Enschede, University city in Overijssel, Netherlands
Enschede is a city in Overijssel province in the eastern Netherlands, located near the German border. The university town features a compact center with shopping streets around the market square, while residential districts and green spaces shape the surrounding area.
The settlement received town rights in the 13th century and evolved into a major textile hub from the 1860s onward. Railways and canals supported the boom, until fires and structural changes reshaped the economy.
The city name derives from the former Anscede estate, while today many streets and buildings show traces of the former textile mills. Visitors often notice the typical factory chimneys and red-brick industrial buildings that shape the townscape.
The center is easy to explore on foot, as most sights and shops sit close together. Those arriving by car will find parking garages at the edge of the pedestrian zone.
A former graduate of the local university contributed substantially to developing Wi-Fi technology now used worldwide. The campus sits outside the city center on a large site with its own forests and lakes.
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