Vacations Eindhoven - Netherlands

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Eindhoven is situated where the Dommel and the Gender rivers meet. It was granted city rights in 1232 by Duke Hendrik I of Brabant, as well as the right to hold a weekly market where farmers from nearby villages sold their produce. A new castle was built within the city walls between 1413 and 1420, replacing the smaller, older castle which had stood outside the walls.

Later, in 1486, the city was plundered by troops from Gelderland, leading to the reconstruction of the castle and a stronger rampart. The city fell again in 1543, when poverty led to the neglect of its defence system. The fire of 1554 destroyed thee-quarters of the city’s houses, but these were rebuilt through assistance from William I of Orange. Eindhoven changed hands a number of times between the Dutch and the Spanish during the Dutch Revolt, until it was finally captured by Spanish troops in 1583. It did not become part of the new Republic of the Netherlands until 1629.

Much of the city infrastructure, such as canals, roads and railways, was constructed during the industrial revolution of the 19th century. The famous electronics company, Philips, was founded as a lightbulb manufacturing city in 1891. With the city’s manufacturing boom, a need for housing called for radical changes, and in 1920 the five neighbouring municipalities of Woensel, Tongelre, Stratum, Gestel en Blaarthem and Strijp were incorporated into the greater Eindhoven area.

Due to its industrial importance, Eindhoven was the target of large-scale air raids in World War II. Much of the old city was destroyed, and the reconstruction that followed left little evidence of the city’s historical heritage.

More Travel Guides in Netherlands:

Tilburg (About 20.6 mi)

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