Eindhoven reaches 250,000 residents as city continues to grow

Eindhoven has passed the milestone of 250,000 residents, the Netherlands’ fifth biggest city announced on Thursday.

The population has been growing by an average of nearly 3,000 people a year in recent years. Eindhoven had 200,000 residents in 1999 and welcomed its 225,000th inhabitant in 2016.

The city’s growth has been driven by a positive birth rate and migration, both from other parts of the Netherlands and abroad.

Some 21% of the city’s adult population is not eligible to vote in next week’s general election, indicating they are not Dutch. In total, Eindhoven residents have 168 different nationalities.

Mayor Jeroen Dijsselbloem said the milestone highlights Eindhoven’s appeal but also the need to plan for the future.

“Reaching 250,000 residents shows that Eindhoven is an attractive place for many people from the Netherlands and beyond,” he said. “This growth brings opportunities, but we must also make sure the city remains a good place to live and work.”