Houses are so expensive in Eindhoven. What about the villages around Eindhoven? It is a sentence I heard a lot last year, followed by a sigh. Do you recognize this? Read on.

In the Netherlands, we had a lockdown in spring 2020. In this time, the kids were of course bored. On Fridays, we drove around in the surroundings of Eindhoven, not leaving the car. And it was a very good way to see a lot of the area. In general: it is very green.

Why would you live in Eindhoven as an expat?

Well, of course this decision is up to you. But if your budget is tight, it is worth looking further than Eindhoven. So this question is better: Why wouldn’t you live in the surrounding villages around Eindhoven? Let’s have a closer look at the towns around Eindhoven.

Do you search a broker? Check this blog.

Veldhoven

First, Veldhoven. Veldhoven is by far the largest town after Eindhoven. This is the famous village where ASML is based and many international people work. It’s a rather big, green village, with around 48.000 people living here. There is a large international community, a shopping centre, a hospital, good public transport, a library, theatre and much more. People greet each other and are friendly.

Some history: Veldhoven originated from several villages, which were merged in 1921. When you drive around, you will see different churches and small centres for every former village a church.  Oerle, Veldhoven, Meerveldhoven and Zeelst. All with their own characters. On the edge of Veldhoven you will find a lot of nature like forest and lakes. 

The house prices are comparable with the more expensive areas in Eindhoven.

Valkenswaard

This village has a historic centre and a market, where you will find many restaurants, cafés, and a theatre. It is a lively village, with around 32.000 inhabitants. The name Valkenswaard is named after the falcons, who were caught here to sell them in the past. A worthwhile visit.

There is no highway to Valkenswaard, so it will take a little extra time to get there. But if you love nature, this is a good place to be. Also, the house prices are lower than in Eindhoven.

Aalst- Waalre

These were two villages in the past, but now it is all Waalre. Although the locals have a different opinion. Here you will find a lot of villas. Also, Waalre is very close to nature and the highway. It’s on a cycle distance from Veldhoven and Eindhoven. The village has around 18.000 inhabitants and is close to Valkenswaard and Eindhoven. If you like nature and love to live in a big house, this is the place to be. As an international, it can take some time to integrate.

Nuenen

Nuenen is famous because the painter van Gogh lived there.

You will see many of the places which he painted. If you have some time of, there is even a very special cycle path between Eindhoven and Nuenen named after Vincent van Gogh. Nature is beautiful there. With around 24.000 inhabitants, Nuenen is an average village. It has a library and vibrant city centre. When you want to travel by public transport, the bus is the only option

The house prices are slightly lower than in Eindhoven.

Geldrop

This village is slightly farther away from Eindhoven, but you can reach it easily by car and train. The highway is close, so within 15 minutes, you can reach Eindhoven. This village even has a hospital and a castle. With 30.000 inhabitants, this village is similar to Valkenswaard. The level of facilities is good. Nature is all around the place, especially heather.

The house prices are slightly higher than Valkenswaard but still lower than Eindhoven or Veldhoven.

Best

Maybe you know Best because Philips owns some buildings there, the train station, the highway, or the zoo. With 31.600 inhabitants, Best is a large village with good facilities.

For nature lovers, Best is surrounded by nature, which is called “Het groene woud“. You can translate it to the green forest. 

Houses are slightly cheaper than in Eindhoven. So there is a better chance that you will find something suitable for your budget.

Oirschot

This is a tourist place, because of the picturesque centre! You will find many group accommodations and bed and breakfasts over there. And it is near “het Groene Woud”. Oirschot has a historical centre too, and a lot of history. Really worth a visit. Although this village has around 19.500 inhabitants, the facilities are good. And it’s only a 10 minutes drive to Eindhoven and or Veldhoven and 15 minutes to Tilburg.

The house prices are pretty high. But when you look for a house with plenty of space in a green environment, this can be a good choice.

Helmond

When you want to live in a city which is cheaper than Eindhoven, you can look to buy a house here. Helmond has more than 96.500 inhabitants. And, with that, there are many facilities there like a theatre, library, hospital, and train station. In the past few years, many new houses are built there. And the good news is that they are cheaper than the houses in Eindhoven. When you travel a lot for work, you may notice that a highway to Eindhoven is missing. That is a disadvantage.

Conclusion about villages around Eindhoven

Every village has its own identity. If you want to stay in a village, visit them all! They all have their character. Also, you can ask about other expats’ experiences of living there. The people of some villages may be more open to internationals than others. And, there are quite a few villages with good facilities. Good luck with choosing!

Have you found a house which needs to be renovated?  Have a look at our blogs for more useful information.

Picture: Kira Laktionov on unsplash.com