Tilburg: museums, stories & tips for your day

The story of Tilburg

Tilburg grew big on wool. Its spinning mills and weaving sheds are now museums, studios and a library in an old locomotive shed. And King William II felt so at home here that he had a palace built.

Tilburg is approx. 15 minutes by train from 's-Hertogenbosch and approx. 25 minutes from Eindhoven. A former wool spinning mill houses De Pont, one of the finest museums of contemporary art in the country. The TextielMuseum is a working museum: in its TextielLab, designers make fabrics on real machines. Next to the station is the Spoorzone, with the LocHal, an old locomotive shed that is now a library and meeting place. Also stop by William II's Palace-Town Hall.

1809Tilburg receives town rights
1849King William II dies in Tilburg
WoolTilburg was the wool town of the Netherlands

Your museum day in Tilburg

One day, four moments. How to get the most out of your visit.

10:00MUSEUM
TextielMuseum Machines, fabrics and designers at work.
12:30EAT
Lunch in the Spoorzone Eat in an old railway hall.
14:00MUSEUM
De Pont Contemporary art in a wool spinning mill.
19:00SLEEP
Hotel in the centre Tilburg has lively nightlife on the Korte Heuvel.

Tilburg in six moments

1809Tilburg receives town rights.
1840William II becomes king; he often visits Tilburg.
1849William II dies in Tilburg, before his palace is finished.
Approx. 1900Tilburg has hundreds of textile firms; wool drives the town.
1992De Pont opens in a former wool spinning mill.
2019The LocHal opens as a library in an old locomotive shed.

What to do in Tilburg

Six places to complete your museum day.

01
De Pont Museum →

Contemporary art in the large, light halls of a former wool spinning mill.

Wilhelminapark1 to 2 hours
02
TextielMuseum

A working museum in an old textile factory. See machines running and designers at work in the TextielLab.

Goirkestraat1 to 2 hours
03
LocHal

An old locomotive shed, now a library with stairs, gardens and workspaces. Free entry.

Spoorzone30 minutes
04
Palace-Town Hall

The palace King William II had built, now part of the town hall.

Stadhuisplein15 minutes
05
Natuurmuseum Brabant

Nature and animals of Brabant and beyond, great with children.

Spoorlaan1 to 2 hours

Museums in Tilburg

Buy your tickets online and plan the rest of your day around them.

All museums in Tilburg (2)

De Pont Museum

View Tickets & website ↗

Textile Museum Tilburg

View Tickets & website ↗

On the map

All museums in Tilburg. Click a museum for the route.

Plan your trip to Tilburg ↗

Hidden story

The king who preferred Tilburg

William II loved Brabant. He had a palace built, but never lived in it.

Read the storyHide the story

William II, king from 1840 to 1849, had fought in the south as a prince and felt at home in Brabant. In Tilburg, he said, he could breathe more freely than in The Hague. He bought land there and had a palace built in English neo-Gothic style. In March 1849 he fell ill in Tilburg and died there, before the palace was finished. The building later became a school and then the town hall. His statue stands on the Heuvelplein.

Where: Palace-Town Hall, Stadhuisplein, Tilburg

Beyond the city

Tilburg lies in the middle of Brabant, between 's-Hertogenbosch, Breda and Eindhoven.

Train, approx. 15 min

's-Hertogenbosch

Hieronymus Bosch, St John's Cathedral and the Binnendieze.

Route by public transport ↗

Bus from Tilburg, approx. 25 min

Efteling

The fairy-tale theme park in Kaatsheuvel.

Route by public transport ↗

Train, approx. 7 min

Oisterwijk

Fens and forests, and a cosy village centre.

Route by public transport ↗

Travel times are indicative. Live times on 9292.nl ↗.

SLEEP

Stay in Tilburg, explore Brabant

Tilburg has hotels in the centre and near the station. 's-Hertogenbosch and Eindhoven are close, and the Efteling is approx. 25 minutes by bus. The Loonse en Drunense Duinen are ideal for a walk.

Find your hotel →