Working in Eindhoven: Brainport, chips, and design

Eindhoven is a Brainport city. The Brainport concept describes the collaboration between companies, knowledge institutions, and government in the Southeast Brabant region. The result: over 5,000 tech and IT companies, 72,868 tech professionals, and campus companies responsible for almost 40% of all Dutch patent applications. The region ranks third globally for active patents per capita.

The city does not have a diversified economy like Amsterdam or Rotterdam. Eindhoven specializes. Semiconductors, medtech, sensors, AI, and design are at its core. This specialization makes the city vulnerable to economic fluctuations in the tech sector but also strong when the sector thrives. And it is thriving.

The High Tech Campus: the smartest square kilometer

The High Tech Campus Eindhoven is nicknamed "the smartest square kilometer in the world." 12,500 people work at 300 companies on the campus. Multinationals like Philips and NXP are located there alongside startups, scale-ups, and research institutes.

The campus is built around the concept of open innovation: companies share facilities, meet in shared spaces, and collaborate on R&D projects. The result is a high concentration of patents and innovation in a compact area.

The campus is located in the south of Eindhoven, towards Veldhoven. HOV bus lines 407 and 408 connect the campus with Eindhoven Central. By bike, it takes about twenty minutes from the city center. The districts of Gestel and Stratum are the closest. Rental prices in these districts are lower than in the city center.

ASML: the engine of Brainport

ASML is the global market leader in chip lithography machines and by far the largest employer in the region. Its headquarters are in Veldhoven, directly adjacent to Eindhoven. Approximately 19,000 employees from 121 countries work there. ASML is building a large new campus in Eindhoven itself; the first 5,000 employees are expected there in 2028.

ASML, NXP, and Philips jointly invested 219 million euros in the Brainport region. This investment attracts suppliers, service providers, and startups that form an ecosystem around the large companies.

For tenants working at ASML: Veldhoven and the southern districts of Eindhoven (Gestel, Stratum) are closest to the headquarters. The city center and Strijp-S are accessible by bike or HOV. Many ASML employees choose Strijp-S for its atmosphere and international community.

Strijp-S: design and creative industry

Strijp-S is the former Philips factory complex that has been transformed into the creative heart of Eindhoven. Design studios, architectural firms, startups, workshops, and hospitality venues are located in the old factory buildings. Strijp-S station is within walking distance.

Dutch Design Week uses Strijp-S as its main location every year: nine days in October, over 300,000 visitors, more than 2,500 designers from around the world. The event establishes Eindhoven as the design capital of the Netherlands.

Those working in the creative sector, design, or architecture will find Strijp-S to be the focal point. Rental homes in the district are modern, popular, and quickly taken. The city center is a ten-minute bike ride away.

Eindhoven University of Technology: knowledge as an engine

The Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) is one of Europe's top technical universities and the knowledge base of Brainport. The Gate, TU/e's startup hub, assists students and researchers in founding companies: coaching, funding, and networking.

TU/e is a driving force behind the Eindhoven MedTech Innovation Center (e/MTIC), a collaboration with Philips, Catharina Hospital, Máxima MC, and Kempenhaeghe. The region has over 350 medtech companies that are collectively responsible for 90% of all Dutch patents in this sector.

Its campus is located north of the city center. The districts of Woensel-Zuid and the city center are within cycling distance.

Other major employers

Philips was founded in Eindhoven in 1891. Its headquarters have relocated, but its R&D presence in the city is significant. The High Tech Campus was originally a Philips site.

NXP Semiconductors is a spin-off of Philips and produces chips and semiconductors. The company is located on the High Tech Campus.

VDL Groep is an industrial conglomerate that produces buses, automotive parts, and high-tech components.

Signify (formerly Philips Lighting) is the world leader in LED lighting and a Philips spin-off.

DAF Trucks has a production facility in Eindhoven.

Thermo Fisher Scientific operates internationally from the region.

Startups and growth sectors

Eindhoven is the third largest startup ecosystem in the Netherlands by venture capital activity. Its strong sectors:

Semiconductors and chips: ASML, NXP, and the entire supply chain around them. The sector is growing due to global demand for chips.

MedTech: 350+ companies, 90% of all Dutch patents in this sector. The e/MTIC is the collaborative partnership connecting TU/e, hospitals, and companies.

Sensors, wearables, and AI: key focus areas of the Brainport strategy.

Design and creative industry: via Dutch Design Week and Strijp-S.

Energy and sustainability: a growing sector in the region.

Eindhoven is a city with a clear profile: technology, innovation, and design. The High Tech Campus for R&D. ASML and NXP for semiconductors. Strijp-S for creative industries. TU/e for knowledge. The choice of your residential neighborhood depends on your employer: Gestel and Stratum for the High Tech Campus, Strijp-S for the creative district, the city center for everything within walking distance. The city is compact enough for cycling everywhere. On HousingMatchers, you'll find all available rental homes in Eindhoven, filtered by neighborhood and price.