“I was born and bred in Philipsdorp”, says Toos. “I remember things looking very different when I was a child. Gates and gatekeepers everywhere. Everything was secured and not accessible to the public for many years. The Forbidden City, it was called. My father worked at Strijp‑S for years. When he was finished at the end of the day and he returned home, he always had to pass several checkpoints and show his ID everywhere. And nobody just got off the site without that. And look at it now! Everybody just rambling around. Even concerts are given. Nothing gated about it anymore.” Neighbour Leny also sees a lot of things have changed. But a lot of historic things have also been kept. “I recently went to that new cinema with my brother. ,,I worked here”, he said. He recognized the old tiled wall, which had fortunately been kept intact. That brings back a lot of memories.”
We do think it’s fun to look over longingly from the other side of the road
Dream factory
The ladies regularly visit Strijp‑S. There is always something to do and they are kind of curious too. “We don’t go there every day, but we do go shopping from time to time or we get a bite to eat”, explains Leny. “We’ve been to the Veemgebouw a couple of times. I’ve bought things there from time to time. There is a lot of fruit and you can get organic wine or good cheese. Very nice, although things are priced accordingly. It’s of course much more expensive there than in a regular supermarket.”
Leny, who used to have a specialised tennis shop in the centre of Eindhoven, relates that she sometimes calls Strijp‑S a dream factory. “They almost all seem to think, ah that’s fun, I’m going to start a shop there. But when they end up both feet on the ground, they realise the hard work involved. I think they charge pretty high rents there and are forced to demand high prices. Some do get it, you know, but there are quite a few who throw in the towel after a few months.”
Toos is mainly enthusiastic about PopEi. “I just love it there. Great food and the staff is great. Very enthusiastic and anything is possible. I’ve signed up on the PopEi site. I regularly receive mail about what’s happening. They had a night with Spanish music there recently, including Spanish food. Fantastic!”
Look longingly
Although they like going to Strijp‑S, they have little contact with the people who live there. “That’s to do with the age difference”, Toos thinks. “And the people there are very busy and keep themselves to themselves”, Leny adds. “I wouldn’t know who lived there exactly.” The rest of Philipsdorp isn’t interested in Strijp‑S at all, they think. “Most people living here don’t find that very interesting”, Toos thinks. “I agree, not their style. Too hip and too creative”, Leny explains. “And too pricey too”, says Toos.
“We do think it’s fun to look over longingly from the other side of the road. But a lot of people here in Philipsdorp think it’s ridiculous, so expensive.” According to Leny, those people don’t go to Dutch Design Week either. “It’s just not really their thing.”
Still, a lot of different people live across from Strijp‑S, the ladies emphasise. Plain‑speaking, straightforward people, but also lawyers and recent graduates”, says Leny. “That’s what so much fun about this area. Young people and old people. From all different walks of life. I kind of like that.” Toos says that some people moved from Philipsdorp to Strijp‑S. “They live in a loft now. But they are young people. People in their thirties mostly.”
There is a gents’ hairdresser, they do beards too. Two great guys run that place. And they can cut hair, these guys!
Ladies’ hairdresser
Would they like to change anything about Strijp‑S, if it was up to them? Leny thinks long and hard. “No, not really. Or, yes maybe. There are cars that are always parked there for hours, in front of Eindhovens Dagblad. They just have to go. There is often hardly space to cycle past. I would ban that parking there immediately. But apart from that, nothing to remark.”
Toos does have another small issue. “We live along a beautiful avenue here. Some time ago, it was even broadened by the council, with a lot of space for plants and shrubs. Aren’t those chestnut trees just beautiful? I do think it’s a shame that the council planted oak trees at the other side of the street, at the Strijp‑S side. Isn’t that funny, along the Kastanjelaan (chestnut avenue)?” And they would also like it if a ladies’ hairdresser were to appear on the other side. “There is a gents’ hairdresser, a very good one. They do beards too and customers can taste whiskey there. That really makes it an afternoon out. Two great guys run that place. And they can cut hair, these guys! I sometimes stand there looking in. The guys sitting inside always look very proud. Great to see. It’s just we haven’t got a ladies’ hairdresser yet. But all’s well apart from that.”