Philips Museum: The Story of Light and Technology

In the heart of Eindhoven, in the building where it all began, the Philips Museum tells the story of the company that turned a group of villages into the City of Light. It is one of the best places to start if you want to understand Eindhoven.

Where it all began

The museum is housed in the former first light bulb factory of Philips, on the Emmasingel. In 1891 Gerard Philips and his father Frederik started making light bulbs here, and Gerard's brother Anton soon joined the business. From that small factory grew one of the largest electronics companies in the world, with light bulbs, radios, televisions, medical equipment, shavers, CDs and much more.

The growth of Philips changed Eindhoven completely. Workers came from all over the Netherlands, the company built houses, schools and sports facilities for them, and the city grew from a small town into the fifth-largest city of the country. Even the football club PSV started as the Philips sports club.

What you will see

The museum follows Philips from its first light bulbs to the global company it became, and looks ahead to the technology of the future. You will see historical products, from early light bulbs and radios to televisions and medical technology, and learn about the inventions and people behind them. The museum also tells the social history: the working conditions in the factories and the role Philips played in the daily life of the city.

Next to the permanent exhibition there are temporary exhibitions, such as a photo exhibition about 75 years of television in autumn 2026, and the museum takes part in Dutch Design Week.

For children

The Philips Museum is a great museum for families:

Mission Eureka: an interactive game in which children go on a mission through the museum and discover how inventions work. Available every day.
Lampjes Speurtocht: a torchlight treasure hunt for children, available every day.
School holiday activities: such as the Museum Kids Factory in the Christmas holidays, and workshops for children.

Opening hours and tickets

Open: Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00 to 17:00. Closed on Mondays.
Tickets: available online through the museum's webshop. Free with a Museumkaart.
Guided tours: available on request.

The museum has a café and a shop, and it is wheelchair accessible.

Good to know for internationals

If you work in technology in the Eindhoven region, at ASML, Signify, NXP, the High Tech Campus or one of the many other companies, this museum shows you where it all started. Many of the companies and institutions around the city have their roots in Philips. Staff speak English, and the museum is used to international visitors.

Combine your visit

The museum is in the city centre, a five-minute walk from Eindhoven Centraal. Combine it with a walk past the Witte Dame, a former Philips lamp factory that now houses the library and the Design Academy, or with a visit to the Van Abbemuseum. For a full Philips day, take the train one stop to Strijp-S, the former Philips factory site that is now a creative district.

Getting there

The Philips Museum is at Emmasingel 31, about five minutes' walk from Eindhoven Centraal. Car parks are available in the city centre.

See our museums guide, Eindhoven with kids and our ideas for rainy days.