dutch design week, 17-25 oktober 2026 eindhoven

The Mental Gym

Let’s train our mental fitness together!

Hosted by We Are Social Rebels

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Entrance fee

Free access

Accessibility

Tactile
Free wifi available
Toilets available

Opening hours

16:30
-
18:00
16:30
-
18:00
The Mental Gym, presented by We Are Social Rebels and the Municipality of Eindhoven, offers mental workouts to strengthen your mental well-being. With workshops and installations focused on breaking taboos, supporting one another, and practicing self-care, you can discover what works best for your o

Mental Workouts

It’s important to actively take care of your mental health and explore which methods or “exercises” help you feel mentally fit. You can think of your mental fitness as a muscle you can train, just like your body. Everyone has different needs to stay mentally strong, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. That’s why The Mental Gym offers a variety of mental workouts to help you discover which exercises work best for you. How mentally fit are you?

Collaboration

What makes The Mental Gym unique is that the workouts were developed in collaboration with local Eindhoven organizations. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), Het Zelfhulpnetwerk Eindhoven, and Precies shared their expertise and methods, which the designers at We Are Social Rebels translated into accessible, playful exercises. Visitors can hear personal stories at De Zelfhulp Centrale or learn to give and receive mental first aid with The Mental Kit. Each workout is designed to be both fun and educational, so visitors can discover what works for them and gain insight into how mental health is supported in Eindhoven.

Join in!

During Dutch Design Week, visitors enter a dynamic space full of interactive installations and workshops. You can sign up on-site to truly experience the mental workouts in small groups, guided by our coaches and partners. Visitors are also invited to actively participate by co-creating new workouts. This way, you can discover what strengthens your mental fitness—by experiencing existing exercises and helping develop new ones.

You’re welcome on October 22 and 23 from 10:00 to 18:00. Workshops will be held on both days from 10:00–12:30 and 16:30–18:00. Sign up on-site at the exhibition or just drop by to experience The Mental Gym.

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The Mental Kit
The Mental Kit
We Are Social Rebels

programme.hosted_by.about We Are Social Rebels

As We Are Social Rebels, we advocate for a society where everyone contributes in their own way. A society where people are at the center and contribute with their unique talents. To achieve this, we are unafraid to question and change the system. Over the years, we have gained extensive experience in designing, researching, and implementing social innovations. We involve both people in everyday life and strategists within the regulatory world.

Colofon

Facilitator Sanne de Jong
Sociaal ontwerper Isis Peene
Sociaal ontwerper Mirthe Vos
Expert Jim Steenbakker
Expert Annaly van Hecke
Expert Suzan Baltussen
Expert Martje van Vijfeijken

Partners

Sponsored by The Mental Gym
Sponsored by The Mental Gym
Sponsored by The Mental Gym
Sponsored by The Mental Gym