DAF Museum

The DAF Museum on the Tongelresestraat is a must for anyone who loves trucks, cars and engineering, and a great day out for families. In its halls you will find more than a hundred vehicles from 1928 to the present day, all made by DAF, the Eindhoven company that grew from a small workshop into one of Europe's largest truck makers.

From workshop to truck maker

The story of DAF begins in 1928, when Hub van Doorne founded a small engineering works and repair shop in Eindhoven. With his brother Wim he started building trailers, and in 1932 the company was renamed Van Doorne's Aanhangwagen Fabriek: DAF. After the Second World War, DAF built trucks and military vehicles, and from 1959 also small passenger cars. Those cars became famous for the Variomatic, a continuously variable automatic transmission that made driving very easy. Many Dutch families have fond memories of their small DAF car. Later, the passenger car business continued under the Volvo name, while DAF focused on trucks.

What you will see

The museum shows this history in a lively way. On the ground floor you walk into the past: a replica of the forge where the company started, the office of the founder, and a village square that recreates the atmosphere of the early years. Then come the halls with trucks and engines, from early models to modern trucks, and on the mezzanine you will find the passenger cars and other components. Look out for open engines that show how everything works inside.

In 2019 the museum completed a major renovation, which added a new wing. The museum also organises special days, such as the Hart voor DAF Dagen in October.

Opening hours and tickets

• Open: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 17:00.
• Adults: €14.50.
• Students (with student card): €9.
• Children aged 5 to 15: €7.
• Children under 5: free.
• Museumkaart holders: free.

Good to know

The DAF Museum is almost entirely indoors, which makes it a perfect plan for a rainy day. Children who love vehicles can easily spend a few hours here, and many adults find themselves pointing at the car their parents or grandparents used to drive. The descriptions are in Dutch and English, and staff are happy to help in English.

Tips for your visit

• Plan about two hours. Car enthusiasts can easily spend longer.
• Start on the ground floor. The replica forge and the village square give the best introduction to the story before you move on to the trucks and cars.
• Look inside the engines. The open engines and the components on the mezzanine show how everything works, which is often the highlight for curious children and technology lovers alike.
• Check special days. The museum regularly organises themed days for enthusiasts; see the museum's website.

Getting there

The museum is at Tongelresestraat 27, east of the city centre. From Eindhoven Centraal it is a walk of about twenty minutes, or a short bus or bike ride. The Tongelresestraat is a shopping street with shops and cafés, so it is easy to combine your visit with lunch.

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