Enschede travel guide
Rebuilt Roombeek, Twente art and a market square by the border
The main city of Twente, right on the German border, with a strong art museum, a rebuilt modern quarter and a student crowd around the Oude Markt. Visit May to September for terraces and cycling, ideally on the first weekend of September for Proefeet. One full day, two with Münster or the countryside. Prices are very high, and many nationalities need no visa.
Enschede sits at the far eastern edge of the Netherlands in Twente, so close to Germany that its outskirts run into Gronau. Textile mills made the city rich in the 19th century, and the University of Twente and FC Twente give it a young, sporty feel today. Direct Intercity trains from Schiphol end here, about two hours from Amsterdam.
Old buildings are scarce. A great fire in 1862 and the 2000 fireworks explosion took most of them. That disaster flattened the Roombeek district and killed 23 people; the rebuilt quarter is now the place to see contemporary Dutch architecture. De Museumfabriek there covers the region's history, though its labels are mostly in Dutch and German. Rijksmuseum Twenthe on Lasondersingel is the stronger art collection.
Life centres on the Oude Markt around the medieval Grote Kerk, where café terraces fill on summer evenings. On the first weekend of September the square hosts Proefeet, a food contest in which restaurants serve small tasting dishes. Note that city buses take cards only, no cash.
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Top things to do in Enschede
Art, rebuilt architecture and a medieval church square in Twente's biggest city.
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Best time to visit Enschede
Month by month, so you can pick the weather and the crowds you want.
Long evenings on the Oude Markt terraces and good cycling weather in the surrounding countryside.
Grey and damp; spend it in Rijksmuseum Twenthe and De Museumfabriek.
Proefeet takes over the Oude Markt on the first weekend of September, with restaurants serving tasting dishes in competition for a prize.
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Getting there
End of the line from Schiphol, Münster trains via Gronau
Enschede is the end of the line: Intercitys from Schiphol, The Hague and Zwolle terminate here, about two hours from Amsterdam. Germany is just as close, with direct trains from Gronau, Münster and Dortmund, and FlixBus stops at the station and the University of Twente. Drivers can use the Van Heekplein garage or P+R Zuiderval.
- Schiphol (AMS)
- Direct Intercity, about two hours from Amsterdam
- Münster
- Hourly regional train, about 1 hour 20 minutes
- Berlin
- Change at Hengelo, 10 minutes from Enschede
- FlixBus
- Stops at the station and the University of Twente
- Plan trains on the NS site and anything involving a bus on 9292.
Where to stay
Willem Wilminkplein, the Oude Markt or Boulevard 1945
Enschede's centre is small, so most hotels are within walking distance of the station or the Oude Markt, around the Willem Wilminkplein and along Boulevard 1945. The University of Twente has a hotel of its own, handy for campus visits and for FC Twente matches nearby.
- Station area
- IntercityHotel on Willem Wilminkplein, a two-minute walk from the platforms; useful for early trains
- Around the Oude Markt
- Among the bars and restaurants, noisier at night, especially at weekends
- Boulevard 1945
- The ITC International Hotel, linked to the University of Twente; plain but central enough for the museums
Getting around
Cashless buses, Kennispark trains and Twente bike lanes
Leave the car if you can: Enschede's centre is closed to motor traffic and parking is hard to find. Walk between the station, the Oude Markt and Roombeek, and cycle to the university and the Twente farmland. City buses accept no cash, only cards, and Enschede Kennispark station serves De Grolsch Veste stadium.
- Bus
- Debit or credit card only
- Bike
- Best for the green belt and the Twente farmland
- Train
- Enschede Kennispark for the stadium and Go Planet Parc
- On foot
- Roombeek about 10 minutes north of the station
Know before you go
What makes Enschede worth the trip, and what catches visitors out.
Why travelers love it
- Rijksmuseum Twenthe, a serious art collection on Lasondersingel, closed on Mondays.
- Roombeek, a 10-minute walk north of the station, rebuilt after 2000 as a showcase of new Dutch design.
- An FC Twente match at De Grolsch Veste, next to Enschede Kennispark station.
Good to know
- Buses are cashless, so carry a bank card.
- Museum labels are often Dutch and German only, especially at De Museumfabriek.
Trip fit
BookingMentor editorial ratings out of 5, based on a first-time visitor's experience.
Weather in Enschede, month by month
Enschede's July highs reach about 24°C and January's about 5°C. August is the wettest month at about 79 mm, April the driest at about 44 mm.
Climate figures are approximate long-term averages for Twenthe, Enschede (Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute}}, via Wikipedia).
Roombeek rebuilt, Rijksmuseum Twenthe and the Grote Kerk sundial
Walk ten minutes north from Enschede station into Roombeek, the district levelled by the fireworks explosion of 13 May 2000 and rebuilt with contemporary Dutch design, and spend an hour at De Museumfabriek. In the afternoon visit Rijksmuseum Twenthe on Lasondersingel, open Tuesday to Sunday, and end the day on the Oude Markt.
Afternoon. Go on to Rijksmuseum Twenthe on Lasondersingel (Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00 to 17:00) for its 18th-century and contemporary art. Heading back into the centre, look for the Elderinkshuis on De Klomp: an ordinary-looking house of 1783 whose distinction is having outlived every fire and disaster since.
Evening. End on the Oude Markt, where the medieval Grote Kerk carries an 1836 sundial on its wall and the terraces fill on warm nights. The church is now used mainly for weddings and concerts, so check for an evening performance. On a match day, take the train to Enschede Kennispark instead and watch FC Twente in front of up to 30,000 fans at De Grolsch Veste.
Krentenwegge, Grolsch and the Proefeet in Enschede
Twente has its own baking tradition: krentenwegge, a long currant bread that families bring when a baby is born, sold whole or by the slice. The beer is local too, since Grolsch is brewed in the region. For eating out, the Oude Markt is the centre of gravity, with bars and restaurants around the Grote Kerk.
Grolsch is brewed within the municipality, and its name is on the football stadium.
On the first weekend of September the square hosts Proefeet, when restaurants compete for a prize by serving small tasting plates, the easiest way to sample a dozen kitchens in one evening. Near the station, Willem Wilminkplein gathers casual places, burger bars and Happy Italy with its long pasta list among them.
A university and a big student population keep the number of bars high for a city of this size, and most nights out begin on the Oude Markt, drifting from one terrace to the next.
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How we research our Enschede travel guide
Enschede's trains to Schiphol and Germany are checked with NS Dutch Railways, and the Roombeek and museum details against Holland.com and Wikipedia's Enschede entry.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Quick answers to the questions travelers ask most before visiting Enschede.
Timing & weather
About two hours. Direct Intercity trains from Schiphol run straight through to Enschede without a change.
On the first weekend of September, on the Oude Markt, when restaurants serve small tasting dishes in competition for a prize.
No. It opens Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00 to 17:00, on Lasondersingel.
The best time to visit Enschede is May to Sep. Terrace weather on the Oude Markt and dry roads for cycling out into Twente.
- Best overall: May - September (Long evenings on the Oude Markt terraces and good cycling weather in the surrounding countryside)
- Winter: November - March (Grey and damp; spend it in Rijksmuseum Twenthe and De Museumfabriek)
Prices & payment
No. Buses only take debit or credit cards, so have one ready when you board.
General
Yes for short hops: Gronau is next door, and direct regional trains reach Münster in about 1 hour 20 minutes.
On 13 May 2000 a fireworks depot exploded, destroying the Roombeek neighbourhood and killing 23 people, four of them firefighters. Roombeek has since been rebuilt.
At De Grolsch Veste, a 30,000-seat stadium next to Enschede Kennispark station, between Enschede and Hengelo.
Not into the core, which is closed to cars. Park under the H.J. van Heekplein or at P+R Zuiderval by the motorway, a five-minute bus ride from town.
Try krentenwegge, Twente's long currant loaf, and a Grolsch, brewed in the municipality. The Oude Markt is the place to sit down for a meal.
Yes, FlixBus runs from cities in the Netherlands and Germany, stopping at the railway station and the University of Twente.
Leave the car if you can: Enschede's centre is closed to motor traffic and parking is hard to find. Walk between the station, the Oude Markt and Roombeek, and cycle to the university and the Twente farmland. City buses accept no cash, only cards, and Enschede Kennispark station serves De Grolsch Veste stadium.
Getting there
Enschede is the end of the line: Intercitys from Schiphol, The Hague and Zwolle terminate here, about two hours from Amsterdam. Germany is just as close, with direct trains from Gronau, Münster and Dortmund, and FlixBus stops at the station and the University of Twente. Drivers can use the Van Heekplein garage or P+R Zuiderval.
Visa & documents
Schengen rules govern entry to the Netherlands. Citizens of the EU and of many other countries, including the US, UK, Canada and Australia, can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period; other nationalities need a Schengen visa. The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) records non-EU travelers' fingerprints and a photo at the border.
Health & safety
Crime in the Netherlands is low. Bike theft and pickpocketing in busy areas are the main issues; watch out for cyclists.
