TRAVEL DIARY
Architect Pieter Mathews and his team were in Eindhoven for the annual DUTCH DESIGN WEEK. He has some tips if you’re planning a trip there in October.
BUY AN ALL-ACCESS DDW TICKET ONLINE
Your once-off pass is all-inclusive and costs just less
than €20. For that you get access to all DDW’s locations, exhibitions and transport. The value of DDW lies in the broad spectrum of topics, themes, materials, workshops, lectures and exhibitions.
DO YOUR RESEARCH AHEAD OF TIME
There are legions of exhibitions, so avoid the paradoxof-choice problem or being paralysed by indecision. This is a huge event with more than 350 000 visitors and 2 600 participating designers in over 120 locations.
BOOK A GREAT APARTMENT WITH A VIEW
As DDW is such a stimulating experience, I find it beneficial to wind down at a beautiful location. I’d recommend paying a bit more for a location close to the action with a scenic view for a nightcap. Supporting local supermarkets and markets by dining on your balcony saves Euros and affords an opportunity to experience local living first hand.
EXPECT TO BE SURPRISED AND AMAZED
We found clothing made from apples, dinnerware from orange peels, houses from cardboard, vodka distilled from Chernobyl rainwater, living jackets, a saddle for Bigfoot, and a virtual reality train ride.
SOME OF MY FAVOURITE WEIRD AND WONDERFUL THINGS .
The Growing pavilion: construction panels made from hemp and mycelium (mushroom spores), which create a waterproof insulation when baked. One day we may be able to grow our own houses!
The Wikkelhuis (Wrap house): a modular house made of layered cardboard.
The main pavilion, titled Biobasecamp, demonstrates the potential of timber in sustainable architecture.
VISIT THE PHILIPS MUSEUM FOR FREE
Eindhoven was the initial home of electronics giant Philips (founded in 1891) and nostalgia might kick in when
you recognise your gran’s old Philips radio. However, the exhibition also gives a proper glimpse into the future.
The Philips headquarters have since moved to Amsterdam, but the Dutch are known for innovation and have transformed the city of Eindhoven into an innovation hub. They've subsidised creative and technological startups while excelling as a world leader in design thinking and new patents.
Eindhoven is not as steeped in history and touristy as Amsterdam, Delft or Keukenhof, but its robust, contemporary, challenging but sublime industrial beauty add to its authenticity.
You can obviously top up your trip with a more “popular” destination if you choose.
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5 THINGS I NEVER TRAVEL WITHOUT
An open and inquisitive mind.
One carry-on size suitcase, which helps with station-locker storage and mobility – less is more.
Energy booster sachets in my pocket for the dead hours. A power bank to assist my smartphone in finding my way. Antibacterial ointment for the nose, as well as small bottles of hand sanitiser and immune boosters. Prevention is better than cure.