Green Zone around Enschede

The Landscape

Enschede is surrounded by a vast and varied green landscape that radiates peace and space. Just outside the city, a beautiful patchwork of natural areas begins, where forests, stream valleys, heathlands, and small fens alternate. Marshy peatlands and flower-rich meadows lie scattered among rolling fields and winding sandy lanes, with hedgerows forming green boundaries that divide the landscape into small “rooms.” Slow-moving streams flow through the area, ponds sparkle in the sunlight, and everywhere you can feel a calmness far away from the city’s bustle. This is the Twente countryside at its best: green, lively, and full of surprises.

The landscape around Enschede still bears the marks of a rich past. Old farmsteads and distinctive Twente farms are scattered throughout the greenery and tell the story of centuries of agricultural traditions. Along winding sandy roads and over hedgerows run ancient smuggling routes that once connected border residents and traders. In addition, grand estates and stately manors recall a time when local nobility and wealthy textile families shaped the landscape. Even salt extraction has left its mark here. As you cycle through the area, you can discover how nature and history go hand in hand.