Eindhoven Central Station is set to undergo a complete transformation over the next twenty years, with local authorities now on the hunt for development partners.
Project Eindhoven International Knoop XL aims to reinforce the city’s identity as a design, tech, and knowledge hub, and improve accessibility to the Brainport region, one of the most important economic areas in the Netherlands.
The government had already agreed to an intercity rail connection between Eindhoven and Düsseldorf last November, with an official contract signed in Germany last week.
Authorities are now seeking a development partner to assist in the overhaul. The agreement to revamp the entire station grounds, spanning some 55 hectares, is a green light for interested parties to come forward.
Planned facilities and services include regional public transport, international connections, and a large underground bicycle storage facility. The new station will also feature first-rate public transport connections to economic areas in north-west Eindhoven.
Project Eindhoven International Knoop XL is also focused on maintaining the quality of the surrounding residential area. Three towers will be erected on the south side of the station, which will house public facilities such as an exhibition centre and a hotel, as well as homes for various target demographics.
The project’s goals align perfectly with the Brainport National Action Agenda, a long-term plan of action aimed at preserving the region’s status, and the Housing Deal, an agreement between government and provincial authorities to increase the availability of housing in the area.
The Housing Deal hopes to see 27,000 new homes constructed over the next 5 years, with 15,000 of those in the city centre.
By Nicola Wood
