Effenaar

The Effenaar is the pop venue of Eindhoven and one of the best-known music venues in the Netherlands. On the Dommelstraat, a few minutes' walk from Eindhoven Centraal, it hosts indie bands, rock, hip-hop, metal, dance nights and Dutch pop, from up-and-coming acts to big international names.

From squat to landmark

The story of the Effenaar starts in an old linen factory. Until 1964 the building on the Dommelstraat was a factory of Van den Briel & Verster, after which the municipality bought it. Around 1970 young people took over the building as an open youth centre, and after a short closure it reopened as the Effenaar. In the following decades it became the place to see bands in the south of the Netherlands. The list of artists who played the old Effenaar reads like a history of pop music: Joy Division, the Ramones, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bauhaus, the Sex Pistols and many more. In the 1990s the Effenaar also became one of the cradles of techno in the Netherlands.

In 2002 the city decided to rebuild the venue, with the Rotterdam architecture firm MVRDV as the designers. The new Effenaar opened in 2005, a striking building with a large hall for about 1,300 visitors and a small hall for about 400. In 2011 the Effenaar celebrated its fortieth anniversary.

What's on

The Effenaar programmes several concerts and events a week, and in the busy autumn and spring seasons sometimes several on the same evening. Expect:

• Indie, rock and alternative: British, American and European bands on tour, from cult heroes to new names.
• Dutch pop and hip-hop: popular Dutch artists, often with extra shows when the first one sells out.
• Metal, punk and heavier music: regular nights for heavier genres.
• Dance and club nights: themed parties, K-pop nights and electronic music.
• Shows elsewhere: the Effenaar also organises concerts at other venues, such as the Klokgebouw at Strijp-S.

Good to know for internationals

Many bands at the Effenaar sing in English, and the venue is used to an international crowd. Event pages list the time the doors open and the start time of the main act; usually there is a support act in between. Most concerts are standing. The Effenaar also has a Club Card membership, which gives free or discounted access to selected shows; the regular ticket price is listed on each event page.

Popular concerts can sell out weeks in advance, so it pays to keep an eye on the calendar. When a show is sold out, the Effenaar website sometimes offers resale options.

Getting there

The Effenaar is at Dommelstraat 2, about five minutes' walk from Eindhoven Centraal, which makes it easy to reach by train from all over the country. Cyclists can use the bike parking at the station. Stratumseind and the city centre are close by, so it is easy to combine a concert with dinner or a drink before or after.

Check the calendar above for upcoming concerts at the Effenaar, or see all music and our guide to nightlife in Eindhoven.