Area-tip: Downtown

With nearly sixty (!) Dutch Design Week projects, Eindhoven’s city center is one of the largest areas to explore. From playing with futuristic food to discovering the future of Eindhoven in the Heuvel Galerie, it’s best to set aside two days for the city center area. A bonus: from here, the entire Dutch Design Week is within easy reach. 

Where?

We can't sum up the city center with just one street name - it’s pretty large. Our tip: start at Eindhoven Central Station.

Need a ticket?

Yes, you need one to make sure you don't miss a thing. You can get one here.

How to get there?

Are you traveling by train? At Eindhoven Central Station, you'll step right out into the heart of the action. From here, you can easily bike or walk your way to all the DDW hotspots.

Why do you want to go there?

As mentioned before, the city center of Eindhoven has almost sixty exhibitions. And yes, they’re all worth visiting. Feeling a little overwhelmed? No worries, we’ll share some must-visit spots for you.

Highlight locations

• Markt: Speculative spatial design about the future of climate action, City at Sea Level. Will Eindhoven still be floating in a few years? 

• Van Abbemuseum: Discover the connecting power of design in the exhibition 'Bridging Minds'. Fun fact: this exhibition was curated by Miriam van der Lubbe, co-founder of Dutch Design Week. You won't want to miss it! 
• Heuvel Galerie: Curious about the future of Eindhoven? Be inspired by students, teachers, and researchers from local educational institutions. They share their fresh vision of the city.
• Kazerne: Once the base for the military police, now it's all about design. This year, there is an exhibition by Hydro R100. They transform old aluminum from discarded light poles into five different design objects. 
• Schellensfabriek: Six creative vocational schools are joining forces. Here, students show what they come up with and what they make. Idea and execution go hand in hand here.
• More at Schellensfabriek: Spot at the exhibition something.engaging jewelry made of metal, glass, stone, and... chocolate! You will also see innovative cutlery that playfully reinvents the journey from table to mouth. Hosted by students from Pforzheim University, Germany. 
• Dynamo: Still in shock that the Stroomhuis is no longer there? Don't worry! The exhibition by Stichting Nieuw Eindhovens Peil (NEP) brings back all the memories of this iconic cultural center. A heartwarming tribute to Stroomhuis.
• Fuutlaan: This year, Design Perron showcases graduate work across multiple locations, with a focus on themes such as light, ceramics, visual language, and what it means to be human. In short: Fuutlaan is the place you don’t want to miss during DDW.

Our recommendations

• Krijt-Je-Rijk: Want to try some old-fashioned sidewalk chalk drawing? De Reuringdienst has you covered! For the entire week, the city will be the world's largest chalk canvas. And if you join on the first Saturday of DDW at 18 Septemberplein, you'll participate in the world record attempt for the largest sidewalk chalk drawing ever!
• Flip World: Generate a culture card in this game world based on your hometown, personal profile, and online behavior. The question is: can the AI Toolkit accurately predict your culture, or does the internet distort your identity? 
• Het Instituut voor het Zandkorrel Hoogtebeleid collects and distributes sand grains to gradually raise the Netherlands and protect it from high water. 
• Taste of Tomorrow: Future Food Toys: A 3D-printed vegetable pizza, algae ice cream, or lab-grown milk? Discover the wooden toy set that introduces young children to the food of the future in a playful way. 
• Water Basin Totem: The 84 recycled plastic basins with mirrored surfaces make you think about plastic pollution and the role of water in Africa.  
• TOUCHING CELLULOSE_sense of crafting: Tired of looking and want to do something with your hands? Help build the EduCrafting Pavilion. This temporary wooden structure will be built during Dutch Design Week together with students, experts, and visitors to learn about circular construction techniques and traditional wood joints. 

More DDW nearby

Now that you've tasted it, let's take it up a notch. Hanging around the Station Area? A visit to the Graduation Show of Design Academy Eindhoven at Microstad is a must. In the old KPN phone exchange, 200 bachelor's and master's students are showing off their final projects. What's in store? Well, that's a surprise for us too. But one thing's for sure - it will be mind-blowing. Trust us, we've been there, done that! 

Other fun things to do nearby

There’s no shortage of food and drinks in the center of Eindhoven. Thank goodness, because all that wandering around makes us hangry, uh, hungry! There’s something for every foodie to enjoy. But the big question is: what are you in the mood for? Whether you're looking for coffee spots, lunch places, or cocktail bars, we've got some great tips for you!