Zonnebeek, Historic estate in Enschede, Netherlands
Zonnebeek is an estate in Enschede with a rectangular brick house painted white, featuring two stories and a pitched roof topped with Dutch tiles. The building has protruding side pavilions and sits within forest and nature areas that span about 130 hectares.
The property was built in 1906 by textile manufacturer Jan Bernard van Heek and his American wife Edwina Burr Ewing. It arose during the period of rapid industrial expansion in the Twente region, when successful entrepreneurs constructed grand residences.
The name reflects the property's sun-facing location, which shaped how the building was designed and positioned on the land. The rooms still show their original character from the 1940s, with wood paneling, a grand staircase, and period lighting throughout.
The forest and nature areas are open to the public and can be explored on foot. The main house and surrounding park require prior arrangements if you wish to visit them.
The land connects to the European Natura 2000 protected network through ecological corridors linking to other nature reserves nearby. These pathways allow wildlife and plants to move freely between separate protected areas.
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