Hilversum, Netherlands

Welcome to Hilversum, the media city of the Netherlands! Located in the heart of the Gooi region in North Holland, this charming city is surrounded by heathland, woods, meadows, lakes, and smaller towns. Hilversum is part of the Randstad, one of the largest conurbations in Europe, and the Amsterdam metropolitan area; it is about 22 km from the centre of Amsterdam and about 15 km from the city of Utrecht. With its architecturally important Town Hall, public library, swimming pools, sporting halls, and several shopping centers, Hilversum is the largest urban centre in the Gooi area. But what really sets Hilversum apart is its rich history and cultural heritage. The city played host to many landscape artists during the 19th century, including Barend Cornelis Koekkoek. In the 1950s and 1960s, it hosted a major European Tennis tournament and the 1958 Eurovision Song Contest. In 2020, the international television event Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light was broadcast from Studio 21 in Hilversum’s Media Park. But perhaps most importantly, Hilversum is home to the headquarters, studios, and broadcast stations of several major radio, television, and newspaper companies, such as the NOS. This concentration of broadcasters has given Hilversum its enduring status as the media city for the Netherlands. So come and explore the many treasures of Hilversum, from its stunning natural landscapes to its rich cultural heritage and vibrant media scene!