22 DONEGAL NEWS
DONEGAL LIFE
Monday, June 16, 2014
Monday, June 16, 2014
DONEGAL LIFE
BY HARRY WALSH ress Trip to Eindhoven', the subject of the email read, which dropped into my inbox two weeks ago. Without having to reference Wikipedia (or even the Encylopedia Brittanica) I already knew it was a city in the Netherlands and home to former European champions PSV and was the breeding ground for well-known soccer players like the the Van Der Kerkhoff brothers (Rene and Willy) and, more recently, Ruud van Nistelrooy. Safe with that much knowledge (See mum, I knew that football would come in handy some day!) I replied to the e-mail kindly accepting the offer of a three-night trip to the Netherlands. The introduction of direct flights between Knock and Eindhoven means there is renewed focus on the Irish tourism sector as Ryanair, Ireland West Airport, Eindhoven 365 and the larger region of Brabant work in collaboration. The first surprise came before we even left Knock airport as the flight was almost full. I would later learn that 800 Irish graduates work in ASML alone, a Dutch company which invents and develops complex technology for high-tech lithography machines for the semiconductor industry. On arrival at Eindhoven airport we were met by our guides and transported to the hotel before being taken to our first meeting with the organisers of 'Brabant - Region of Summer Festivals'. Dance festivals are special in this part of the Netherlands and following a presentation from Tim Klomp Bueters (Wish Outdoor), Laura van der Voort and Siem Nozza from Extrema Outdoor and Maghiel Koekkoek (Breda Live), it was obvious why. Most weekends throughout the summer months in excess of 40,000 young people gather to dance to many of the world's top Djs such as DJ Tiesto and Hardwell who are described as being Dutch progressive and electro house DJs, although I must admit that I was more impressed by the fact that they can garner fees in excess of €200,000 for one night’s work! While I never admit to feeling old, I started to notice an age difference during their vibrant presentations but, on a more positive note, it would give me a lot of energy for the rest of the trip. The following morning we were up bright and breezy for our trip to nearby Nuenen and a visit to the Van Gogh Village. It was here the worldrenowned artist painted The Potato Eaters. In the afternoon we were taken to s-Hertogenbosch, the beautiful city of Jheronimus Bosch, where we were given a guided tour, a Bossche Bol (typical regional treat) and a Binnendieze Canal tour of the historic city. On Monday morning we took to our bikes (quite literally) for a guided tour of the old factory where Philips made his first incandescent lamp. Once home to more than 15,000 Philips employees it is now provides workspace for many top designers, including Piet Hein Eek who is famous for his scrapwood cupboards. Later that day we visited the Philips stadium, home to PSV Eindhoven, and the Van Abbemuseum, home to some weird and wonderful pieces of what's more commonly known as modern art. On Tuesday morning, it was back to the airport and the journey home another full flight – where we were joined by a stag party, a host of Irish parents who had just spent a weekend with their loved ones who have made Holland home and numerous Dutch nationals, some of whom are visiting Ireland for the first time. Press trips, by their nature, always come with a full itinerary as was the
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Most weekends throughout the summer months in excess of 40,000 young people gather to dance to many of the world's top Djs.
DONEGAL NEWS 23 Get on your bike: Irish jounalists find that two wheels is the best mode of transport around Eindhoven. From Left: Maresa Fagan, Roscommon Herald, Harry Walsh, Michael Daly, Donegal Democrat, Neill O’Neill, Mayo News, Jenny McCudden, Sligo Champion and Erik van Gerwen, Eindhoven Tourist Board.
Den Bosch is circled by typical Dutch canals and the boat tours of the canals are operated in small boats which are navigated through tunnels under the town and through pretty canals around its perimeter.
Eindhoven calling...
EINDHOVEN BY NUMBERS That's how many Irish 800: graduates work for ASML, a Dutch company that invents and develops complex technology for high-tech lithography machines for the semiconductor industry.
FIVE THINGS YOU MUST DO IN EINDHOVEN... PHILIPS MUSEUM From the company’s origins in 1891 to the innovations of tomorrow, the Philips museum provides a fascinating picture of the way in which Philips evolved from a small incandescent lamp manufacturer into a large and prestigious international group of companies. VAN GOGH 2015 Next year, a collaboration of around 30 organisations are honouring the Dutch artist under the theme '125 years of inspiration'. Vincent Van Gogh is a world famous artist whose works are scattered throughout the world. But this master's roots lie in Brabant. He was born, raised and created his first masterpiece The Potato Eaters in this southern province of the Netherlands. BRABANT SUMMER FESTIVALS Brabant's dance festivals are something special and a good way to attract a younger generation to Eindhoven to dance to world famous DJs such as Tiesto and Hardwell. Wish Outdoor, Extrema Outdoor and Breda Live are just three events which bring crowds in excess of 40,000 to the region each weekend throughout the summer months.
By population 215,000: Eindhoven is the fifth-largest city in the Netherlands. The Eindhoven region is one of the powerhouses of the Dutch economy, and accounts for fourteen per cent of the Gross Domestic Product. Forty per cent of all investments in research and development in the Netherlands are made in the Eindhoven region.
BINNENDIEZE CANAL TOUR ‘s-Hertongenbosch, commonly known as Den Bosch, is the capital of the province of North Brabant. The city is circled by typical Dutch canals and the boat tours of the canals are operated in small boats which are navigated through tunnels under the town and through pretty canals around its perimeter.
Wheels: One of the most 2: bike-friendly areas in the world, Eindhoven is home of the Hovenring, the first suspended bicycle roundabout in the world that lets cyclists sail over car traffic.
PSV EINDHOVEN MUSEUM One of Europe's best football clubs, PSV Eindhoven, plays out of the Philips Stadium in the city. Regarded as one of the Netherlands most successful modern clubs, PSV provides the perfect afternoon or evening out. Locals are boisterous, especially when they pack out the stadium. However, this only adds to the excitement of witnessing a local soccer match.
The year Philips was founded in Eindhoven by Gerard Philips and his father Frederik. It is one of the largest electronics companies in the world and employs around 122,000 people across more than 60 countries.
1891:
The distance, in kilometres, 5: Eindhoven Airport which the largest regional airport in the Netherlands, is located from the city making it easily assessible for low cost airlines like Ryanair. A unique statue of a 16th 1: century angel holding a mobile phone at St John’s
Vincent Van Gogh, was born, raised and created his first masterpiece The Potato Eaters in this southern province of the Netherlands.
Cathedral in 's-Hertogenbosch has attracted world-wide attention since it was first ‘updated’ back in 2011.
case this time aorund. This particular trip was organised by Eindhoven 365 and the greater Brabant region to get positive publicity but, to be honest, they're pushing an open door. Eindhoven is a vibrant and lively city, a city of opportunity, of brain power, work ethic and fun.
The City Guide for Eindhoven 2014, simply entitled ‘Discover’, carries the tag ‘I visited Eindhoven and came back full of energy’ on its back cover. Well it’s true and, with a little luck, I’ll be back in the not too distant future, but this time with the family. If you have kids obsessed by
all things wheeled, they will love the trucks at the DAF Museum, not to mention the football stadium, while the art scene - Van Gogh and Jheronimus Bosch, not to mention the opportunity to visit the designers at work as well as the excellent shops, will also appeal to someone I know well.
Strolling through the city streets on a sunny Sunday afternoon
Modern art: An upside down VW Beetle which has been converted into a bedroom.