Strijp-S
Strijp-S is a former Philips industrial district in Eindhoven that has been redeveloped as a mixed-use hub for technology, design, culture, housing, hospitality, and events.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Strijp-S is a former industrial park and present-day urban district in Eindhoven, in the Netherlands. It occupies part of the Strijp area and is closely associated with the industrial history of Philips, whose manufacturing, research, warehousing, and logistical operations once covered the site. Rather than being a conventional consumer brand, Strijp-S functions as a place brand and urban-development destination: its identity is built around the reuse of Philips-era architecture and the combination of creative businesses, technology, design, residential development, cultural institutions, restaurants, events, and urban recreation. The district's industrial origins date to the early twentieth century. Philips established major operations in Strijp, and in 1916 Anton Philips built a glass factory there for incandescent-light-bulb production. The nearby Philips Natuurkundig Laboratorium, commonly known as NatLab, had opened in 1914 and became part of the company's research ecosystem. Strijp-S later hosted production and storage associated with radios, televisions, lighting, and other electrical products. Philips pursued an unusually integrated manufacturing model on the site, summarized by the Dutch expression “Van zand tot klant,” meaning “from sand to customer.” Research, glass production, assembly, packaging, warehousing, and related activities could all be coordinated within one extensive industrial complex. The name follows Philips' naming pattern for its Eindhoven industrial parks. Strijp-S was followed by Strijp-T and Strijp-R, with the lettered names derived from “STRIJP.” The term also reflects the area's historical relationship with Strijp, one of the former municipalities that became part of the modern city of Eindhoven. Philips gradually reduced its presence in Eindhoven during the 1990s. Discussions about a new use for Strijp-S began around 2000, as the industrial site became available for transformation. In 2002, the land was sold for €140 million to Park Strijp Beheer B.V., a public-private partnership involving the Municipality of Eindhoven and VolkerWessels. Philips temporarily leased some buildings back and completed its withdrawal from most of the site in 2006, although small Philips departments remained in two buildings according to the cited reference material. Redevelopment adopted the guiding idea “Old Buildings, New Ideas.” Instead of replacing the industrial landscape wholesale, the project adapted factories, laboratories, warehouses, and infrastructure for new uses. This approach made Strijp-S a prominent example of adaptive reuse in the Netherlands. Former production buildings became lofts, offices, studios, schools, cultural venues, food and beverage locations, and event spaces. New construction was added alongside restored industrial structures, creating a mixed urban district rather than a museum-like preservation area. Residential development became part of the district's transformation in the 2010s. The SAS-3 project brought the first permanent residents in 2012, followed by residential conversions of the SAN and SBP buildings. These former television-factory buildings were renamed GERARD and ANTON, referencing members of the Philips family. SPACE-S and other residential blocks expanded the neighborhood's population. The cited material describes the resident profile as notably young, with people aged 20 to 34 representing 78.2 percent of residents, compared with 24.6 percent for Eindhoven overall. Strijp-S also developed a broad cultural and leisure program. The Klokgebouw and Ketelhuisplein host events, while Dutch Design Week uses the district as an important location each October. The former Veemgebouw contains Vershal Het Veem, a food hall. MU Hybrid Art House presents contemporary and hybrid art, and De Ontdekfabriek provides science and discovery activities for children. Urban sports, including skateboarding, BMX, bouldering, and bootcamp activities, reinforce the district's experimental and youthful character. Lighting remains a recurring part of the place identity, connecting the contemporary district with Philips' history. Strijp-S has hosted LED-based experiments and light-art installations, including Fakkel by Har Hollands and Crystal by Daan Roosegaarde in the passage toward NatLab. The area is also a regular location for Eindhoven's GLOW light festival. Today, Strijp-S is best understood as a mixed-use innovation and culture district whose brand rests on industrial heritage, creative reuse, design-led development, and public programming rather than on the sale of a single product.
History
Strijp-S developed from one of Philips' principal industrial areas in Eindhoven into a mixed-use district centered on adaptive reuse. Its early history is tied to Philips research and manufacturing. The Philips Natuurkundig Laboratorium, or NatLab, opened in 1914, and Anton Philips established a glass factory in 1916 for incandescent-light-bulb production. The site subsequently supported the manufacture and storage of radios, televisions, lighting products, and other electrical equipment. Philips' integrated industrial philosophy connected research, materials processing, manufacturing, packaging, and warehousing on the same large site. This was expressed through the idea “Van zand tot klant,” describing control of the production chain from raw material to customer. Strijp-S takes its name from Philips' system of identifying its industrial parks with letters. It was the first of the Strijp-S, Strijp-T, and Strijp-R sites. The district is located in Strijp, an area incorporated into the modern municipality of Eindhoven along with several other former municipalities. Philips began reducing its Eindhoven operations during the 1990s. With the industrial park's future uncertain, initial discussions about redevelopment began around 2000. In 2002 the land was sold for €140 million to Park Strijp Beheer B.V., a public-private partnership formed by the Municipality of Eindhoven and VolkerWessels. Philips continued leasing selected buildings temporarily and completed its principal withdrawal in 2006, although the cited material notes that small Philips departments remained in two buildings. Redevelopment was guided by the concept “Old Buildings, New Ideas.” The plan treated the factories and infrastructure as assets for a new creative and technological economy. Industrial buildings were converted into workplaces, studios, residences, cultural venues, food destinations, and event locations. This approach preserved recognizable elements of the Philips landscape, including the NatLab, Klokgebouw, Hoge Rug buildings, Ketelhuis, Machinekamer, Veemgebouw, Leidingstraat, and Torenallee. Residential use expanded during the 2010s. SAS-3 delivered the first permanent homes in 2012. The SAN and SBP buildings were subsequently adapted for residential use and renamed GERARD and ANTON. SPACE-S and additional blocks added further housing. The district attracted a younger population than Eindhoven as a whole, reinforcing its identity as a creative and urban lifestyle environment. The district's cultural and visitor economy grew alongside housing and workspaces. MU Hybrid Art House became a venue for contemporary and hybrid art, while De Ontdekfabriek offered children's science and discovery activities. Vershal Het Veem introduced a food-hall format in the Veemgebouw. Klokgebouw and Ketelhuisplein became event venues, and the area hosted large events such as Flying Dutch, recurring Dutch Design Week activity, the FeelGood Markt, and light-art programming connected with GLOW. Urban sports and LED-based installations further linked the new identity to the site's industrial and technological past. Strijp-S is therefore not a product brand in the conventional sense. It is a place brand and redevelopment platform whose value derives from the combination of heritage buildings, creative tenants, residential communities, public spaces, cultural programming, and Eindhoven's broader technology and design ecosystem.
- 2016
St. Lucas opens a creative school
[1]The school added a creative-education presence to the redeveloped district.
- 2015
Vershal Het Veem opens
[1]The Veemgebouw gained a food-hall use, broadening the district's hospitality and visitor offer.
- 2013
Industrial buildings converted into housing
[1]The SAN and SBP buildings were prepared for residential use and later associated with the GERARD and ANTON names.
- 2012
First permanent residents arrive
[1]The SAS-3 project brought the first permanent residents to the redeveloped district.
- 2006
Philips largely completes its withdrawal
[1]Philips ended its principal occupation of the site after a temporary leaseback period, while small departments reportedly remained.
- 2002
Site sold to Park Strijp Beheer B.V.
[1]The land was sold for €140 million to a public-private partnership involving Eindhoven and VolkerWessels.
- 2000
Redevelopment discussions begin
[1]As Philips reduced its presence in Eindhoven, discussions began about repurposing the former industrial park.
- 1916
Glass factory established
[1]Anton Philips built the first factory at Strijp-S, a glass plant serving incandescent-light-bulb production.
- 1914
Philips opens the NatLab research laboratory
[1]The Philips Natuurkundig Laboratorium opened in the Strijp area and became an important part of the research history associated with Strijp-S.
Products and positioning
A design- and technology-oriented urban district built through the adaptive reuse of Philips industrial heritage, positioned as a destination for creative companies, residents, cultural organizations, visitors, and events.
Urban development
Mixed-use district
Strijp-S combines offices, studios, homes, cultural venues, hospitality, public space, and event infrastructure within a former Philips industrial park. Its development model emphasizes adaptive reuse of large industrial buildings alongside new residential construction.
Commercial real estate
Creative and technology workspace
Former factories, laboratories, and industrial structures provide space for creative companies, technology-oriented organizations, designers, makers, and cultural institutions. The offer is tied to the district's “Old Buildings, New Ideas” redevelopment concept.
Housing · 2012
Residential developments
Housing at Strijp-S includes newly built projects such as SAS-3 and SPACE-S and conversions of former industrial buildings, including the SAN and SBP structures associated with the GERARD and ANTON names. The residential environment is integrated with the district's creative and cultural programming.
Culture and events
Cultural and event venues
Klokgebouw, Ketelhuisplein, MU Hybrid Art House, De Ontdekfabriek, and related public spaces support exhibitions, festivals, educational activities, markets, and large gatherings. These venues are central to Strijp-S's visitor-facing identity.
Marketing campaigns
- 2015Dutch Design Week presence
Eindhoven · International design audience
Strijp-S became one of the locations used by Dutch Design Week, linking the district's industrial architecture with Eindhoven's international design ecosystem.
Outcome. The recurring October program reinforces the district's reputation as a design and creative destination.
- 2000Old Buildings, New Ideas
Eindhoven · Netherlands
The redevelopment concept repositioned former Philips industrial buildings as spaces for creative companies, technology, design, housing, culture, and events.
Outcome. It provided the central narrative for Strijp-S's transition from closed industrial estate to mixed-use creative district.
- GLOW light-art programming
Eindhoven · International visitors
Strijp-S regularly serves as a setting for Eindhoven's GLOW light festival, complementing permanent and temporary LED-related installations on the site.
Outcome. The activity connects contemporary light art with Philips' historic association with lighting technology.
Brand decisions
2002
Transfer the industrial site for urban regenerationStrategyBackground
Philips was gradually leaving Eindhoven and the former industrial park required a new long-term use.
Action taken
The land was sold for €140 million to Park Strijp Beheer B.V., a public-private partnership between the Municipality of Eindhoven and VolkerWessels.
Aftermath
The transaction enabled the conversion of Strijp-S into a mixed-use district focused on creative industries, technology, design, housing, culture, and events.
Land sale value. €140 million transaction value (2002)
2000
Adopt adaptive reuse as the redevelopment approachStrategyBackground
The site contained extensive Philips-era factories, laboratories, warehouses, and industrial infrastructure with strong historical and architectural character.
Action taken
The redevelopment strategy retained and repurposed major buildings while adding new housing and public uses under the “Old Buildings, New Ideas” concept.
Aftermath
Strijp-S evolved into a recognizable creative and cultural district rather than a conventional replacement real-estate project.
Recent events
- 2016
St. Lucas creative school opens at Strijp-S[1]
Other
The opening strengthened the district's role as a location for creative education and design-oriented activity.
- 2015
Vershal Het Veem opens in the Veemgebouw[1]
Product launch
The former warehouse building gained a food-hall use, adding hospitality and food retail to Strijp-S's mixed-use offer.
- 2015
Flying Dutch attracts 25,000 visitors[1]
Other
The Flying Dutch dance festival demonstrated Strijp-S's role as a large-scale event destination, with the cited material reporting 25,000 visitors.
- 2012
First permanent residents move into Strijp-S[1]
Other
The SAS-3 project marked the beginning of permanent residential occupation in the redeveloped district.
- 2002
Land sold for redevelopment through a public-private partnership[1]
M&A
The Strijp-S site was sold for €140 million to Park Strijp Beheer B.V., a partnership involving the Municipality of Eindhoven and VolkerWessels, enabling the transition from Philips industrial park to mixed-use urban district.
Sources2 sources
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