Shopping

Plenty of choice

Shopping in the shopping towns

Hengelo
Hengelo combines the cosiness of a village with the amenities of a town. It offers a diverse cultural range of shops and restaurants. It is a town that has retained its village character, where craftsmanship, conviviality and socialising take centre stage. The shopping scene is characterised by numerous specialist shops, though national chains such as Costes, The Sting and Shoeby are also present. Thanks to the compact city centre, you can stroll comfortably through the town, passing the distinctive post-war buildings for which Hengelo is famous. Be sure to visit the market square.

Diagonally opposite Van der Valk, you’re welcome at Plein Westermaat every day of the week. There you’ll find, amongst others, IKEA, Mediamarkt, Prénatal and others.

Shopping in Enschede
Enschede is a delightful shopping destination with the most diverse range of shops in the eastern Netherlands. The weekly market attracts visitors from across the region and from across the German border. The city centre has plenty to offer for a day’s shopping, with a lovely mix of department stores, boutiques and cafés and restaurants. Here you can find everything you need in terms of fashion, gadgets, home décor and lifestyle.
In small, charming shopping streets such as the Haverstraatpassage, the Walstraat and the Zuiderhagen, you’ll find contemporary, unique and distinctive shops. You’ll find wonderful fashion shops on the Van Loenshof, such as Fier, where you can shop for lovely women’s brands. Modehuis Arkink, which has been based in Enschede for over 60 years, is also a household name. Are you looking for something special for a festive occasion? Then you’re sure to find what you’re looking for at De snoepwinkel voor vrouwen, with its extensive collection of new and vintage ball gowns, cocktail dresses and other festive fashion. Of course, shops from well-known chains such as Primark, Zara, Dille & Kamille, WE and Mango are also here.

Almelo
Discover the best shops! The ‘city centre’ is a section of the town centre that links the shopping squares. Here you’ll find major chains such as H&M, Schuurman Schoenen, Douglas and, of course, the fashion store The Gallery. Several historic buildings here have also recently been restored to their former glory. The old Waagplein, for example – now home to The Gallery – has been completely refurbished whilst preserving its original features. So don’t leave without taking a good look around first!

The villages around Hengelo also have a great selection of shops, such as Rijssen, Enter – home to the well-known fashion boutique Roetgerink – and Borne.

Late-night shopping
Thursday: Hengelo, Enschede, Almelo

Sunday shopping
Hengelo: last Sunday of the month
Enschede: first and last Sunday of the month
Plein Westermaat, including Ikea: Sunday shopping every Sunday

Exploring the charming villages

DELDEN
The town centre of the charming little town of Delden dates back to 1333. Many of the buildings have been skilfully restored in recent years. A visit to Twickel Castle and its estate is a must when you’re in Delden.

Monuments of historical significance include the Wendezoele Museum Farm, the Noordmolen, the Houtzaagmolen, the Salt Museum, the Old Blasius Church and the New Blasius Church. The gardens of Twickel Castle are open to the public from April to October. The castle itself can only be visited during the Castle Days.

BORNE
The charming and compact town of Borne boasts not only a selection of excellent places to eat and drink but also a varied range of shops. For women, there is a choice of around fourteen ladies’ clothing shops offering all manner of styles. There are also four men’s clothing shops. The great thing about them is that they are mostly independent businesses, not part of the well-known large chains, and they stand out in the sector. Several of them attract customers from all over the country.

OLDENZAAL
De Driehoek Shopping Centre is a modern shopping centre and the beating heart of Oldenzaal. With three covered walkways, 40 shops, a spacious and light-filled central atrium and a variety of catering outlets, it’s a wonderful place for indoor shopping.

Friday evening = Late-night shopping

ART AND CLOTHING

Art galleries in Ootmarsum
Ootmarsum is a town unlike any other. It is not a busy tourist town, yet it has plenty of beautiful things to offer. If you want to get to know the real, authentic Twente, we recommend you pay a visit to Ootmarsum. Here you’ll discover a slice of our region’s history that you’ve never seen before. Be sure to visit the town if you’re in the area. You’ll be amazed at just how beautiful Ootmarsum is.

Roetgerink in Enter
Het modeplein van Twente!

ACROSS THE BORDER (Germany)

Factory Outlet Centre in Ochtrup
www.foc-ochtrup.de
Not far across the border from Enschede lies the FOC Ochtrup outlet centre, where you’ll find over a hundred top brands at substantial discounts. An overview of all the outlet shops and fashion brands can be found on the FOC Ochtrup website; many of the world’s best brands are represented in this pleasant shopping centre.

CentrO Oberhausen
Europe’s largest indoor shopping and leisure centre.
www.centro.de
A huge shopping centre, CentrO, has been built in Oberhausen. Here you’ll find over 200 shops, a wide variety of restaurants, an amusement park and a promenade.

Bad Bentheim
A charming castle town just across the border in Germany.
Who wouldn’t fall for the charms of the old spa town of Bad Bentheim, just across the German border? The old castle points the way to this atmospheric little town from afar. Even the most spoilt tourist will have a wonderful time here. Fancy a day of wellness, a castle tour or a visit to a museum? Or would you rather get out into nature – enjoy a bike ride or go on a treasure hunt through the woods? Bad Bentheim is surprisingly versatile!