Van Abbemuseum

Established on the east bank of the Dommel River in 1936, the museum is named after its founder, the cigar businessman Henri van Abbe, who loved modern art and wanted his collection to be enjoyed in Eindhoven. Van Abbe therefore sold his collection to the Eindhoven city council in 1934. In return for buying some of his collection, the Van Abbe factory paid for and donated the museum building, which opened in 1936. The city had architect Alexander Kropholler design a building that is a symmetrical suite of galleries in the traditionalist style. The museum name was given in publications as "Stedelijk Van Abbemuseum" until approximately 1990 and as "Van Abbemuseum" after that time.

As the building had become far too small for modern demands, a new extension to the building, including a 27-metre-high (89 ft) tower, was designed by Abel Cahen; it was inaugurated in 2003 by Queen Beatrix.