Eindhoven does not epitomize the beautiful areas of Western Holland with backyards that gently tumble into small canals where a rowboat is waiting.  However, there are several places where you can find some beautiful spots, if you look.  Note that one thing the Eindhoven city planners have done well is to leave a belt of green, and spots of green, in various parts around the city.  It’s worth seeking these out when you get tired of the steel-stone-and-glass. 

Two spots are definitely worth seeing.  Behind the new Philips high tech campus, if you follow along the Dommel river, there are some large, picturesque ponds.  Walk or stroll from the intersection of the Dommel with Prof. Holstlaan just south of Antoon Coolenlaan, and you will find some very picturesque willows, ponds, and boats, all reminding you that you are in Holland.

Another spot reveals one of Eindhoven’s best kept secrets: houseboats.  You can catch a glimpse of them from a bridge on Beemdstraat between Hurksestraat and Waldeck Pyrmontstraat.

Genneper park has a water driven flour mill, with more willows.  This is a nice area to bicycle through on the weekend.

IMPORTANT: inside the building known as the Witte Dame (White Lady) in downtown Eindhoven on Emmasingel, is the ANWB headquarters.  ANWB is the AAA of the Netherlands.  You simply must join them, if for no other reason than who is going to save you when your car dies somewhere in Europe?  However, the ANWB also has a great selection of maps, and particularly, “owns” the bicycle route maps for the area.  These routes wander over hill (well, not really) and dale, and through the woods, which makes it a good idea to have a map.  ANWB will also sell you stickers for your car in the event you wish to drive through countries such as Austria and Switzerland, which require visitors carry a tax sticker on their cars.