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City and municipality in Overijssel, the Netherlands
Photo: Edson Hiroshi Aoki, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Enschede is a city in the Netherlands. It is the largest city of the Twente region (a former center of textile industry), and also of the Overijssel province. Enschede was designated the greenest town in the Netherlands in 2003.
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The oldest building in the city (other than the Grote Kerk), built in 1783. It doesn't look extraordinary but it has the feat of surviving the city's many disasters.
Enschede's "central church" is also the oldest building of the city, dating from the Middle Ages (1200), although it has undergone several expansions and reforms across the time. It is now mainly used for weddings and concerts. The sundial in the right side of the church (looking at the entrance) was crafted in 1836.
Museum TwentseWelle
A new museum set in the heart of the modern quarter Roombeek, which was destroyed in the Fireworks Disaster of 2000, Twentse Welle tells the story of mankind in Twente, the region in which Enschede is situated. While there are a number of exhibits that are visually appealing to speakers of any language, the museum, unlike many in the Netherlands, has information about most of its exhibits only in Dutch and German.
Large collection of 18th-century art and contemporary art.
Roombeek is the neighborhood between Deuningerstraat and Oldenzaalstraat, north of Lasondersingel, which corresponds to the neighborhood rebuilt after the fireworks disaster. It is now the finest neighborhood of Enschede, with all houses and buildings projected by renowned architects, plenty of green areas and exclusive lanes for buses and bicycles, and containing the Twentse Welle museum and the Rijksmuseum.
Enschede's heating and power station, which was (perhaps unfairly) elected the "ugliest building of Netherlands" by a poll of the local newspaper TC Tubantia. It looks somewhat like a church covered with Delft-blue tiles. It is richly illustrated as a whole and artist Hugo Kaagman has placed images on the tiles that are associated with the production of electricity and well-known icons from Enschede's history, such as Jan Cremer and the Grolsch swing-top bottle.
Reputedly the most beautiful synagogue of the Netherlands. Tours available on Sunday at 14:00 (in Dutch). English tours are sporadically available.
Universiteit Twente
The university has a number of buildings with interesting architecture, such as the Drienerlo tower (Torentje van Drienerlo), the Cubicus and the student dormitory at the crossing between Campuslaan and Matenweg.
The Volkspark is a beautiful park close to the city center. It was constructed in 1872 to serve as recreational area for the workers in the textile industry. It also hosts several cultural activities alongside the year, such as the spring and autumn Kermis.
They play football in the Eredivisie, the Dutch top tier, and usually do well and qualify for European tournaments. De Grolsch Veste stadium has a capacity of 30,000.
An entertainment park next to the Grolsch Veste football stadium, approximately midway between Enschede and Hengelo. It contains various facilities, including a cinema with 10 rooms, a 400-m-long ice skating track, a bowling, a diving school, a concert hall, a kart track, a couple of restaurants and others.
A lake and recreational area in the south of Enschede. Contains beaches (including a nudist one), forests and recreational facilities. it is also possible to practise diving here.
Wenninkgaarde 40-42 7511 PH Enschede
Enschede's main theatre and concert hall. Performances are usually in Dutch.
Burger joint that stays open late and has a fleet of motorcycles and bicycles for delivery. Burgers start at €6.9 and combos start at €8.5.
Italian restaurant with a large selection of pasta.
Vegetarian restaurant
French and Mediterranean cuisine. Has seating to accommodate large groups.
Thai restaurant with traditional southeast Asia dishes.
A high-end bagel shop and cafe
Asian fusion restaurant with Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Korean and Vietnamese dishes all mixed up into one delicious treat. Try the surprise menu, it's always something new and always something good. Or the hotpot for a safe choice, with a bottle of wine.
Pub with microbrewery.
Intimate pub.
Local pub with ample of outdoor and indoor seating. Also has burgers, hot food and fish stew.
An exotic medieval-themed shop where you can find all kinds of medieval clothes, jewelery, accessories, furniture, and even weapons and armor.
By bus
KLM provides free bus transfer for travellers arriving or departing on KLM flights from Amsterdam Schiphol airport. The bus leaves Amsterdam Schiphol twice a day, at 09:05 and 21:00.
By car
There is a large parking lot underneath the market square in the centre of the city, the H.J. van Heekplein, which provides approximately 2000 parking spaces for visitors arriving by car.
Enschede is a city best explored by bicycle, on foot or by public transportation. Parking spaces can be difficult to find and there are often traffic jams, especially during rush hour.
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