Dive into the time
Take a journey through time with the fascinating history of Enschede. Discover how the city evolved from a modest village receiving city rights in 1325 to a vibrant and creative city in 2024. Scroll through the centuries and see how Enschede grows, survives, and thrives. From multiple city fires and the early textile industry to the modern technological hub, each period has its own unique stories and milestones. Be inspired by the rich history and future of our great city!
City rights
Enschede originated in the early Middle Ages. It did not represent much then, but in the following years, the settlement grew into a city. In 1325, Enschede received full city rights from Utrecht Bishop Johan van Diest. This provided many advantages, including jurisdiction over its own territory and the construction of defenses. The first city seal was designed at that time. Consequently, the first city moat, also called the inner moat, was quickly constructed. The Veldpoort and Eschpoort gave access to the city. The city area as a whole was called the wigbold.
City canals
The inner moat ran right along the city center. About a hundred years later, in 1450, the outer moat was constructed. The outer moat existed for 150 years. A rampart was placed between the two moats; this was a pile of sand that provided additional defense. In 1456, the bishop ordered the construction of a wooden fence around the city, which was built on the rampart. Today's Walstraat and Stadsgravenstraat are named after the rampart and inner moat.
City fire I
Enschede faced its share of disasters. On March 14, 1517, the town was struck by a city fire. At that time, the town consisted mainly of half-timbered buildings and burned down almost completely. Only the two city gates and the church remained standing. Even the bells of the city tower were lost.
Read moreWar
The Netherlands is governed from Spain. In 1565, a revolt against Spanish rule occurs, and the 80-year war begins. The city alternately falls into the hands of State troops and the Spanish. In 1587, Enschede is in the hands of the Spaniards, and a new attack by the States threatens. The city is fortified by the construction of seven bulwarks, one of which is located near today's Bolwerkstraat. In 1597, Maurice of Nassau (later Prince of Orange) recaptures Enschede without a fight; the Spaniards look at his cannons and decide to take their chances. He filled in the outer moat and made Enschede an open city.
City emblem
The oldest known seal of the city shows an effigy of the parish saint, St. James the Greater. In 1666, this town seal was changed and replaced with a town coat of arms featuring a battle fence. The battle fence symbolizes the border between Overijssel and the German Munsterland. Today, the city coat of arms is still present in the city trademark and its house style, on the official flag of Enschede, and can be seen in several places in the city hall and throughout the municipality.
Textile industry
In the early 18th century, there were more workers than needed for work on Twente farms. Farmers therefore started looking for extra income. Flax could grow on poor soil, allowing them to produce linen fabrics. The surplus was bought up by so-called "linen riders" and traded. In the years that followed, more and more tools, looms, and additional flax and yarns arrived. Consequently, more spinners and weavers settled in Enschede. In 1728, Enschede factory owners Jan van Lochem, the Blijdenstein brothers, and Abraham Strick were granted a patent to make bombazine, a special type of linen with a weft of cotton. This led to the opening of the first textile factory in Enschede in 1728.
Read moreCity fire II
After city fires in 1170, 1225, and 1517, another fire broke out in the city center on May 20, 1750. The fire started in a residence near the Eschpoort and destroyed more than 70 houses within hours. That was nearly a quarter of the 300 homes at the time. None of the 1,500 residents lost their lives. After the city fire, many more houses were rebuilt in stone.
Textile growth
The greatest growth in the textile industry in Twente was direct result of the Belgian uprising and subsequent independence in 1830. Due to the secession from Belgium, the Dutch government decided to designate Twente as a development area for textiles. This was due in part to low wages, ample labor potential, the strategic location, and the already existing textile industry in the region. In the following years, several large new factories opened, including a fur weaving and yarn dyeing mill on Hengelosestraat by Charles de Maere, 'De Enschedese katoenspinnerij' by the van Heek family, and several steam spinnings mills, quick weaving mills, hand spinning mills, dyeing mills, reed mills, bleaching mills, blue printing mills, and other small textile companies. As a result, the city of Enschede and its population grew rapidly.
Read moreCity fire III
On May 7, 1862, a fire broke out on Kalanderstraat. Decorations and arches of honor were still hanging in the city from King William III's visit a few days earlier. Due to the strong south-easterly wind and the lack of extinguishing agents, the fire quickly spread throughout the city. Fortunately, there were no casualties, but 633 homes, all public buildings, and eight factories were completely reduced to ashes. Of the 4,400 inhabitants at that time, 3,675 became homeless. The entire old city within the canals was lost in the immense conflagration. This city fire was the last major city fire in the Netherlands before the 1940 city fire after the bombing of Rotterdam.
Read moreReconstruction
Reconstruction soon happens. The canals are filled with debris from the fire. Hundreds of new stone houses appear, from spacious mansions with deep gardens to workers' dwellings. Destroyed public buildings, such as churches, are also rapidly being resurrected. Several schools open, such as the Twentse Industrie- en Handelsschool and the factory school. After the city fire, many businesses can also be built more modern. The factories are built just outside the old center, preferably along railroad lines and (much) larger in area. So the textile industry developed at lightning speed and Enschede experienced unprecedented growth. Thus, the devastating city fire of 1862 contributed enormously to the modernization of Enschede. In 1874, Hendrik Jan van Heek donated the Volkspark to the people of Enschede. For many years, this oldest public park in the Netherlands was the place where textile workers came to rest after work.
Read moreVolkspark
In 1874, after his death, Hendrik Jan van Heek donated the Volkspark to the people of Enschede. For many years, this oldest public park in the Netherlands was the place where textile workers came to rest after working. The park was designed by Dirk Wattez, a designer of many gardens in Twente. After the construction of the Volkspark, public parks for workers were created throughout the Netherlands.
World War I
World War I passed the Netherlands by. However, Enschede, as a border town, was closely guarded by the army, and border crossings were blocked. After World War I, many Jews fled from Germany to the Dutch border region. The Jewish community in Enschede doubled as a result. Jewish life flourished in Enschede; there were many Jewish clubs and stores. The synagogue on the Achterstraat, now Stadsgravenstraat, soon became too small. As a result, a brand new, very beautiful synagogue was built on Prinsestraat a few years later, in 1928.
World crisis
On October 23, 1923, a major strike broke out at Van Heek & Co. By the end of November, all 39 factories in Twente and the Achterhoek were shut down. In the following years, there were also several strikes at other factories. The result was even more discontent among workers and even more factory closures. The world economic crisis of 1929/1930 caused almost 45% of the looms to shut down and a third of the Twente labor force to become unemployed.
Read moreZeppelin
In 1931, Vliegveld Twenthe opened on a site in the Hengelo-Oldenzaal-Enschede triangle. From the opening, all kinds of grand flying festivals and demonstrations were held. On June 18, 1932, the Graf Zeppelin landed at the airfield. The large airship, measuring 236.6 meters, made a round trip over the Netherlands, and Prince Hendrik stepped aboard here. People came from far and wide to Enschede to take a look.
Merger
The richterambt Enschede was split into two municipalities in 1811: the city of Enschede and the rural municipality of Lonneker. Enschede lay within the borders of Lonneker. For years, Lonneker managed to hold its own as a municipality against the growing industrial city of Enschede. However, with the rapid growth of Enschede beginning in the 19th century, this division between city and country began to squeeze more and more. Over the years, the municipality of Lonneker offered more and more land to Enschede. In 1884, a large portion of land was ceded to Enschede, which also placed the town hall in the municipality of Enschede. For years, there were discussions about merging the municipalities. On March 28, 1934, a bill accepted the complete amalgamation by the House of Representatives.
World War II
During World War II, Enschede was occupied by German troops on May 10, 1940. Soon after, Jewish residents of Enschede received word from Germany about their grim fate. Led by the Jewish Council and a resistance group under the leadership of Protestant minister Leendert Overduin, a significant number of Jews managed to go into hiding. In May 1942, wearing a yellow star became mandatory. These stars were manufactured in the Enschede textile factory 'De Nijverheid,' which was under German control at the time. During the war, 354 air raids were carried out by the Allies in the municipality of Enschede, often by mistake, as they believed they were flying over Germany. The city center and surrounding neighborhoods suffered the most damage. Enschede was liberated on April 1, 1945, by units of a British Allied army.
A.K.I
AKI ArtEZ Academy for Art & Design was founded, on the initiative of a number of textile manufacturers, in 1946 as A.K.I. (The Academy for Art and Industry). The first years it functioned as a traditional arts and crafts school. In the 1960s, under director Joop Hardy, it transitioned to focus on free modern art. For years, the AKI was known as the most free and idiosyncratic art school in the Netherlands. Enschede remains a creative city with plenty of room for experimentation and creation. Today, the AKI is part of ArtEZ hogeschool voor de kunsten, but it still values its autonomy as a small-scale academy.
Reconstruction
Enschede was heavily affected by the English bombings. The war left the city with many destroyed buildings. The reconstruction focused on creating wider roads between Enschede and the surrounding areas and constructing the Boulevard as a major traffic artery directly along the city center. In 1951, a new station opened, strengthening the rail connection with the western part of the country. The industry was thriving, and unemployment was low. Textiles still dominated the economy. By the late 1950s, the textile and clothing industries together accounted for over 80% of all jobs in Enschede.
Decline
Due to the independence of Indonesia, Twente lost an important sales area for their textiles. Because of strong competition from Eastern Europe and Asia, outdated production techniques in the Netherlands, and rising wage costs, many factories merged to combat these problems. Unfortunately, it did not help. Employment in textiles in the Netherlands declined to an extreme extent. To restore employment in Enschede, many companies moved to Enschede or established themselves there, such as Philips, Vredestein, and Polaroid. As a result of the disappearance of the textile industry, old industrial estates became available for other purposes, leading to developments in the center. In the following years, a hospital, bus station, museum, music center, and homes were built.
Read moreCity grow
Between the 1960s and 1970s, Enschede developed in terms of work and music. Enschede had a high unemployment rate, especially among highly educated individuals. Due to World War II, there was a significant shortage of engineers. In 1961, the Technical College of Twente, later the University of Twente, was opened. During this period, Enschede also became a breeding ground for pop groups. New bands sprang up like mushrooms, and many bands originated in Enschede, performing in the numerous neighborhood and clubhouses and contemporary rock venues. Harry Bannink and Willem Wilmink became known throughout the Netherlands as the folk writers from Enschede.
FC Twente
Bernard van Heek brought soccer from England to Enschede in 1885 and founded the Enschede Football Club. A merger with soccer club Princess Wilhelmina created EFC Princess Wilhelmina in 1888. Football was played on several estates and several soccer clubs were founded. Soccer was therefore an important sport in Enschede for many years and really belonged to the city. In 1965, two first teams merged; the first team of Eredivisie club Sportclub Enschede and the first of the Enschede Boys from the First Division. This created FC Twente.
Read moreRenovation
At the end of the 20th century, almost the entire textile industry disappeared in Enschede. Employment was found mainly in small and medium-sized businesses and manufacturing industries. There are several educational institutions for various levels. The city, and in particular the city yard, is also undergoing major changes. The city yard is being made car-free and is developing as a shopping area. Urban renewal projects are being worked on a large scale, giving Enschede better separations between living, working, and recreation.
Fireworks disaster
It is May 13, 2000, a date etched in the memory of every resident. In one fell swoop, much of the Roombeek neighborhood is destroyed. A day of tragedy and change. A warehouse of S.E. Fireworks, loaded with 900 kilos of fireworks, catches fire and explodes into a huge disaster: 23 dead, about 950 injured and a devastation that changes the city forever.
Read moreJoppiesauce
Joppiesauce is a delicious cold, yellowish sauce that is a perfect fit with a fries or snack. This popular sauce was invented at Annie's snack bar in 2002 by the snack bar owner's daughter. It is a beloved sauce with creamy texture and a slightly sweet-spicy taste. The secret of the sauce lies in the combination of mayonnaise, onions, curry powder and a touch of sugar, giving it a unique taste experience. It is a real treat!
Alphatoren
Construction of the tallest building in Overijssel has been completed. The Alphatoren is a striking building in Enschede. With its height of 101 meters and 29 floors, it proudly rises above the city. From the top floor you have a magnificent view of Enschede and the surrounding region. Symbolizing the city's modern development and progress, the Alphatoren is an iconic landmark for residents and visitors alike.
FC Twente national champion
FC Twente is officially national champions. In his second season as head coach, Steve McClaren and his team become champions of the Netherlands. Thousands of people witness the biggest soccer party Twente has ever known. The return trip takes hours as many thousands of happy supporters take to the highway and welcome the team. On match day, the number of people in the city is incalculable, and a day later 70,000 people stand at the stadium to honor the team. The biggest soccer party ever.
New Medical Spectrum Twente
The Medical Spectrum Twente has opened on an entirely new city square: the Koningsplein. This square connects the new hospital with Enschede's city center. It is a real resting point in the center, with a green look and works of art. An efficient building for both basic specialist care and top clinical care. With this, the old hospital at Ariënsplein must find a new use after more than a century. A project has been started for this from Regio Deal Twente. Whereby this should become an innovative open city campus in the future. Where Connect-U brings together living, working, learning, innovation and recreation in one location.
700 year Enschede
On December 15, 2025, Enschede will be 700 years old. We celebrate that Enschede received city rights in 1325, a huge milestone. A lot has happened in the past 700 years. From wars to a devastating city fire and thriving textile industry. Today, Enschede is a vibrant, multicultural city.
Read moreStation square
The major redevelopment plan for Station Square is complete. It is a vibrant area with more greenery, modern amenities and better connections for cyclists and pedestrians. With a new residential tower 50 meters high. You can also take a peek into the future with 100% Fat's tech gadget, binoculars.
Enschede in 2040
Of course, we can't really see into the future. But artificial intelligence (AI) can, of course! Little Rocket and Say Yeah Motion Media asked artificial intelligence (AI): what will Twente look like in 2040? So also in Enschede! For example, there will be a breakthrough in vertical agriculture, where crops are built not on land but in height. You can be in the Randstad by train within an hour in 2040. And the Grolsch Veste has gone from a U-shape to a completely round soccer stadium. Watch the video >
