urban dance scene.
De Berenkuil is the largest open-air museum in the Netherlands. The two-level interchange is the setting for the annual graffiti festival Step in the Arena. More than 150 graffiti artists from all over the world gather in Eindhoven and work on a creative transformation all weekend. During the festival and throughout the year, you can see all kinds of graffiti and street art here: letters, cartoons, photorealistic, and postmodern graffiti.
If you prefer to marvel at more substantial works of art, Eindhoven is also the place to be. The Netherlands' largest mural with a single theme can be found behind the Klokgebouw at Strijp-S. On the 8 by 140 meters wide wall are portraits of seven artists who have performed in the Klokgebouw (from left to right: Fresku, M.I.A., Faithless, Motörhead, Die Antwoord, Kovacs, and Peter Pan Speedrock). You'll find impressive murals in other places too, like Johan Moorman's colorful 'Welcome to the future' on the Aalsterweg or Studio Giftig's recent 'Motion' on the CKE building.
Tunnels and overpasses are often perceived as dark or even unsafe. The municipality wants to change this with the 'Tunnel Vision' project. Through interventions with art and graffiti, places like this, that are already scheduled for maintenance, will be given a structural makeover. Dozens of tunnels have already been transformed. All of them are works of art that bring a smile to your face, such as John Cleese's Silly Walk or the rainbow tunnel at the gateway to Kruisstraat.
From basketball courts to skate spots and ping pong tables, look no further: EMOVES created an urban map where all these spots are bundled together, making them easy to find. Pretty handy, if you'd ask us.
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.jpg?width=510&resizemode=force "Nick Bookelaar")
.jpg?width=510&resizemode=force "Nick Bookelaar")
