Genneper Parken

Genneper Parken is a large recreation area on the southern edge of Eindhoven, laid out along the Dommel river, and it is where the people of the city go for a green afternoon. The park mixes open meadows, woods, ponds and stretches of river bank, with paths that suit walking, running and cycling, and the landscape is typical of the Brabant stream valleys, flat and soft with willow and alder along the water. It is free to enter, and it is open to everyone at all hours, with no gates at the main areas.

The park has several landmarks of its own. The Genneper Watermill, on the Dommel, is a historic mill that recalls the agricultural past of the area, when grain was ground with the power of the stream, and it is a pleasant spot for a pause. A petting zoo, a kinderboerderij, lets children meet farm animals at close quarters, and nearby there are swimming facilities and sports fields for those who want something more energetic. In summer, families spend whole days here with picnics and games.

The park is also home to the Eindhoven Museum, an open-air museum that brings the past to life with reconstructed buildings, among them the PreHistorisch Dorp, the Prehistoric Village, where visitors can see how people lived in the Iron Age and Middle Ages, with demonstrations and activities. This makes the park a good choice for a day out with children, since there is plenty to do beyond walking. Opening seasons and times for the museum vary, so check before you travel.

Eindhoven itself is a city of design and technology, and the park is a good counterweight to the museums in town. The Philips Museum tells the story of the company that grew up here, the Van Abbemuseum shows modern and contemporary art, the DAF Museum covers the Dutch truck and car maker and the PSV Museum is for football fans. In November the GLOW festival fills the city with light installations. The Sint-Catharinakerk, St. Catherine's Church, is the main historic church in the centre, and the city is easy to reach from the park by bike.

Genneper Parken suits families, cyclists, joggers, picnickers and anyone who wants to combine nature with a little history. Allow a few hours, and wear shoes you do not mind getting muddy after rain.