You cannot and will not understand Helmond without the fabrics. From the mid-nineteenth century onwards, weaving mills and bleaching plants operated here, the most famous of which is Vlisco. Founded in 1846, it prints from Helmond (and still does today!) the colorful wax prints that you see at markets in Ghana, Nigeria, and the Congo. A Brabant factory that clothes West Africa. There is also a factory outlet on the outskirts of the city (can you easy easy walking from the center) where you score the fabrics.

Furthermore, you can still see factory buildings that are now studios, and an old cocoa factory has been transformed into a cultural venue. That cocoa factory is worth a visit, because in addition to chocolate, exhibitions are regularly held here and you can go to the cinema.

Furthermore, Helmond has the Rotating House, an artwork by John Körmeling on a roundabout at the edge of the city center. A house that slowly rotates. There is no reason for this, but it is certainly wacky. And for anyone who thinks that cube houses are only found in Rotterdam, they have never been to the center of Helmond. So they can just do that here too!

A favorite among the locals is Koffieboetiek on Kromme Steenweg. What's in the name… So, good coffee. And pastries, soup, and salads, because alongside the guilty pleasures, Djoeke and Marieke put responsible dishes on the menu just as well. It is perfectly fine to open your laptop there, and at the front of the shop is the boutique with nice accessories for your home, your kitchen, and yourself.

Coffee boutique

Has shared dining reached Helmond yet? Of course! And at Floor's, no less. Floor herself She spent two years in Malaga, went for six months, worked there for her father's furniture company, and stuck around. Until she missed the hospitality industry so much that she returned to Helmond, where she was born and raised. She once attended hotel school, always dreamed of owning her own business, and then the old entrance gate of the castle crossed her path. In love instantly, in her own words. We understand, with a view of a fourteenth-century moated castle and a conservatory with sliding doors that opens wide in the summer. Shared dishes by chef Roy are served, Mediterranean with international twists. Food sharing is available from 3:30 pm, bar bites all day, and on weekends between 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm there is a lunch menu with sandwiches and salads.

Floor's

Anyone in the mood for a good glass is naturally in the right place at The Wine Bar, but those who want an extra layer, dimension, or call it what you will, to their city trip head to the tasting room. Here, a sommelier guides you through six wines: the full range of bubbles, red, white, and dessert wine. With each glass comes a bite and an explanation.

Want more of a lively atmosphere? Then there is the High Wine, featuring three wines with matching dishes. And those who simply want to eat are also well catered for, as Nick Slegers works with seasonal produce and local ingredients in the kitchen. The menu offers a wide variety, and those who don't drink wine can also get a beer or a cocktail. Or alcohol-free, of course.

the-winebar.nl

Helmond Castle It is the showpiece of the city. Next to Floor's sits a completely moated castle from the fourteenth century, right in the city center, which nowadays houses the city museum. The setup is surprisingly hands-on: you can put on parts of a suit of armor to feel how heavy it is. So, this is a hit with children too. But just walking around the outside and looking out over the water is well worth the effort.

Het Speelhuis It has a dramatic history: the old theater, intertwined with Piet Blom's stilt houses, went up in flames in 2011. What replaced it is one of the most beautiful theaters in the South, with a spacious foyer and excellent acoustics. Truly stunning. Check the program before you go, because catching a performance is amazing.

The Cocoa Factory (Cacaokade 1) is the most Helmond place of them all. This is the factory where cocoa was once processed, now a cinema, music venue, exhibition space (where young makers are often given a platform), chocolate shop, and brasserie all at once. You can easily spend an afternoon there without knowing in advance what is playing.