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Disclaimer: The images in this article are a collection of light artworks from various editions of GLOW Eindhoven.

What is GLOW Eindhoven?

Every year in November, the otherwise industrial city of Eindhoven transforms into a magical fairy tale of light, known as GLOW Eindhoven. This annual light art festival attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world who come together to enjoy the breathtaking open-air exhibition of innovative light artworks created by international artists using new media technologies, such as computers, sensors, animations, and projections. The fusion of art, technology, and architecture creates a bewitching experience for visitors of all ages. At GLOW Eindhoven, around 35 light installations are connected by a walking route of approximately 5 km which runs through the city center up to the banks of the river Dommel.

GLOW Eindhoven has seen tremendous growth from 45,000 visitors at the inaugural GLOW event in 2006 to a record-breaking 750,000 today, making it among the top 5 light festivals worldwide in terms of attendance and the second most popular light festival in the Netherlands after the Amsterdam Light Festival. To know more about the Amsterdam Light Festival and how to visit it, please read our article Amsterdam Light Festival 2024-2025 | 13th Edition | Dates, Opening Hours, and Free Walking Route Map.

glow eindhoven light art festival netherlands

What is this Year’s Theme of GLOW Eindhoven?

This year's theme of GLOW Eindhoven is 'The Stream.' It represents the natural flow to move, navigate, and evolve without which everything becomes stagnant. Despite its fluid nature, the stream also binds us like a crowd steadily moving through lanes following each other, or a flock of birds choosing a direction without a fixed leadership yet moving collectively. ‘The Stream’ is part of a trilogy, with ‘The Beat’ in 2023 (that captured the dynamics between the city and its inhabitants) and ‘The Light’ in 2025 marking the 20th anniversary of GLOW.

How did the GLOW Eindhoven start?

Eindhoven has always been associated with light being the global headquarters of Philips. However, Eindhoven was known as the ‘City of Light’ from much before Philips existed, as it was the largest producer of matches serving the local tobacco industry. After the Second World War, when Eindhoven was liberated from the Germans, its citizens celebrated by placing small lights in their windows, an act now immortalized as the “Lichtjesroute” (Route of Lights). The GLOW festival held for the first time in November 2006 retraced this path, revisiting the homes in Wilhelminaplein and on the banks of the river Dommel, that once glowed in gratitude, welcoming the soldiers with light.

A luminous portrait of Wim van der Leegte, the former CEO of VDL, as a tribute to his great contribution to the ‘Lichtjesroute’

Light art installation named ‘Man who walks against the wind’ where moving lights depict a man walking effortlessly embracing the challenges in his path

How are the GLOW Eindhoven Light Art Installations Created?

The GLOW Foundation, which organizes the festival, has created GLOW Labs where businesses, artists, technicians, designers, institutes, students, and locals from Eindhoven collaborate to create brand-new, contemporary light artworks. Every GLOW Lab has a "light team" of its own. These interdisciplinary groups collaborate closely on ‘light projects’ based on contemporary societal issues with an aim to find an innovative solution to the problem in the form of a temporary or (semi) permanent light artwork. Of course, the process also involves a number of technical and financial considerations. The often-groundbreaking ideas are presented to a jury after being evaluated for feasibility. An idea chosen by the judges is subsequently turned into a GLOW prototype. Finally, the creation is showcased at the GLOW event.

Dates, Opening Hours, and Admission

Dates: From November 9, 2024, to November 16, 2024

Hours: The light artworks will be switched on between 18:30 and 23:00. In my opinion, the best time to start the walk is around 19:00 when the sunlight has faded away and the light installations have sprung to life.
Admission: Everyone can attend Glow Eindhoven for free. Nonetheless, some exhibitions and special events could charge entry.
Other cities where GLOW is organized: From 2023, GLOW also lights up the streets of neighboring cities of Eindhoven. This year GLOW light art installations will be displayed at Best and Oirschot from November 9, 2024, to November 16, 2024, and at Helmond from November 10, 2024, to November 16, 2024, between 18:30 and 23:00.

The Walking Route

The walking route traverses the city center of Eindhoven, including the Wilhelminaplein, the Lichtstraat, and the Fellenoord. The length of the complete route is around 5 km and takes about 3 hours. Here’s a screenshot of the live map on GLOW Eindhoven’s official website gloweindhoven.nl/en/route. I recommend you to follow the live map on your phone and visit all the light art installations along the route.

glow eindhoven light art festival walking route map

Best Starting Point for the Walking Route

If you are arriving in Eindhoven by train, the most handy starting point for you will be the Eindhoven Central Train Station itself. Once you disembark from the train you will find a Tourist Information Center (open during the light festival from 10:00 to 18:00) in the station hall where you can get a physical map of the walking route (if you are not happy with the mobile map). In addition, you can visit the information booths on the Stationsplein and Wilhelminaplein between 18:00 and 22:00. But remember, if you start from the station, you will join the walking route from the middle i.e. somewhere around light art installation #26. Then you have to follow the map (either the physical map or the one on your phone) or simply follow the queue of people and walk the entire route.

However, if you are arriving by car, I recommend you to park at Q-Park Stadhuisplein near the City Hall, and walk along the historic Neo-Gothic Catholic Church Sint Catharinakerk (or St. Catherine’s Church) to De Markt (the central Market Square), the official starting point of the walking route and start from light art installation #1. That is the route we personally follow every year.

Visitors walking the ‘Lichtjesroute’ lined with light art installations depicting the zodiac signs

GLOW Tours

Stichting Eindhoven 247 offers guided GLOW tours every year. Over the course of two hours, you and a guide will traverse the GLOW path, taking in all the attractions and delving into further details on the light art, the artists, the city of Eindhoven, and the festival in general. You can also book a private tour or a culinary tour that includes a 4-course dinner including wine pairing at one of the 4 top restaurants along the route. For more information on dates and ticket prices of the GLOW tours, please visit gloweindhoven.nl/en/practical/glow-tours.

Epilogue

So that was all about the GLOW Eindhoven Light Art Festival which is the most popular light festival in the Netherlands after the Amsterdam Light Festival. Please let us know in the comments below if you enjoyed reading this article.

And if you want to know more about the Amsterdam Light Festival and how to visit it, please read our article Amsterdam Light Festival 2024-2025 | 13th Edition | Dates, Opening Hours, and Free Walking Route Map. Unitl then, I wish you merry traveling and happy shooting!