Sports and Outdoors in Eindhoven

Eindhoven is a sporting city. It is home to PSV, one of the most successful football clubs in the Netherlands, and it is flat, green and made for cycling and running. On this page you will find football matches, runs, walks and other sports and outdoor events in Eindhoven.

Football: PSV at the Philips Stadion

The Philips Stadion in the Strijp district is the home of PSV. The club was founded in 1913 as a sports club for Philips employees, and has played on the same site ever since. PSV won the European Cup in 1988 and has won the Dutch league many times. The stadium holds about 35,000 spectators and is within walking distance of the city centre.

Good to know for newcomers: tickets for PSV home matches are not sold like concert tickets. Many go to season-ticket holders and members with a Club Card, so check PSV's ticket information well in advance. Champions League evenings and matches against Ajax and Feyenoord are in particularly high demand.

PSV fans call themselves "boeren" (farmers), a proud nod to the club's Brabant roots, in contrast to the big-city clubs from Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

Running and cycling

Eindhoven is flat, which makes it a great city for running and cycling. Popular routes run through the Genneper Parken along the Dommel and through the Stadswandelpark. In October the city hosts the Eindhoven Marathon, which also has shorter distances. Cycling is part of daily life here: there are bike paths almost everywhere, and the countryside with woods and heaths starts just outside the city.

Parks and nature

The Genneper Parken on the south side of the city combine nature, sports facilities and Museumpark VONK. Further out, the Kempen region has woods, heaths and fens that are perfect for a day of walking or cycling.

Tips for sports and outdoor activities

• Dress for the weather. Dutch weather changes quickly; a light rain jacket is never a bad idea.
• Follow the bike rules. Cycle on the right, use lights after dark (it's the law), and watch out for scooters on the bike paths.
• Join a club. Dutch sports clubs ("verenigingen") are very social and a good way to meet people. Many have English-speaking members.
• Public transport to the stadium. On match days the area around the Philips Stadion gets busy; walking or cycling from the centre is often fastest.

Watching sport in the city

Not everyone wants to be in the stadium. Many cafés in the city centre show PSV matches and international tournaments on big screens, and during major football tournaments squares and bars fill up with orange shirts. It's one of the most social ways to experience a match, and a good way to meet locals.

Ice hockey, basketball, athletics and many other sports have clubs in and around Eindhoven too, and their matches are often free or cheap to watch.

Add your sports event

Organising a run, tournament, walk or outdoor activity in Eindhoven? Add it to the calendar for free. For more outdoor ideas, see the things to do and see in Eindhoven or the free events.