Markt

The Markt is the old market square in the heart of Eindhoven, and still one of the places where the city comes together. Surrounded by cafés and restaurants with large terraces, it is the place for a drink in the sun, and the stage for some of the city's biggest celebrations, from carnival to the arrival of Sinterklaas.

A square with history

Eindhoven received city rights in 1232 and grew up as a small market town where the Dommel and the Gender met. The Markt was the centre of that town, the place where farmers from the surrounding villages came to sell their goods. In the middle of the square stands a statue of Jan van Hooff, an Eindhoven lawyer who served as mayor and became a national politician in the turbulent years around 1800. The statue was commissioned by the city in 1981 from the sculptor Auke Hettema.

Little of old Eindhoven survived the growth of the twentieth century and the bombing of 1944, which is why the Markt today looks mostly modern. But the square has kept its role: it is where the city celebrates.

What happens on the Markt

• Terraces: from spring to autumn, the terraces around the square are full on every sunny day.
• Carnival: in February, when Eindhoven becomes Lampegat, the Markt is one of the centres of the party, and the closing celebrations traditionally take place here on carnival Tuesday.
• Sinterklaas: in 2026 the arrival of Sinterklaas moves to the Markt.
• GLOW: the walking route of the light festival passes the Markt every November.
• King's Day and other city celebrations: music, markets and parties.

Around the Markt

The Markt is the perfect starting point for a walk through the city centre. Within a few minutes' walk you will find:

• Stratumseind, the longest pub street in the Netherlands.
• The Catharinakerk, the neo-Gothic church that dominates the skyline of the centre.
• The Kleine Berg and the Bergen quarter, with restaurants, small shops and cafés.
• The shopping streets around the Demer, the Rechtestraat and the Heuvel.
• The Muziekgebouw Eindhoven on the Heuvel.

Tips for your visit

• Find a terrace in the sun. On sunny days the terraces on the Markt fill up quickly, especially at lunchtime and early in the evening.
• Check the calendar before big events. During carnival, GLOW and other city celebrations, the square is very busy and some streets around it are closed.
• Use it as a meeting point. The statue of Jan van Hooff in the middle of the square is an easy place to meet friends.
• Walk on. From the Markt, the shopping streets, the Bergen quarter and Stratumseind are all within a few minutes' walk.

Getting there

The Markt is about a ten-minute walk from Eindhoven Centraal. There are bike racks around the square and guarded bike parking nearby, and car parks are available in the city centre. During big events such as GLOW and carnival, streets around the Markt can be closed to traffic, so come on foot, by bike or by public transport.

See also our guide to things to do and see in Eindhoven, nightlife and the free events in the city.