Tilburg is a former wool city in North Brabant, and its industrial past still shapes the place: old mill buildings, wide squares and a compact centre where most of the shops, restaurants and cafes are found. The city is crossed by a railway line, which is the simplest way to orient yourself.
For a visitor, the practical split is between the centre and the districts on either side of the railway. Tilburg Centrum holds the shops, restaurants, cafes and hotels, and is connected by the Tilburg railway station. North of the line is Oud-Noord, home to the De Pont museum and the Spoorzone renewal area around the station. South of the centre is Oud-Zuid, where the city's tallest buildings stand. This guide covers those three areas, plus the option of staying on the outskirts.
Best areas to stay in Tilburg
1. Tilburg Centrum
The downtown district, ringed by the Spoorlaan, Heuvelring, Paleisring, Schouwburgring and Noordhoekring. Most of the city's shops, hotels, restaurants and cafes are here, and the refurbished Pieter Vreedeplein provides the main shopping cluster, with a cinema on the square.
This is the most convenient base for first-time visitors and for anyone who wants to walk to dinner, shopping and the station. It suits short stays and city breaks. One practical point: the district is called Centrum but actually sits some distance southeast of the geographical centre, so check a map before assuming a central address is central in every sense. The centre is connected by the Tilburg railway station.
2. Oud-Noord
The district north of the railway that crosses Tilburg, between the ring roads around the city centre. The contemporary arts museum De Pont is located here, and the former railway yard known as the Spoorzone is being transformed into an urban zone, with new premises for Fontys University of Applied Sciences and the city's new central library planned for the area.
This suits visitors who want to be near De Pont and the station-side renewal area while staying just outside the busiest part of the centre. Because the railway runs between Oud-Noord and the centre, plan on crossing it to reach the shops and restaurants.
3. Oud-Zuid
The district that lies south, and also west and east, of downtown Tilburg. The city's tall buildings, including the Westpoint Tower and the StadsHeer, are located within it, grouped around the Hart van Brabantlaan.
This area suits travellers who prefer a quieter residential setting within reach of the centre, and it is a reasonable choice if you are arriving by car. Note that the high-rise cluster is a landmark for orientation rather than a sight in itself.
4. The outskirts
Several places to stay sit outside the built-up centre: next to the highway towards Hilvarenbeek and the Beekse Bergen, next to the highway near Goirle, on the northwest side next to the road to the Efteling, and at the edge of town towards the forest on the Bredaseweg.
These suit travellers arriving by car, those heading for the Efteling or the Beekse Bergen, and anyone who wants green surroundings rather than a city street. The trade-off is that you will depend on a car or public transport to reach the centre, since these locations are away from the downtown districts.
Where to stay on a budget, mid-range or splurge
- Budget: small inn-style places and bed-and-breakfast accommodation, including rooms with shared or group arrangements and simple morning provisions rather than a full breakfast service.
- Mid-range: modern chain and independent hotels in the centre and near the station, with standard double rooms and straightforward amenities.
- Splurge: places at the edge of town with a restaurant and more elaborate dining on site, and larger rooms in the centre.
Best area for a first visit
Stay in Tilburg Centrum. It holds most of the city's shops, hotels, restaurants and cafes, so you can walk to everything you need, and it is connected by the Tilburg railway station. For a first visit, that convenience outweighs the quieter settings of the surrounding districts.
Frequently asked questions
Which area should I choose if I want to be near the station?
Tilburg Centrum is connected by the Tilburg railway station, and the Spoorzone renewal area around the station lies in Oud-Noord, just across the railway line.
Where should I stay if I am visiting the De Pont museum?
De Pont is located in Oud-Noord, so basing yourself in that district puts you closest to it.
Is the city centre close to the geographical centre of Tilburg?
No. Despite being called Centrum, the downtown district is some distance southeast of the geographical centre.
What should I keep in mind about noise in the centre?
Church bells are part of the centre's soundscape, and one central place notes that you are likely to be woken by them in the morning.
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