'''Enschede''' is a town in the Netherlands. On May 13, 2000, a fireworks storage in Enschede exploded, destroying an entire neighborhood and killing 23 people, including 4 firemen. This catastrophe is known in the Netherlands as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vuurwerkramp Vuurwerkramp], Dutch for ''fireworks disaster''.

Get in

Train

From elsewhere in the Netherlands, Enschede is easily accessible by train from all major Dutch cities, and can be reached from smaller cities with at most one or two transfers. The journey time from Amsterdam is approximately two hours. An excellent (train only) travel planner is available at [http://ns.nl/ Nationale Spoorwegen]. If you need to use a connecting bus or ferry from within the Netherlands, use [http://9292ov.nl 9292OV].

From Germany, direct trains (ending in Enschede) are available from Gronau, Dortmund, and Munster. To reach Enschede from Berlin, a stopover is available in Hengelo (a small city about 10 minutes by train from Enschede). Further guidance is available at [http://www.db.de Die Bahn].

Car

There is a large parking garage underneath the marketsquare in the center of the city, the [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=H.J.+van+Heekplein,+Enschede,+NL&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=45.553578,62.138672&ie=UTF8&ll=52.217796,6.894972&spn=0.00865,0.015171&t=h&z=16 H.J. van Heekplein], which provides approximately 2000 parking spaces for visitors arriving by car.

Alternatively, there is a cheaper park and ride solution available at the recently (2008) expanded [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=p%2Br+zuiderval,+enschede,+nl&sll=52.204819,6.89141&sspn=0.008653,0.015171&ie=UTF8&ll=52.203701,6.890359&spn=0.008653,0.015171&t=h&z=16&iwloc=addr P+R Zuiderval]. Frequent busses travel from here direct to the city center (approximately 5 minutes by bus). This is especially useful if you are arriving in Enschede via the highway, as the lot is just off the highway exit.

Get around

See

  • Rijksmuseum Twenthe. asondersingel 129-131.. nfo@rijksmuseumtwenthe.nl. 31 (0)53 4359002, phone: +31 (0)53 438675. u-Su 11AM-5PM. 4/2,50/Free (Adults/seniors & students/children 18 and under). ttp://www.rijksmuseumtwenthe.nl. Large collection of 18th century art along with contemporary art.

  • '''Museum Twentse Welle''', Het Rozendaal 11. phone: +31 (0)53 4807680. 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 its exhibits only in Dutch and German.
  • Do

    Learn

    International Institute for Geo-Information and Earth Observation (known as ITC) is the most known educational/training center in Geoghraphic Information System and Remote Sensing. Also located is the University of Twente. Other educational institutes include Saxion Hoge School and many schools for children. More information at (http://cms3.enschede.nl/)

    Buy

    Enschede wishes to profile itself as the place to be in the eastern Netherlands when it concerns shopping. The large square, the Van Heeksplein, has therefor been severly modernised in recent years and been made the 'shopping-centre' of the city. Large stores such as V&D and De Bijenkorf are situated at it, as well as many clothingstores such as H&M, WE and C&A. Many other shops can be found throughout the city centre. On tuesdays and saterdays there is a large market at the Van Heekplein, which attracts quite a lot of Germans, as well as the locals of course.

    Eat

    Lots of bars and restaurants are located at the 'Oude Mark' (Old Market). The first weekend of September this square is the stage of the 'Proefeet' an event on which restaurants sell small samples of their best food in order to win a grand price.

    Drink

    As Enschede has a university and is the largest town in the eastern Netherlands it has a fair amount of bars and cafes. The Old Market (Dutch: Oude Markt) is the location of many bars and bistros which have large terasses, making it the perfect location for a drink on a warm summer night. The oldest pub in Enschede is Het Bolwerk, in the Bolwerkstraat, where one can drink a wide variety of beers and spirits, with the shocking exception of the Enschede-brewed Grolsch. While the hipper crowds turn to places like Lunatik and Central Park, the alternative scene spends their saterday night in Atak, where one can see a wide variety of customers from hippies to gothics to hard-core-metal-lovers.

    Sleep

    Get out