Eindhoven is a highly creative city, where cutting-edge art and design are nurtured. The Van Abbemuseum, one of Europe's leading contemporary art museums, enjoys a reputation for showing controversial exhibitions and has recently quadrupled its exhibition space to accommodate its impressive collection of works, including Picasso, Chagall, Mondriaan and Kandinsky. Eindhoven is easy to explore – the centre is pedestrianised. The beautiful countryside which surrounds the city can be visited using the extensive and very accessible cycling routes. It is also a city of contrasts – vibrant, urban elements combine with a villagey atmosphere, a fact reflected in its carnivals and concerts. In early spring, there’s the Carnival; in June, the Fiesta del Sol is celebrated; a huge, international clubbing event called Extrema Outdoor (www.extrema.nl) takes place around the end of July, and in August, there’s also the Jazz and Blues Festival. In September and October, the Light Tour sees the city illuminated by 1.2 million twinkling lights, also in October, Design Week offers graduates from the Design Academy a chance to display their work. The local Eindhoven Airport has services to and from London, Barcelona, Rome and Amsterdam.

Architecture
A prime example of Eindhoven's industrial heritage is the renovated Witte Dame (White Lady) building which was originally constructed for Philips in 1927. Today it houses the famous Design Academy on the top floor, Eindhoven's public library, the MU art gallery and a selection of shops. Another architectural gem is the Bijenkorf department store designed by architect Gio Ponti who took the typical Dutch polder landscape as his inspiration for the façade. More recently, Massimiliano Fuksas designed the new Piazza indoor shopping complex on the Septemberplein. The Piazza and the nearby Heuvel Galerie mall form the biggest covered shopping area in South Holland.

Football 
A tour of the Philips Stadium, home to Eindhoven's adored PSV football club, can be arranged by calling the stadium or visiting its website (tel: 31. 40 250 5505, www.psv.nl) and making an application prior to your arrival. Guided tours cost as little as €10 but are not offered on match days.

Shopping 
Shop until you drop in the shopping city of the South! With its numerous shopping centres, department stores, boutiques and specialist shops you'll be spoilt for choice. Eindhoven bustling city centre has several department stores and many exclusive boutiques & specialist shops. The various shopping areas are only a short distance away from each other, which makes shopping in Eindhoven a fun and relaxed experience. Shops are open Monday to Friday until 6pm, Saturday until 5pm. For a spot of late-night shopping visit Eindhoven on a Friday when all shops are open until 9pm. On Sundays shops are normally closed, apart from every first Sunday of the mont.

Van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh lived in Nuenen, a small village just 7km outside Eindhoven, from 1883 to 1885. His paintings depict the town's local church, a windmill (which features in several of his works) and local farmers and peasants, such as those depicted in The Potato Eaters. In the centre of town is the Van Gogh Information Centre (Papenvoort 15, tel: 31.40 283 9615, www.vangogh-nuenen.com) which gives an interesting insight into the time the artist spent in the region.

Museums
Built in 1936 and re-opened in January 2003 after a major renovation, the Van Abbemuseum (Bilderdijklaan 10, tel: 31.40 238 1000, www.vanabbemuseum.nl) is one of Europe's leading museums for modern and contemporary art. The Kunstlicht in de Kunst Museum (Emmasingel 31, tel: 31. 40 275 5183, www.kunstlichtkunst.nl), located in what was once the Philips lamp factory, specialises in artwork depicting artificial light and further illustrates why Eindhoven is known as Holland's city of lights.