I know I've already shared quite a bit about the Netherlands, but I couldn't resist to only write about my hometown; IJmuiden.
Right now we drive to the Eastern part of the Netherlands, Overijssel.
Overijssel is one of the twelve provinces of the Netherlands. This province covers 3.421 km² of the country with nearly 1.2 million residents and is located on the German border.
In this article, I will shine a spotlight on the places: Twekkelo, Hengelo, and Enschede, in the oh-so-rainy Netherlands.
Beside this, I have a guest in this article; Rihab Debbabi.
She approached me with the request to
write about the saltworks in Twekkelo, compared to those in Tunisia (Monastir).
Have you ever been there, in the small village Twekkelo (formerly also known as Tuegloe)?
For many, this will be a rather unknown place, but this village actually has quite a lot to offer.
The Twente stadium (The Grolsch Veste), family business Zuivelhoeve, the countless cycling and walking routes, and the saltworks are just some of the many sights that you can visit during your stay in Twekkelo.
Click on the button: "Saltworks", (below the photo of Rihab) to gain more information about this.
"Don't just focus on the short term, but look at how we are going to solve it in the long term."
Rihab Debbabi
This time, we're going to do things a littlebit more different than usual.
Since music goes hand in hand with culture, I thought it would be nice to also give you a littlebit more cultural experience while you're reading the text. Of course, you don't need to forget to press "Play >".
"Jeffrey Spalburg - Hengelo-o-o"
Hengelooo, Hengelo-o-o, what a wonderful song to listen to, don't you think?!
This is one of the songs from the Dutch (Hengelo) cabaret artist, actor, stand-up comedian, lyricist, columnist, writer, and director:
Jeffrey Spalburg. Jeez, what an all-rounder! There are not many who master so many talents at once.
Should I just stick to my writing skills and keep typing until we're both getting tired of it?
Luckily, I still have plenty of energy for now, and I have plenty more to tell you about the town: Hengelo-o-o.
Are you ready? I am! Here we go:
Hengelo, yeah, uhm... Hengelo. The energy is there, but the full enthusiasm to write about it isn't really optimal.
I have to admit, it's a nice city! I dont want to say anything negative about it, but what always stays with me is that it's a city in the making. And I'm mainly talking about the outer ring.
I'll stop writing for a moment, I'm going to grab YouTube to find more information, just a moment...
Yes, I'm back! In the past 10 years, Hengelo has taken some big steps to renew the city.
It's a shame to see so many empty shops, buildings under renovation, and a large construction site right upon entering the city.
I feel bad that these points stick with me, especially because I don't know with my bare eyes how it looked like 10 years ago.
Hengelo, you're doing well, keep it up! In the last years you've made significant steps, you're almost there.
Please don't let my words scare you off by what I just wrote, that's not fair.
There are many attractions in Hengelo and in the surrounding area.
The surroundings are beautiful, it's nice and quiet, and the people are very optimistic about their beloved Hengelo.
Conclusion: the people of Hengelo are having a great time here, so who am I, as a tourist, to prove otherwise?
I'm still in the mood! Are you too? After all those hours sitting behind the laptop, the writing is almost done.
At home they always teach me that as soon as the hard work is done, you should immediately focus on your relaxing.
That brings me on some good ideas... The work is almost done, and we're in the neighborhood anyway.
Are you coming with me to Enschede?
Normally, I go everywhere without a plan. This time I did the same. I also understand that this isn't for everybody, so I'll give you a few nice tips on how to plan your evening before you are going to put on your nice clothes.
The GameBox
Are you excited to repeat your youth in the first Bar-Arcade in the Netherlands?
Yes, you read that right, the first!
For many years, The Game Box Enschede has been a great success with a wide variety of games.
Don't hesitate to step inside, because let's be honest, everyone wants to feel young again, right?
Location: Marktstraat 10, 7511 GD Enschede
Average age: 10 / 30 jaar
Opening hours:
Monday: 12:00 - 22:00
Tuesday: 12:00 - 22:00
Wednesday: 12:00 - 22:00
Thursday: 12:00 - 00:00
Friday: 12:00 - 00:00
Saturday: 12:00 - 01:00
Sunday: 12:00 - 22:00
Moeke
This is nice, grabbing a coffee at Moeke to relieve some work pressure.
I'm not sure if they have live music every week, but when I was there, I enjoyed it a lot!
It's a place with a typical atmosphere, design, and coziness that automatically invites you to drop by.
If you're in the neighborhood anyway, why wouldn't you grab a coffee at Moeke?
Location: Oude Markt 8, 7511 GA Enschede
Average age: 18 / 35 jaar
Opening hours:
Monday: 10:00 - 23:00
Tuesday: 10:00 - 23:00
Wednesday: 10:00 - 23:00
Thursday: 10:00 - 00:00
Friday: 10:00 - 00:00
Saturday: 10:00 - 00:00
Sunday: 10:00 - 23:00
To enjoy a drink/snack on the terrace:
If you want to have a nice dinner, going to meet your friends in the city, or have a drink before heading to the next pub or club, then this seems like the ideal place to start your evening!
On the South side of the old market, you have a row of restaurants and cafes that know how to bring out a great ambience.
On weekends, the most of the people stay until around 11:00 PM. After that, most of them go home, or move on to the North side of the old market to find out the real nightlife at The Jolly Jug, Molly Malone & Paddy's.
the Jolly Jug, Molly Malone & Paddy's
For those who are already starting to get tired after looking at this photo; just stay home...
This place is meant for the energetic night owls who don't think about going home early!
As I just mentioned, it will get busier on weekends from 11:00 PM until at least 3:00 AM.
Are you still not 100% sure to come by?
That's okee, but don't make the choice to come here in your pajamas because of the strict dress code they have.