I know I've already shared quite a bit about the Netherlands, but I couldn't resist expressing my love for my homeland beyond just IJmuiden.
Therefore, I'll also highlight a few cities in the Eastern part of the Netherlands, specifically in the province of Overijssel.
Overijssel is one of the twelve provinces of the Netherlands. To be precise, it covers 3.421 km² with nearly 1.2 million inhabitants 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 town of 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 (Grolsch Veste), family business Zuivelhoeve, the countless cycling and walking routes, and the saltworks are just some of the many sights you can undertake during your visit to 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 doing things a little differently than usual.
Since music goes hand in hand with culture, I thought it would be nice to also give you a bit more cultural experience this way.
Of course, you mustn't 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 the song by the Dutch (Hengelo) cabaret artist, actor, stand-up comedian, lyricist, columnist, writer, and director: Jeffrey Spalburg. Jeez, what an all-rounder! There are few who master so many talents at once.
Should I just stick to my writing skills and keep typing until we're both 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! Nothing negative should be said 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 a big step towards the city's renewal.
It's a shame to see so many empty shops, buildings under renovation, and a large construction site right upon entering the city. It's especially a shame that these points stick with me, particularly because I don't know what it looked like 10 years ago.
Hengelo, you're doing well, keep it up! In recent years, you've made significant strides, you're almost there.
Please don't be put off by what I just wrote, that's not fair.
There are many attractions in Hengelo and 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, thankfully. I've always been taught at home that as soon as the hard work is done, you should immediately work on your relaxation. That gives me good ideas, I must say... 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. I've done that this time too. But I understand very well that this isn't for everyone, so I'll give you a few nice tips on how to plan your evening in advance.
The GameBox
Do you fancy reliving 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 certainly enjoyed it!
It's a place with a certain atmosphere, design, and coziness that automatically invites you to drop by.
If you're in the neighborhood anyway, why wouldn't you go for 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, 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 pure conviviality.
On weekends, the crowds stay until around 11:00 PM. After that, most people disappear home, or move on to the North side of the old market to seek 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 hesitating to come by?
Then don't make the choice to come here in your pajamas because of the strict dress code they have.