Hengelo

The city of Hengelo is in the Eastern Dutch province of Overijssel, on the route Amsterdam – Hannover – Berlin, and is well-connected by motorway and train. It has an international train station, which brings many German visitors to the city. Hengelo has a relatively large harbour in the canal extending from Twente to IJssel region. With a population of about 81,000 inhabitants Hengelo grew in the last 125 years due to the industrialisation attracted by its important railway junction. During World War II, the city was often bombed by the Allies because of the railways and the local war industry. Despite having most of the city centre destroyed, over 180 monumental and iconic buildings with historical value still remain.

At this moment, Hengelo is experiencing a period of economic growth, ranking the 16th nationwide. The unemployment rate is 7% and, although this doesn’t seem to reflect a sharp economic crisis, the recent economic downturn in Europe has adversely affected the city’s local sectors, including retail.
Hengelo is an industrial city, particularly good at technical and knowledge-intensive manufacturing. It is home to more than 5,000 multinational trade companies, innovative businesses, a variety of SME’s and institutions responsible for 47,000 jobs.

Hengelo has a rich and complete range of cultural facilities, which make it attractive for leisure and social activity: the Rabotheater. With its outstanding drama and opera agenda, the monumental Water Church, offers a stage for concerts and performances; and, the Poppodium metropolis offers a rich, alternative cultural agenda. The local music school attracts students from other cities in Twente and the Overijssel-province and is nationally known for its high quality level.