Twente and Twickel

The Landscape

Twente is blessed with a unique landscape and a rich history. It’s almost hard to imagine, but there was a time when Twente didn’t even exist. Millions of years ago, this area was covered by a sea where whales and sharks ruled the waters. Over the centuries, the landscape gradually transformed. In earlier times, small fields were surrounded by hay meadows, moist heathlands, wetlands, and fens. Meandering rivers and gentle streams wove their way through the land. Today, the charming bocage landscape of Twente exudes a sense of peace, with a patchwork of forests, rolling fields, softly murmuring brooks, and atmospheric, centuries-old hedgerows.

Historic farmhouses with black-and-white shutters mark your arrival at the largest privately managed estate in the Netherlands: Twickel Estate. For nearly seven centuries, this remarkable area has stretched across 4,500 hectares. At its heart, nestled among forests, nature reserves, and farmland, stands the stately Twickel Castle. Its surrounding gardens, where orange trees have bloomed for centuries, offer an oasis of peace and beauty. The Twente landscape differs from the typical Dutch scene, and it is precisely this contrast that makes it so special and appealing.