We have listed 10 attractions in Tilburg and the surrounding area for you. There is so much to do in our city. Make your day or weekend in our city even more enjoyable with a visit to these attractions! Can you choose?
De Pont is the museum of contemporary art in Tilburg. It is named after lawyer and businessman Jan de Pont, whose estate made it possible to establish the museum. You will see works by various artists there, and three times a year there is a larger exhibition. The museum building itself – a former wool-spinning mill – with its large, bright hall and intimate ‘wool rooms’ is also well worth a visit. The visit begins even before the entrance: stroll through the pond garden containing the monumental sculpture ‘Sky Mirror’ by artist Anish Kapoor.
Lose track of time as you wander (and perhaps get lost) in the narrow streets of Tilburg’s Dwaalgebied. A place with stately buildings and little shops run by unconventional entrepreneurs. From the distinctive Vijfsprong, discover Noordstraat, Korte Schijfstraat, Nieuwlandstraat, Tuinstraat, and Stationsstraat. Each one is home to cozy coffee spots, trendy lunch places, and surprising little shops. Stroll through the streets and be sure to look up now and then to marvel at the beautiful facades in the Dwaalgebied. Oh, and with a bit of luck, you’ll come across the Dwalerij: a wonderfully friendly Sunday market featuring beautiful products from shopkeepers and local makers.
Exciting roller coasters, beautiful attractions and spectacular park shows. Just a fifteen-minute drive from Tilburg, you will find the Netherlands' largest theme park: Efteling. Fun for the little ones, but certainly for adults too. Be enchanted during a walk through the Fairytale Forest, take a ride through the realm of fantasy in the newest family attraction Symbolica, and scream with joy (or fear) on the Baron 1898 roller coaster. Of course, you can also have a bite to eat in one of the many restaurants. Tip: end the day with the Aquanura water show, the perfect finale to a great day out.
On the outskirts of Tilburg, you will find a beautiful Trappist monastery: Our Lady of Koningshoeven Abbey. Here, centuries-old traditions are still being continued. Values such as silence and prayer are central to the monks. Special beer lovers take note: the monks of this abbey have been brewing their own Trappist beer since 1884: La Trappe. The monastery has a beautiful garden, where you can enjoy a delicious beer and local and organic snacks, such as Trappist bread, abbey cheese, and Quadrupel bitterballen. In worse weather, you can take a seat in the cozy Tasting Room.
Nature lovers will be in their element in the surroundings of Tilburg. Just a stone's throw from our hotel, you will find De Loonse en Drunense Duinen National Park. Perfect for a lovely walk or a long bike ride. Wander through the varied landscape of grass, marsh, heath and, not to forget... dunes! Thanks to the large drifting sand area, this park is also known as the ‘Brabant Sahara’. Ready for a break? Picnicking is wonderful in this area, or settle down for a cup of coffee or a tasty lunch at the various catering establishments. Also fun: Natuurmonumenten regularly organizes activities such as a silent walk or midsummer night walk in the area.
At the Natuurmuseum Brabant in Tilburg, you are right up close to nature. Admire the museum’s enormous sperm whale, learn all about the Ice Age, and take a look at the temporary exhibitions. Natuurmuseum Brabant has been voted the most kidsproof museum in North Brabant for years. And for good reason! Children can burn off all their energy there. Little ones aged 4 to 8 experience the seasons in BOS. And from age 8, children can even conduct their own nature research in the OO – ZONE. An outing for the whole family to enjoy!
In the Piushaven, it is not difficult to go with the flow. The city's former industrial harbor now serves as a vibrant place to live, work, and relax. A dynamic urban district where you can rent a boat to discover Tilburg from the water. But there is also plenty to experience on shore. Settle down on one of the terraces by the waterfront, visit the original little shops, or take a walk along the harbor, a loop of about 1.5 kilometers. In addition, the Piushaven forms the gateway to the Moerenburg. A nature area where you can literally leave the turmoil of city life behind for a while.
013 is the pop venue of Tilburg, and the schedule is always well filled with the best parties and concerts. You will discover new music there or finally see your favorite band or DJ live! After the renovation in 2016, the main hall has a capacity of 3,000 people; so you will also see the biggest names on stage. 013 is also the perfect place for the most enjoyable nights out. Will you be dancing until the early hours? After the event, you can be tucked up in bed within five minutes, because Mercure Hotel Tilburg Centrum is truly very close by.
You really don't have to go to Africa for a safari. Just a fifteen-minute drive from our hotel, you can spot lions and giraffes. Will you go on safari in your own car, or will you hop on board with the skilled drivers of the safari bus? Even a relaxing boat trip is an option. At Safaripark Beekse Bergen, you will come face to face with the toughest animals in the animal kingdom. Next to the park, you will find Speelland. Here, there is everything your young children need to splash and play all day, while you enjoy the sandy beach.
Tilburg is a city with a rough edge. The best way to discover this is by strolling through the Spoorzone. An area in the heart of the city, right next to the station, that is undergoing rapid development. Many beautiful things have already been created, and at the same time there is still a lot of work to be done. This makes your visit extra interesting. Refined hospitality venues blend seamlessly with the rugged, industrial buildings of the former Dutch Railways workshop. Where train sets used to be repaired, you will now find lifestyle markets, food festivals, or part of the Tilburg Fair. It all depends on when you walk in. Take a look at the Hall of Fame: a culture factory founded by young people from Tilburg. In January 2019, the LocHal opened: this beautifully renovated building has since become home to the new Library, Seats2Meet, and Kunsloc Brabant.