Enschede is a city in the east of the Netherlands, close to the German border. It is best known as a university city, home to the University of Twente, and that student presence shapes much of its character. The streets feel lively and young, and the city has a relaxed, outward-looking atmosphere.
From textile town to university city
Enschede grew up around the textile industry, and its industrial past still shows in parts of the urban fabric. Over time the city has reinvented itself as a modern cultural centre, with a growing range of museums, festivals and events. For visitors, this mix of old industrial character and newer university life is one of the most interesting things about the place.
What a visit offers
- Museums and cultural programmes that give a sense of the city's history and its present-day creativity
- Festivals that bring people together through the year
- The energy of a university campus and the young crowd it brings to cafés and town life
- Easy access to the German border, making a day trip across it a simple option
Enschede suits travellers who enjoy discovering a city that is still changing. Plan a stroll through the centre, look into the museums and events on offer during your stay, and consider how the German border region might fit into your wider trip through the east of the Netherlands.