EINDHOOOVUUUH

5 REASONS WHY MAY IS GOING BACK TO EINDHOVEN

I was asked by Renault to be on the jury for the Renault Design Awards 2015. A sort of Holland’s Next Top Model but for designers. The participants have 48 hours to come up with a product that makes life easier for you and me. When you say design, you say Eindhoven, so for 48 hours that became my home.

Josselin hopped back and forth behind her desk because ‘Eindhoven was really fun’ and Joss knows what she's talking about because she has the best eye for taste, style, and new spots you must visit. With high expectations, I drove south. Once inside the municipality of Eindhoven, I texted, very lame, I know, just environmental photos to our Amayzine group chat. Eindhoven may be the place where it all happens, but the city is just not really beautiful. Sorry.

“I’m ignoring you for a moment,” Joss replied. “For some reason, I feel very addressed by your photos.” But twelve hours later, I’m completely sold. Totally.

I had to be at Kazerne and parked my car just around the corner. Where in Amsterdam I have to get my shoes resoled after the trek to a parking meter, here I could choose from two parking meters that were both within stumbling distance.

Did you know that Eindhoven is the only city in the world where design is on the municipality's agenda? So you have a councilor with the design portfolio here. It’s raining lunch spots with photo art on the wall that you can buy. While I’m writing this, I’m at Vascobello (think Italian blend coffees, smoothies, granola, and almonds with different types of milk) where fashion items are also displayed. On a pop that I’m looking at hangs a dress that would make Dries van Noten restless. Anyway. That’s it. We are spending two days at Kazerne, a place where art, design, and bottles of wine meet. In the space where we are recording is the private collection of Lidewij Edelkoort. So I can admire, touch, and fondle it. The whole time.

Because my jury meeting ran quite late, I only checked into my hotel after 11:00 PM while I was actually expected at 11:00 PM. “No problem, take your time.” While my big suitcase (fashion girl, right, even for 48 hours a bulk of clothes comes along) and I were swaying down the street, a nice man wished me a nice holiday. And his restaurant was opening in a week. That I was welcome. Also in this little place, the service is again very nice. And well-dressed.

Everywhere I go there is wifi. Good wifi. Free wifi. Wifi without complicated passwords. Or even just wifi without a password.

Parking here is half of what you pay in Amsterdam. And there is space everywhere. For my very okay boutique hotel (where I didn't have all these problems ) I paid 92 euros for a night. They could learn a thing or two from that in Paris.

Eindhoven, you may not be the prettiest girl in the class, but you are the coolest. I’m coming for sure back.