Nightlife in Eindhoven

Going out in Eindhoven: a guide

With the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), the Design Academy, Fontys and thousands of international employees at companies such as ASML and Philips, Eindhoven has a young and international population. That makes for a lively night scene, from a beer on a terrace to a concert, a stand-up show in English or a club night until the early hours. Here is where to go.

Stratumseind: the longest pub street in the Netherlands

Stratumseind, a short walk from the Markt, is known as the longest pub street in the Netherlands. Bars, cafés and clubs stand shoulder to shoulder, and on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights the street is packed with students and locals. It is loud, busy and unpretentious. Look out for the Oude Rechtbank, a café around a courtyard where defendants once waited for their sentence in the old court building. During carnival in February, Stratumseind is the beating heart of the party.

Concerts: from small clubs to the big hall

The Effenaar on the Dommelstraat is Eindhoven's main pop venue and has hosted bands such as Joy Division, the Ramones and the Red Hot Chili Peppers over the years. The current building, designed by MVRDV, opened in 2005 and has a large hall for about 1,300 people and a small hall for about 400. Expect indie, rock, hip-hop, dance and themed nights.

The Muziekgebouw Eindhoven on the Heuvel, opened in 1992, is the place for classical concerts, jazz, world music and singer-songwriters, with international names throughout the season. For big concerts and dance events, the Klokgebouw at Strijp-S, a former Philips factory, can hold up to about 10,000 people.

Comedy in English

Eindhoven has a growing comedy scene for internationals. Bell's Comedy Club, hosted by Irish comedian Stephen Bell, brings English-language stand-up to LAB-1 on the Keizersgracht about twice a month, with comedians from the Netherlands and abroad. LAB-1 also hosts touring comedians, quizzes and club nights. Most Dutch cabaret (cabaret is the Dutch word for a theatrical comedy show) is in Dutch, so check the language before you book.

Theatre and musicals

The Parktheater Eindhoven is the city's main theatre, with a main hall of more than 900 seats. It programmes musicals, dance, opera, Dutch comedy and theatre. Dance and many musicals work fine without Dutch.

Strijp-S at night

The former Philips factory site Strijp-S has turned into a creative district with restaurants, bars and event spaces in old factory halls. In summer the squares fill up with terraces, and during Dutch Design Week and GLOW the area stays busy until late.

Practical tips for a night out

• Getting home. Eindhoven is a cycling city, and most locals cycle to and from a night out. Trains run from Eindhoven Centraal to other cities until late in the evening; check the last connection on ns.nl.
• Paying. Most bars and venues accept cards and phones; some smaller places are card-only.
• Book tickets early. Popular concerts at the Effenaar and the Muziekgebouw sell out, sometimes weeks in advance.
• Age. In the Netherlands you have to be 18 to buy alcohol. Bring ID; bars and clubs check.

Want more? See all music and comedy in the calendar, what's on this weekend, or plan ahead with the calendar by month.