Parks in Eindhoven: Philips Heritage and Stream Valleys

Eindhoven is a city you wouldn't immediately associate with greenery. The focus is on tech, design, and innovation. However, the parks are there, and they tell their own story. The Philips family donated several parks to the city in the first half of the twentieth century. The Dommel and Tongelreep streams form green corridors that extend deep into the city. And the Genneper Parken in the south are one of the largest city parks in the Netherlands.

For tenants in Eindhoven, greenery is closer than you might expect. This page covers the eight best-known parks in the city.

Genneper Parken: The Great South

The Genneper Parken are located in the south of Eindhoven and stretch along the Tongelreep, from the city's edge deep into the urban area. It is a historic stream valley landscape that combines nature, sports, culture, and heritage.

The Genneper Watermolen is one of the oldest mills in the region. The Eindhoven Museum tells the city's history. The Genneper Hoeve is a petting zoo. There's a mini-golf course at Paviljoen Genneper Parken. The Ice Sports Center and Tongelreep swimming pool are located within the park. You can walk along the Tongelreep all the way to Aalst.

The Gestel and Stratum districts are adjacent to the park. Gestel is a green residential area with nearly 29,000 inhabitants. Rental homes range from post-war apartments to new builds. Those renting in the south of Eindhoven have the Genneper Parken as their daily recreational area.

Wandelbos Eckart: 80 Hectares of Real Forest

The Eckartse Bos is 80 hectares and the largest contiguous forest area in Eindhoven. It is located in the Tongelre district, between the Dommel and Kleine Dommel rivers. It is not a landscaped park but a wet stream valley forest on sandy soil, with old deciduous trees and high ecological value.

There are hiking routes from and through the hamlet of Eckart and the village of Opwetten. The forest is quieter than the city parks: no playgrounds, no catering, no events. It's the place for those who truly want to go into the woods.

The Tongelre district is located west of the forest. It is one of Eindhoven's outer districts, with lower rental prices and a green character.

The Philips de Jongh Wandelpark: Philips Heritage

The Philips de Jongh Wandelpark is approximately 27 hectares and named after Anna Philips de Jongh, the wife of Anton Philips. The park was donated to the city in 1920. It is a monumental walking park with magnificent tree-lined avenues.

The park is one of the tangible reminders of the role Philips played in Eindhoven's development. The city was a village until the light bulb factory arrived. The parks donated by the family compensated for the rapid growth with greenery.

The Philips van Lenneppark: Family Park in the North

The Philips van Lenneppark is approximately 20 hectares in the north of Eindhoven, donated to the city by Frits Philips and his wife Sylvia van Lennep in 1964. It is a family park with a playground, skate park, petting zoo, tennis court, and disc golf course. Barbecuing is permitted.

The Woensel-Noord district surrounds it. The park is the green heart of the northern neighborhoods. Rental prices in Woensel are lower than in the city center or Strijp.

The Stadswandelpark: The Green Heart of the City Center

The Stadswandelpark is located south of the city center, in the Stratum district, along the Dommel river. Its foundation was laid in 1884 when Sinkel had his garden landscaped. In 1921, it was established as a public park. The municipality acquired plot after plot. In 1929, the last piece was added, from the Ursuline sisters. Dirk Tersteeg's design was implemented in the early 1930s. The name Stadswandelpark dates from 1931.

It is a compact park in the English landscape style. No sports facilities or playgrounds, but a walking park in the middle of the city. The Dommel river flows alongside it. The Anne Frankplantsoen is adjacent to it.

The city center and the Stratum district are within walking distance. It's the kind of park you discover if you live in the center: small enough to walk through, green enough to get away from it all.

The Karpendonkse Plas: Water in the Middle of the City

The Karpendonkse Plas was created in 1955 by sand extraction for the construction of the Hoogspoor (elevated railway). De Karpen park was built around the lake eight years later. The water, the island, and the native tree species (oak, poplar, alder, birch) give it a unique character.

There is a pétanque court, a mini-golf course, and a weekly parkrun for runners. In the summer, the international Concours Hippique takes place here. The lake attracts waterfowl and fishermen.

The Woensel-West and Stratum districts are adjacent to the park. It is one of the few watery green spaces in the city.

The Henri Dunantpark: Space in the North

The Henri Dunantpark is approximately 22 hectares in the north of Eindhoven. Spacious lawns, a pond, play areas, and sports fields. It is a park for daily use: picnicking, playing soccer, cycling, walking.

The Woensel-Noord district surrounds it. Together with the Philips van Lenneppark, it forms the green structure of the northern part of the city. Rental prices in these districts are among the lowest in Eindhoven.

The Anne Frankplantsoen: Remembrance along the Dommel

The Anne Frankplantsoen is a small, intimate park of approximately 4 hectares along the Dommel river, west of the Stadswandelpark. There is a monument honoring Anne Frank. It is a memorial park: a quiet green space, without catering or sports facilities.

The park is part of the green zone along the Dommel that runs from the city center to the south. Together with the Stadswandelpark and the Dommelplantsoen, it forms a continuous green strip through the heart of the city.

Eindhoven has more greenery than you expect. The Philips parks in the north, the stream valleys through the center, the Genneper Parken in the south, and the Eckartse Bos in the east together form a network that reaches every neighborhood. For tenants, proximity to greenery makes a daily difference. On HousingMatchers, you can find all available rental properties in Eindhoven, filtered by neighborhood and price.