Hengelo

Netherlands

Hengelo is a city in the Eastern Netherlands, close to the border with Germany. It's not on the usual tourist map, but is easy to reach and if you do find yourself here, it has some interesting museums and serves as a regional centre for shopping.

Hengelo started out as just another hamlet, and only gained growth during the Industrial Revolution, which made the town a city by bringing textile industries to the region. Over time, this industry moved to nearby Enschede, which made space for more heavy industry, starting with C.T. Stork opening a heavy machinery part factory into the city in 1868. Stork was soon followed by Hazemeyer, Heemaf, the Royal Dutch Saltindustry and Hollandse Signaalapparaten. The growth in industry brought a boom to the city's inhabitants. On the other hand, the heavy industry made Hengelo a strategic target during the Second World War. The historic centre of the city was destroyed nearly entirely in October of 1944. Post-war, Hengelo became a wederopbouwgemeente, meaning that all that remained amongst the ruins, stood a high likelihood of not surviving the years following the war, as the city and municipality now focused on rebuilding and rehousing instead of restoring what once was. The buildings that were lucky enough to stand the test of time such as the 1890 Roman-Catholic Saint Lambertusbasilica do bring some history to a city that had the rest of its history wiped away.

  • Museum Hengelo, Beekstraat 51, +31 742 594 216.

Museum Hengelo, Beekstraat 51, +31 742 594 216.

Ziesta BBQ Restaurant, Marskant 8, +31 742 433 723.

Square Hengelo, Burgemeester Jansenplein 40, +31 743 579 829.

Eetcafé de Buurman, Beursstraat 2, +31 742 434 777.

Intenzo, Enschedesestraat 7, +31 742 912 418.

Grieks Restaurant Delphi, Drienerstraat 12, +31 742 910 495.

Het wapen van Beckum, Beckumerkerkweg 20, +31 743 676 565.

De Zevenster, Haaksbergerstraat 123, +31 742 914 083.