The fate of this city is quite tragic. Because of this, the residents of Enschede have even received a sarcastic nickname “fire-raiser” (Brandstichters) from their countrymen. Indeed, three global fires destroyed this city in 1517, 1750 and 1862. This fact explains why there are just a few medieval buildings with stone and wooden architecture here.
For a long time Enschede has been one of the largest centers of the textile industry, but starting from the 70's the production has steadily come to recession. Cheap goods from Asia have made an evil joke with the local industry. It seemed that the city had faced the inevitable decline.
In the city, there are several amazing museums. There is the Rijksmuseum Twenthe in the beautiful historical building. It presents its visitors the Renaissance art. The museum houses the interesting collection of pictures and sculptures. They all were created by famous Dutch artists. Now, different temporary exhibitions are organized in the museum. The historical building has managed to preserve its beautiful courtyard where comfortable terraces are equipped in a warm season.
Travelers with children should definitely visit the Natural-Science Museum Twentse Welle. Its collection of exhibits is really diverse. The museum houses skeletons of prehistoric animals, old rare books, and interesting accessories used by scientists and researchers hundreds of years ago. Besides natural-science exhibits, you can also see old industrial machines, antique furniture, and even vehicles that could be seen in city streets over a hundred years ago.
One of the main architectural monuments of the city is the old synagogue. This small building with a beautiful dome and interesting facade is surrounded by dense green plantings. Since its foundation, the synagogue has remained unchangeable. The main decorative element of its interior is a big forged chandelier in the medieval style.
The old Grote of Sint-Jacobskerk is also very interesting from the architectural point of view even despite the fact that it was built not so long ago. The church was built in accordance with the old traditions. With its interior, the building resembles an impregnable medieval fortress with towers. The spectacular interior of the church really impresses. It was finished with precious marbles and genuine antique attributes. If you are lucky to visit the church on a sunny day, you can admire its marvelous stained glass windows.
In the beautiful building with big windows, there is an art gallery called Tetem Kunstruimte. Interesting exhibitions dedicated to different fields of contemporary art are regularly organized here. It will be interesting for absolutely everyone to visit the museum. It is located in the territory of the big groomed park. In summer, there are always fountains and decorative pools. It is just difficult to find a better place for walks.
