Eindhoven at a Glance
- Population: 240,000 (city proper)
- Expat population: approximately 40,000 — roughly 17% of residents, one of the highest proportions outside the Randstad
- Main languages spoken: Dutch, English (Eindhoven has some of the highest English proficiency among Dutch cities, driven by tech industry hiring)
- Key industries: semiconductor technology, electronics, industrial design, advanced manufacturing
- Average commute: 15–25 minutes by bike or public transport
Eindhoven is not the city most people imagine when they think of moving to the Netherlands, but it should be higher on the list for anyone working in tech. ASML, the company that manufactures the chip-making machines used by almost every major semiconductor fabricator in the world, is headquartered here. So is NXP Semiconductors, and Philips still has a major presence in the city it was founded in. That cluster of companies drives a secondary ecosystem of suppliers, research organisations, and startups that makes Eindhoven’s job market remarkably strong for its size.
The practical upside is significant: rents are lower than in the Randstad cities, the city is compact and easy to cycle around, and the international community — though smaller than in Amsterdam or The Hague — is well-established and genuinely welcoming to new arrivals. The downside is that if your job is not in the tech or design sector, the options are more limited than in larger cities. Eindhoven is not a place where you move and then figure out what to do — it works best when the job comes first.
Cost of Living
Eindhoven offers meaningfully lower costs than Amsterdam, Utrecht, or The Hague, which makes a substantial difference to take-home quality of life on comparable salaries.
| Item | Estimated monthly cost |
|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment (private rental) | €1,000–€1,200 |
| 2-bedroom apartment | €1,300–€1,600 |
| Monthly OV public transport pass | €98–€120 |
| Groceries (single person) | €260–€360 |
| Dinner out (mid-range, two people) | €50–€70 |
| Gym membership | €25–€40 |
The most desirable areas (Strijp-S, Centrum) command higher rents. More residential neighbourhoods like Gestel and parts of Woensel are noticeably cheaper and still well-connected.
Use the Housing Budget Checker to model your Eindhoven budget before you start looking.
Best Neighbourhoods for Expats
Strijp-S — The most talked-about neighbourhood in Eindhoven. Built on the former Philips factory site, it has been redeveloped into a mix of apartments, studios, creative workspaces, restaurants, and event venues. It attracts designers, engineers, and international arrivals in roughly equal measure. A 1-bedroom here runs €1,100–€1,400. It does not have the traditional Dutch neighbourhood feel — it is more like a planned creative district — but the community is tight-knit and English is the working language in most buildings.
Woensel-Zuid — More residential and less self-consciously designed than Strijp-S. Good supermarkets, schools, and connections to the ASML campus by bike. Rents are €950–€1,150 for a 1-bedroom.
Centrum — The city centre, with the Catharinaplein as the main square. A mix of apartments above shops and offices. Convenient but not the quietest option. Rents €1,050–€1,250.
Gestel — Green, quiet, and popular with families. Well-regarded schools in the area. 1-bedroom average around €950–€1,100. If you are coming with children and want a calmer environment, Gestel is worth looking at closely.
Working in Eindhoven
The tech sector is the engine of Eindhoven’s economy. ASML employs around 30,000 people in the region and recruits internationally on a large scale — if you are working there, the company has its own relocation support programme and a dedicated expat community (the ASML expat network is active and useful for practical settling-in questions). NXP Semiconductors employs several thousand in the city, and Philips (now primarily a health technology company) has around 3,000 staff in Eindhoven.
Beyond the three major anchors, the High Tech Campus Eindhoven — nicknamed the “Smartest Square Kilometre” — hosts around 260 companies and 12,000 researchers and entrepreneurs. It is a campus with its own facilities, shuttle buses, and a very international working environment.
The Dutch Design Week, held every October in Eindhoven, is the largest design event in Northern Europe and draws a significant design and creative industry community to the city year-round.
Coworking spaces include the High Tech Campus (for members), Seats2Meet Eindhoven, and Hub Eindhoven. Day passes from €20; monthly memberships from €180.
For salary benchmarking use the Salary Checker. See also Working in the Netherlands.
Getting Registered
Registration is handled by Gemeente Eindhoven. Appointments at the city hall (Stadhuisplein) can be booked online. Waiting times are generally 1–2 weeks, shorter than in most Randstad cities.
Some ASML and NXP arrivals go through the International Welcome Centre South Netherlands (IWCN), which coordinates registration, housing, and partner employment support for expats in the region. If your employer is one of the major companies, check whether they use this service — it simplifies the process considerably.
Standard documentation: passport, rental contract or proof of address, employment contract. BSN issued on registration day.
Use the BSN Planner to prepare your documents before your appointment.
Healthcare & Insurance
The main hospital is Catharina Ziekenhuis, which has a strong cardiac and oncology department. Maxima Medisch Centrum (in Veldhoven, just south of the city) is also widely used by Eindhoven residents.
English-speaking GPs are available across the city. The ASML Health Centre on campus handles basic GP care for ASML employees. For non-ASML arrivals, several practices in the Centrum and Strijp-S areas have English-speaking capacity. Registration waiting lists are typically 2–4 weeks.
Health insurance is mandatory from day one of residence. Premiums start around €130/month with a €385 eigen risico. Use the Health Insurance Wizard to compare policies.
Transport
Eindhoven is compact enough that cycling covers most daily journeys. The ASML campus in Veldhoven is about 6 km from the city centre — many employees cycle it or use company shuttle buses. Eindhoven Airport handles a reasonable number of European routes (Ryanair, TUI, Transavia), making it a useful departure point if you travel frequently for work.
By train, Eindhoven connects to Amsterdam (75 minutes), Utrecht (45 minutes), and Rotterdam (75 minutes). The intercity trains are direct and reliable; there is no high-speed connection, so the journey times are longer than from the Randstad cities.
For a full guide to OV travel in the Netherlands, see the OV-chipkaart guide for expats.
