DAF Museum

About the museum

The DAF Museum tells the story of the Dutch vehicle manufacturer DAF (Van Doorne's Aanhangwagen Fabriek), which the brothers Hub and Wim van Doorne founded in 1928 with a small smithy and the production of trailers. From 1932 the company built trailers in series, and from 1949 trucks as well; buses, military vehicles and passenger cars followed later.

The museum is housed in an industrial monument in the Tongelre district: the building was erected in 1884 as the steam brewery “De Valk”, was later used for various purposes and became home to the museum in 1993. Behind the building once stood the Van Doorne brothers' first workshop, so the site is closely tied to the company's history.

The tour begins in the reconstructed smithy and leads through a village square ensemble with 1930s shops, a pub, a workshop and a replica of the founders' office to trucks, buses and engines on the lower floor. On the upper floor are passenger cars and rare prototypes with the continuously variable Variomatic automatic transmission, cutaway models of the CVT gearbox, and racing and rally vehicles, including a Williams Formula 1 car with CVT. The museum is run by more than 170 volunteers.

Highlights

• Reconstructed smithy and village square with 1930s shops
• Trucks, buses, fire engines and military vehicles from DAF to the present day
• Passenger cars and prototypes with Variomatic transmission technology
• Racing and rally cars, including a Williams Formula 1 car with CVT
• Former brewery “De Valk” as an industrial monument

Permanent exhibitions

• Sammlung: Eine Zeitreise durch DAF – A tour from the founders' smithy through trailers, trucks, buses and the PACCAR hall to the cars, the component gallery, racing cars and the Hans Staals Hall of History.
• Veilig Verkeer Zone – Renewed road safety zone with videos on the blind spot, interactive media and exercises at a life-size junction for school classes.

Admission & discounts

Free with the Museumkaart. The museum shop can be visited without an admission ticket; friends and donors of the museum have free admission and 10% off in the shop (except books).

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

According to the museum, wheelchair accessible. Pets are not allowed, except guide dogs and assistance dogs.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

Free Speurtocht (treasure hunt) for children aged 6 to 15 at reception (a correct solution earns a small surprise). The newly redesigned road safety zone and the Trucknasium are aimed mainly at school classes.

Getting there & parking

About a 15-minute walk from Eindhoven Centraal NS station; the route is signposted by the city. By car, the museum can be reached from all directions via the Centrum/Tongelre exit (A50 ring road) to the lift bridge on Tongelresestraat.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The museum houses the “Daffetaria” (drinks and meals with a view into the exhibition) and the tavern “De Valk”. Museum shop, also accessible without admission.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 250 guests.

Rental inside and outside opening hours for 25 to 250 guests: Bestuurskamer (boardroom), Oscar Wibaut Theatre (104 seats), tavern “De Valk” and the Van Doorne Square (approx. 450 m², presentations up to 200, parties up to 250 people). Catering via an external caterer.

Plan your visit