Events / Rainy day
What to Do in Eindhoven on a Rainy Day
Indoor ideas for grey days: museums, concerts, cinema, comedy and family fun in Eindhoven. 8 events.
It rains in the Netherlands, and Eindhoven is no exception. Luckily the city has plenty to do indoors: museums about art, technology and history, concert halls, a retro cinema and comedy nights in English. Below you will find all indoor events in the next two weeks, the places you can always visit, and our tips.
Indoors in the Next Two Weeks
18Today
20Tuesday 20 October
23Friday 23 October
25Sunday 25 October
31Saturday 31 October
Always Open Indoors
Permanent collections and attractions without a fixed date. Check the opening hours before you go.
Rain? Eindhoven has plenty to do indoors
The good news about rain in Eindhoven: the city is compact, and many indoor attractions are close to each other in the centre or around Strijp-S. With a raincoat and a bike, or a short walk from Eindhoven Centraal, you can spend a whole day inside without getting bored. Here are our favourite ideas, sorted by type.
Museums
Eindhoven's museums are made for grey days. The Van Abbemuseum is the obvious choice for art: modern and contemporary works in a building from 1936 with a striking modern extension, and a café for a long coffee break. On Tuesdays from 15:00 to 17:00 admission is free for everyone.
The Philips Museum, in the former first light bulb factory of Philips, tells how a light bulb maker from 1891 turned Eindhoven into a city of technology. It is compact enough for a couple of hours and has an interactive game for children.
Petrolheads and families go to the DAF Museum, where more than a hundred trucks and cars fill the halls. It is almost entirely indoors, so the weather doesn't matter at all.
Concerts and shows
On a rainy evening, a concert is the perfect plan. The Muziekgebouw Eindhoven in the city centre hosts classical music, jazz, world music and singer-songwriters, often with international artists. The Effenaar on the Dommelstraat has pop, rock and dance in a large hall for about 1,300 people and a small hall for about 400. The Parktheater Eindhoven on the edge of the Stadswandelpark is the place for musicals, dance and theatre. Most theatre is in Dutch, but dance, music and many musicals need little language.
Cinema and comedy in English
LAB-1 on the Keizersgracht calls itself the cosiest retro cinema in town, with several rooms for film, music and events. Films are shown with subtitles; check the listing for "ENG SUBS". LAB-1 is also home to Bell's Comedy Club, an English-language stand-up night for internationals, hosted by Irish comedian Stephen Bell. A perfect rainy Friday night.
With children
On wet days with children, the DAF Museum and the Philips Museum are safe bets. In the school holidays museums often add extra workshops. For an outdoor day when the rain stops, Museumpark VONK in the Genneper Parken is the favourite. You will find all upcoming family activities on Eindhoven with kids.
Shopping and food
The city centre around the Demer, the Heuvel and the Piazza on the 18 Septemberplein is largely covered or close together, so you can hop from shop to shop without getting soaked. The Witte Dame, a former Philips lamp factory, now houses the city library and the Design Academy Eindhoven. For lunch or dinner, the cafés and restaurants around the Markt and in Strijp-S are good places to sit out a shower.
Tips for a rainy day
- Book ahead in the school holidays. Indoor attractions get busy when it rains, especially on Sundays and during the holidays.
- Use public transport. Most museums and venues are within a fifteen-minute walk of Eindhoven Centraal. Strijp-S has its own train station. You can pay on buses and trains with your bank card or phone (OVpay).
- Check the opening days. Several museums are closed on Mondays. See our museums guide for details.
- Bring a proper raincoat when cycling. Locals cycle in the rain; a raincoat and rain trousers are a better investment than an umbrella.
Want more ideas? See what's on this weekend, the best things to do and see in Eindhoven, or browse the calendar by month.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can you do in Eindhoven when it rains?
Visit a museum such as the Van Abbemuseum, the Philips Museum or the DAF Museum, go to a concert at the Muziekgebouw Eindhoven or the Effenaar, or watch a film or English stand-up comedy at LAB-1. The list at the top of this page shows all indoor events in the next two weeks.
What can you do indoors with children in Eindhoven?
The DAF Museum, with more than a hundred trucks and cars, and the Philips Museum, with its interactive game Mission Eureka, are both indoors and popular with children. During school holidays many venues add family activities. See Eindhoven with kids.
Are there English-language activities in Eindhoven on a rainy evening?
Yes. Bell's Comedy Club at LAB-1 is English stand-up comedy for internationals, concerts need no language at all, and LAB-1 shows films with subtitles. The museums have English information.
Which museums are free on a rainy day?
The Van Abbemuseum is free on Tuesdays from 15:00 to 17:00 and for children under 13. With a Museumkaart, all major museums in Eindhoven are free. See our museums guide for opening hours and prices.