As with any move abroad, the process of moving to Eindhoven requires a fair amount of research and planning. However, with the city continuing to grow and thrive, prospective expats can expect the relocation process to be far less arduous should a firm job or university offer be on the table, as Eindhoven welcomes talented and forward-thinking individuals from the world over.

About the City

With a recorded population of around 220,000 inhabitants, Eindhoven is currently the fifth largest city in the Netherlands, and is still growing thanks to its role within Europe’s booming technology industry. Officially a municipality, Eindhoven covers an area of 88.82 square kilometers and lies within a polycentric metropolitan area named the Brabantse Stedenrij: a ‘city row’ located in the North Brabant province in the south of the Netherlands.

Of the city’s population, around 29.5% is made up of people of foreign descent. The region is historically Roman-Catholic, but is today welcoming of all religions and ethnicities. Though many inhabitants speak English, Eindhoven’s primary spoken language is Dutch.

Having grown fairly quickly on the back of hugely successful companies such as Philips and DAF Trucks, Eindhoven’s economy continues to grow as more tech-based companies make the city their home. Due to this, and a number of economic initiatives with a focus on high-tech business and innovation, Eindhoven used to rank highly in the Intelligent Community Forum’s list of intelligent communities.

Visas for the Netherlands

In order to enter the Netherlands and stay for a period of up to 90 days, people of certain nationalities are required to apply for a Schengen visa. A list of those nationalities can be found on the Dutch government’s website. For longer stays, a residence permit is required (Vergunning Tijdelijk Verblijf); you can find more information on this in our dedicated guide to Moving to the Netherlands. Citizens from EU/EEA member states or Switzerland, on the other hand, do not need a special visa or permit.

Anyone arriving in the Netherlands with the intention of staying permanently or for a prolonged period also must register with the municipality in which they plan to stay within five days of arrival. This step is vital in order to be registered with the Municipal Personal Records Database. From there, an application for permanent residency may be made at a later date.

At registration, expats will be asked to give information concerning their circumstances, ranging from entitlement to vote to family background. Certain documentation is required, such as a valid ID and, where applicable, a rental or purchase agreement on a property in the Netherlands. A good rule of thumb for anyone planning to go through to process is to collate all documents concerning the move and have them on hand when registering.

The Climate in Eindhoven

Due to its location in the south of the Netherlands, Eindhoven has a mild, humid climate. Although there is no dry season in the region, summers are notably warm, with temperatures averaging just over 20˚C.

In the cold season, temperatures rarely drop any lower than 0˚C. The length of day varies throughout the year, with 15 to 16 hours of sunlight being typical during summer and eight hours during winter. Though thunderstorms are not unheard of in Eindhoven, the majority of precipitation comes in the form of moderate rain.