Street Art walking route

See the city through creative glasses. This walking route of 2,8 kilometers through the center of Enschede leads past 23 works of art and tells the story behind them. We have listed a few highlights for you. 

1. Figures from theater history

When you look up, you can see the blue-green statues in front and on the roof surrounding some of the stores. These statues were created in the 1980s by artist Jawik Krudde. The building where several stores, restaurants and the Kleine Willem are in, was formerly a theater and concert hall. The building was built in 1889. After expansion and a new zoning plan to become a movie theater, the building again renovated into a theater hall. To celebrate, the municipality wanted to have an eye catcher on the facade of the building. This became 25 statues made of polyester. Years later, when a new theater was built and the statues were to be removed, the residents of Enschede revolted. They had become attached to the beautiful figures from theater history. Thus, to this day 25 statues on the property with a rich history.

2. DNA of Enschede

The colorful mural on the building reflects the feeling you get when you visit Enschede. At the same time, you see elements that make up the DNA of Enschede. The character is a confident, young woman with a touch of adventure, sportsmanship and spirit of discovery. A work of art full of positive energy. In the design you will find several important architectural landmarks. For example, you see the Jannink factory complex, the tower of the Grote Kerk on the left and the Lasonderkerk on the right. This brings the history of Enschede to life and makes you discover the city in a colorful way. The city arms of Enschede are depicted in the reflection of the glasses and suggest a bright future. The rolls of cotton thread refer to Enschede's textile history. The entire design is “stitched” together with colors and patterns inspired by textile fabrics. The artwork was installed in 2023 by Studio ZEPA, an artist duo from South Africa-based artist duo. Open this link and let the artwork come to life!

3. Rocklegends

In his own way, brought the theme of rock to life brought to life at Café Rocks. From left to right, icons Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix and Angus Young can be seen. If you look closely, you can see at the bottom of the artwork the coat of arms of Enschede.

4. Interactive artwork

The Klokkenplas owes its name to the storage of the bells of the Grote Kerk in the period after the great city fire of 1862 in Enschede. During the city fire, the church on the Oude Markt went up in flames and only the walls remained standing. The bells did not survive either and had to be taken down. The bells were kept at the Bell Lake. This interactive artwork, completed in 2022, is a unique collaboration between artist Louis Reith and interaction designer Jay-Cee Klees. The history of the Klokkenplas is hidden in the work that comes to life via a mobile phone. Scan the QR code and learn more!

5. Optical illusion

Concordia in Enschede stands for film, theater and visual arts. With two downtown locations Concordia a broad offer for young and old. This artwork on the building of Concordia is an anamorphosis painting. This is a technique in which the artwork only looks realistic appearance. From other places it is mainly blue and red lines. The designers of Studio Rameckers de Rond found inspiration in the windows of the Jacobus Church and Concordia's characteristic red spiral staircase. Just try to take a perfect picture picture!

6. Jazzpodium de Tor

Jazzpodium de Tor, founded in 1970, is one of the oldest jazz clubs in our country. Big names performed there: Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Chet Baker. One of the guests of honor who regularly performs there is, the especially abroad very well known, Jasper van 't Hof. In 2018, at the age of 71, the Enschede-born pianist/composer received our country's most important jazz award: the Boy Edgar Prize. On the characteristic building of Jazzpodium de Tor is the eye-catching mural by Dirk Oeghoede. On the initiative of working group Walstraat, the artist created in 2005 a connection between the slogan of the city, the uniqueness of the building de Tor and the freedom and creativity of jazz music. In the center of the colorful scene is an abstracted tor in a yellow field. In the upper right is the logo of the jazz venue.

7. Rainbow wings

Café Stonewall on Walstraat has stood for inclusion and diversity for 35 years for inclusion and diversity. It is the only gay café in Enschede and far beyond. For 35 years the café has been run by volunteers from the LGBT+ community. The artwork on the wall was created in collaboration with artist Nina Paintina. It provides a colorful entrance to a café where no one should be afraid to show their true colors. The artwork is executed through stencil art. The angel wings invite all birds of paradise within the LGBT+ community, and everyone who cares about this community, to come inside. Also coming the colors of the well-known rainbow flag are reflected in the wings that are surrounded by speakers and texts. The work continues on into  inside, where it adorns the walls of the café further adorns.

8. Sonnevanck

Theater Sonnevanck is one of the largest youth theatre companies of Netherlands. The office and theater are located in the former warehouse. The building used to belong to the textile family Jannink. In 1985 the then councilman of culture wanted to refurbish the old warehouse. Because it had been vacant for some time, the building was ruined and missing the glass in the windows. As a result, many birds had found a found new homes in the abandoned building. Initially, thought was given to a mural of birds. Then artist Gerrit Kerssies came up with the proposal to provide the windows with colorful frames.

9. Open Air Gallery Zuiderhagen

Open Air Gallery Zuiderhagen is a place for public art. The gallery is a collaboration between the Municipality of Enschede, Domijn and Exterio Vastgoed.
Rein Kroes, former director of the Vestzaktheater and editor-in-chief of Binnenstad Magazine Enschede, took the initiative for the exhibition. He wanted to make Zuiderhagen more attractive in this way. Well succeeded as far as we are concerned! In the summer of 2016, the first banners with art were hung up. Every six months the exhibition changes. 

10. Walstraat

Ice cream parlor Talamini was a household name in Enschede for 50 years. In the summer of 2016, the owners of the family business, which moved to Enschede back in 1965, were looking for an artist who could provide the garage doors with a beautiful painting. Enschede-based Heidi Ulrich saw this fit. She worked on the painting for months. There is a different design on each garage door, but the use of color and style make it look like a whole. On the left door, you see a man (according to Heidi, “Grandpa Talamini”) with an ice cream cart that used to drive through Enschede. On the right you see Vodo di Cadore: a small village in the Italian Alps where the Talamini family is from. The signage on the left door shows both Enschede and Vodo di Cadore. In 2022, ice cream parlor Talmini closed its doors.

11. Boekhandel Broekhuis

In the mid-1970s, Willem Wilmink wrote this poem about “his” city in decline. Of the once vibrant Enschede, after the collapse of the textile industry little was left. Because of Bannink's tone, the poem became a sad blues, in which he incorporated De Driekusman, a Twente peasant polka. The text is now obsolete. The Boulevard no longer traverses the heart of Enschede, and the post office and V&D have disappeared. The city is now a Euroregional venue for art, culture and conviviality.

12. Planet ART

The PLANETART Medialab building is a place for young creatives to meet. PLANETART is a collective of artists active in technology, media, popular culture, music, experimentation and activism. The organization is known for the GOGBOT festival, The Spacebar, The Museum of the Future and WARP Technopolis. After the 2019 renovation, regional artist Marco de Vries set to work on PLANETART's wall. On commission Marco worked out a still image from Björk's famous music video - All Is Full of Love. The music video was directed by Chris Cunningham and was for the 1990s quite impressive. On the wall of PLANETART, two robots can be seen kissing each other passionately, while the machine is assembling their back assembling.

13. Come to blossom

This wall sits exactly between Music Center Enschede and the ArtEZ Conservatory. This artwork was realized in 2024 and inspired by the muses of music god Pan, who sits around the corner on the roof of the conservatory. Thus, there is a muse of music and a muse of theater. The muses are surrounded
by flowers. These flowers symbolize the artists who blossom here, and have the space to blossom in Enschede. Finally, the artist Jabier Landa from Spain hid a little secret in the artwork. Can you find it?

14. Wilmink and Bannink

The Enschede-based cartoonist and graphic designer LUVANE has depicted on the wall of the ArtEZ Conservatory the collaboration of the highly productive
Willem Wilmink and Harry Bannink. Willem behind the typewriter (he didn't want a computer) and Bannink behind the piano. While Willem's lyrics are still wet and Harry has barely set the tone, the singers are already ready to sing.

15. Muziekgod Pan

The ArtEZ Conservatory of Music in Enschede trains adventurous professionals in the world of music. At the IJsselbiennale saw this work of art. The sculpture was created by the artist duo Spacecowboys. The work of art was called “In God We Trust” and had to represent a god. However, Kramer saw in it the music god Pan and thought the artwork would be a nice eye-catcher for the school building. In 2018, the artwork moved to Enschede. The statue is no less than six meters high and sits on the roof of the ArtEZ Conservatory.

16. Colourful faces

In 2016, painter and tattoo artist Bertus Gieskes took care of the transformer house at the railroad crossing on Oldenzaalsestraat. In about three hours, he turned the little house, which had previously always been drab and full of illegal graffiti, into a colorful work of art. The plan to do something with it had been with the Municipality of Enschede since 2015, but that it ended up with Gieskes was pure coincidence. An official from the municipality came to Bertus' studio to get a tattoo. They got into a conversation about the idea of painting the transformer house, after which the idea was further developed.

17. Henk Elsink

If you look closely, you will see several well-known Enschedeans passing by on transformer houses. These houses were painted in 2015. Huub Filart and Sandra van Wezel created the first works of art in the De Bothoven neighborhood. They painted portraits of well-known Enschedeans to beautify the neighborhood. Thus, not only Enschede composer Harry Bannink was immortalized, but also tramp Arend Kerkhof, Willem Wilmink and Henk Elsink were given a place.

18. It's just how you see it

This artwork was created in 2023 from a different perspective. Literally. By Nina Paintina from Enschede. The green artwork is an addition to the greenery and nature along the Oldenzaalsestraat. In addition, it refers to the green environment of Enschede. In it live both animals and people, after all, together we are stronger. The flax flower can also be seen. This flower is central to Enschede's textile history. In addition, there is also a strong reference to Polaroid in this work. Polaroid is still located across the street from this location. In photography terms, the artwork is 'positive' and can always be seen this way. When you convert to 'negative' via your phone, the artwork changes. Thus, as a viewer, you interact with this painting.

19. Performance factory

The former Polaroid factory site is now home to the Performance Factory. Initially, the factory on the site was used as a backdrop for Twente's rich textile industry. Then Polaroid cameras were repaired and instant films were produced in the factory. You can still see many influences and
traces of use from the past on the current site. For example, the beautiful exterior facade is clad with original building blocks and the old chimney is
still intact. At this unique location, sports, enterprise and food and drink come together. Thus, the Twentsche Foodhal is a place where you choose your favorite dish from no less than eight different cuisines. Nice to know is that the artists of this mural (Element X Customs) have the Performance Factory as their base of operations.

20. Eschpoort

Connecting past and future is depicted in this artwork. The artwork was created in 2024 by Afonsoul from Portugal. He was inspired by the Eschpoort, the historic city gate that used to stand here. The artist took this gate as a starting point to show both the rich history as well as the city's promising future. The child appears to be building the city gate, depicting that children are the future of the city. If you look closely, you can graphically see Enschede's city coat of arms reflected. In addition, the colors red, white and blue have been used. Both the color red of Enschede as well as the colors of the Dutch flag.

21. Bothoven

Earlier in this route we brought to light the initiative of the De Bothoven neighborhood council. The painting of various transformer houses with well-known
Enschedeans in 2015 received such an enthusiastic response that many more transformer houses have since been transformed into works of art. It grew into a true artist collective, with young artists telling the story of Enschede. These transformer houses, painted by Sandra van Wezel and Huub Filart, depict historical images of De Bothoven.

22. Poetry Route

Poems have been painted on several facades, doors, gates and facades on City Graves Street in 2021. The ten poems were created especially for the street
created by the DIE (Poets in Enschede). The initiative is intended to make and keep the street cozy, safe and attractive. Besides poems, you will also find other murals in the Stadsgravenstraat.