History

Immense Growth

After World War II unprecedented growth started. The municipality developed a number of large-scale projects for new neighborhoods, such as the d’Ekker district, which arose in then still open area between the original church settlements centers. Other new districts such as Zonderwijk, Cobbeek and ’t Look followed. The construction of a new infrastructure and the new neighborhoods gave Veldhoven a completely different appearance in within a few decades. New neighborhoods were also built to the north of the Heerbaan, such as the Heikant neighborhood.

The municipality of Veldhoven increasingly had to deal with the agglomerate of Eindhoven. Veldhoven was the fastest growing municipality within that area. The influence of the Catholic Church gradually declined after the Second Vatican Council. Initially, it seemed that approximately ten new churches were to be built in Veldhoven in the new housing estates, but ultimately only three churches were built in the districts d’Ekker, Zonderwijk (barn church) and Heikant. As the population grew, so did the number of Protestants, thus a new Protestant church was also built in the district of d’Ekker.

As the population grew, so did the number of Protestants. A new Protestant church was built in the d’Ekker district.

Meer middelbaar onderwijs
Although church attendance declined over the past 30 years, and the clergy gradually withdrew from education for some time now, the clergy have laid the foundation for secondary education, including education in Oerle and Koningshof as they gradually acquired more and more types of secondary educational institutions for Veldhoven. All these forms of secondary education are now offered by Sondervick College.

The Municipal LTS Veldhof on Sterrenlaan started in 1973.

New economic activities
Major changes also took place in the economic sphere. The number of farms declined drastically, while the size of the remaining farms increased. The share in agriculture in Veldhoven’s economy decreased every year. Around 1960, Veldhoven had become a bedroom community for commuters, of which most were working in Eindhoven or elsewhere. Nowadays, the majority of Veldhoven’s inhabitants works in Veldhoven itself once again.

On one hand, jobs were lost in industry as older factories gradually disappeared, on the other hand, many new developments took place which led to new businesses and industries being established or expanding. The previous industries that were largely lost include: the textile industry, the brick factories, cigar factories, shoe factories and laundries. Development of modern technologies is now the main activity of the new companies.

Economic activities have increased due to the construction and expansion of industrial areas, such as the De Run business park. In the past twenty years, a number of world-class companies have emerged in Veldhoven, such as ASML, which has been active since 1984, and SIMAC IT Netherlands. The service sector supporting these major companies, sometimes grew faster than actual industry. The relocation of the Saint Joseph hospital from Eindhoven to Veldhoven was also an important development. This hospital, now called Máxima Medical Center (MMC Veldhoven), is one of the largest employers in the municipality.

Main building of ASML.

Strong growth of the service sector
Economic activities have increased due to the construction and expansion of industrial areas, such as the De Run business park. In the past twenty years, a number of world-class companies have emerged in Veldhoven, such as ASML, which has been active since 1984, and SIMAC IT Netherlands. The service sector supporting these major companies, sometimes grew faster than actual industry. The relocation of the Saint Joseph hospital from Eindhoven to Veldhoven was also an important development. This hospital, now called Máxima Medical Center (MMC Veldhoven), is one of the largest employers in the municipality.

The entrance to the MMC hospital, a continuation of the Sint-Joseph hospital in Eindhoven.

Culture and social life
Huge changes also took place in the cultural and social sector. Theatre The Schalm, the music school, the library and the museum ‘t Oude Slot are well-known institutions in the region. Participation in sports, as well as in recreational and social associations became very popular. Sporting halls, sports parks and other accommodations have been developed to further develop the social and recreational community.

At the top of this page you see an aerial view of Koningshof, a monastery complex with schools that grew into one of the larger conference centers in the Netherlands.

Because of this massive growth, the number of Veldhoven residents has increased almost tenfold since 1920. The old historic church settlements of Oerle, Meerveldhoven, Veldhoven and Zeelst have become small neighborhoods within the municipality. By 2005, Veldhoven had more than 17,000 homes and more than 43,000 inhabitants. Most of the residents are nonnative to Veldhoven and originate elsewhere in other parts of the Netherlands or have moved here from across the borders. It also means that most of the houses in Veldhoven are not older than fifty years, having been built in the seventies or later. The latter largely defines the character of the municipality immensely.

Fortunately, old houses can still be found in some hamlets or in old village centers, and the municipality still has some monuments from the 18th and 19th centuries. Those old spots are fixtures in the new neighborhoods, and show just how rapidly the modern municipality of Veldhoven has grown and still continues to do so today. The current number of inhabitants (2020) is around 45,000.

Colofon
Summery of ‘Veldhoven, van Toterfout tot heden’
Author: Jean Coenen
Editor: Stichting Veldhoven van Gisteren naar Morgen, 2006