Just slightly different: 4 unique city trips in North Brabant
Would you like to sleep in some barracks? Shop in a factory or go to a museum located on the street? North Brabant likes to colour outside of the lines. Unique businesses work on their dreams in old factories and on historic streets, ready to provide you with an extraordinary experience. These creative hotspots in Eindhoven, Breda, Den Bosch and Tilburg will make your city trip just slightly different.
1. Eindhoven: Design and innovation
Design Capital of the Netherlands
Design Capital of the Netherlands
Breeding ground for technology and innovation. Design Capital of the Netherlands in the city that houses Philips and light art, Piet Hein Eek and Dutch Design, there is always something new to experience.
Foraging on Strijp
In the nineties, the Philips machines ground to a halt at Strijp-S in Eindhoven. Today, this area is alive with bold catering, street art, concept stores and studios. It is only a short distance from Strijp-S to the Dutch Designer Piet Hein Eek at Strijp-R. Visit his shop and take a peek in the workplace. You can even stay overnight among the art and design furniture in Hotel Piet Hein Eek!
Design events in Eindhoven:
Woensel West Side Stores
Dozens of locals in Eindhoven opened their own unique business in and around Edisonstraat in the district of Woensel. They range from vintage boutiques to exotic restaurants. Do not miss out on Volta Galvani – the gateway to the most colourful street in Eindhoven!
Museum tip in Eindhoven:
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The Van Abbemuseum
The Van Abbemuseum
2. Breda: Green and creative
Breda is bursting with energy
Breda is bursting with energy
Breda is bursting with energy. This is where pioneering and innovation takes place - from the beautiful medieval centre to old industrial sites.
Industrial history in the Havenkwartier
There is no lack of great lunch cafes, concept stores and studios in Breda. The Explore Creative Breda walking tour connects the best addresses. You come from the city centre to the bustling Havenkwartier or harbour area, where everything evolves around the love of and for local businesses at STEK.
"In the summer months, you can get a delicious special beer on the PIER15 terrace while watching the skaters do their tricks on the skateboard track. Small-scale festivals are organised regularly with music or DJs."
Street art
Visit the museum on the street! Artists from the street art scene have worked their magic to transform the grey walls throughout all of Breda into colourful works of art for the Blind Walls Gallery. Join a tour or use the app. Both enable you to explore the tales of the city and the most fun places, such as Breda Botanique. This former barracks site is now a green hotspot with Teds brunch restaurant, the Breda art cinema and the Hotel Botanique.
Photo festival in Breda:
3. ‘s-Hertogenbosch: Historic and unique
Sturdy silos next to monumental facades
Sturdy silos next to monumental facades
Sturdy silos next to monumental facades: in the capital city of North Brabant, the old meets the new in its own way.
The charm of Uilenburg
In the past, labourers would follow a beaten path through the maze of narrow streets in the Uilenburg district in ‘s-Hertogenbosch on their way to the many warehouses. Now they are concept stores, antique shops, breweries and cafes with charming terraces that give this district in the centre atmosphere and a hustle and bustle.
“From Uilenburg it’s only a 5-minute walk to the Design Museum, which has exhibitions about the past, present and future of design."
Modern enjoyment at the Tramkade
At the Tramkade, life is enjoyed in old silos and factory halls of a feed mill. There are Asian dishes and retro games at Barkade, special beers at Bossche Brouwers and delicious/honest dishes at the Van Aken restaurant.
4. Tilburg: Raw and experimental
Craft and high tech in the Textielmuseum
What was the life of the Tilburg textile labourer like? And how are textiles actually made? The stories come to life in the Textielmuseum (Textile Museum), located in the former factory. In the TextielLab (Textile Lab), you can see artists and students of the Design Academy Eindhoven experimenting with textiles.
Urban hotspots in the Spoorzone
Today the old warehouses and locomotive halls in the Spoorzone are filled with exhibitions, street art, music and good food. And a city trip to Tilburg is not complete without a visit to Doloris’ Meta Maze. Allow yourself to be led blindfolded to the starting point of this surrealistic art maze and find your way out through rooms filled with oddities and illusions.
“LocHal in the Spoorzone is much more than a library. Small bars, coffee corners, places to work – all in an amazing industrial setting. Definitely recommended!”
Staying overnight in Tilburg:
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Hostel Roots
Hostel Roots
