Aamsveen is one of the few remaining raised bog areas in Western Europe. As a protected Natura 2000 site, it is a striking natural feature to discover around Enschede. A birdwatching hut offers views across the entire raised bog. Check local access rules and conditions before your visit.
Bog, woodland and wet pasture
Galgenven includes streams, ponds and small pools. They provide suitable living conditions for many animals, including the endangered great crested newt. You are not allowed to enter Galgenven itself; it can be viewed from Oude Losserseweg. This keeps viewing to the designated vantage point.
Lonnekerberg tells a different landscape story: once a production forest, it is now gradually developing into a more natural and diverse woodland, with an increasing variety of plant and animal species. Lonnekerberg is also home to species found nowhere else in the Netherlands. The Jufferbeek meanders through the woodland—a distinct landscape feature that accompanies the area's transformation.
At Lindermaten, a boardwalk or boot path from Lossersestraat leads into wet pasture. Conditions for footwear can vary there. The natural fields also shape the area, providing shelter and food for mice, rabbits, birds and other small animals. Lindermaten also includes a medieval landwehr, which formed part of a network of defensive lines. Here, the natural landscape and traces of history stand side by side, without either explaining the other.
Het Rutbeek is a recreation area on the edge of Enschede. There are various walking, cycling and mountain biking routes in and around the park. Surfing, diving and canoeing are also possible there. The offering therefore includes both routes through the park and its surroundings, and activities on the water. Check local conditions before your visit; individual facilities may change.
Collections, city walks and a brewery tour
The treasure rooms at Rijksmuseum Twenthe showcase highlights from the museum's remarkably diverse collection. It spans medieval altarpieces and sculptures through to 17th-century genre paintings. Art enthusiasts can explore several periods and different forms of imagery.
De Museumfabriek preserves 300,000 objects from nature and culture. The museum brings together the former Natuur-museum, Museum Jannink and Van Deinse Instituut in a new museum in the Roombeek district; the three museums merged in 2008. The collection thus combines different subject areas, while its origins offer a perspective on the history of the museum itself.
Another way to discover art in the urban landscape is the Street Art Route. It leads to artworks in the city centre and beyond, and can be explored on foot or by bike. Individual artworks may change. For a different kind of visit, the Grolsch Brewery Tour offers an in-depth guided tour of the brewery with an expert guide. As this is a bookable experience, check the dates in advance.
A guide to your discoveries
Enschede has various cycling and walking routes through the city and surrounding area. The Street Art Route focuses on artworks in different locations, while Het Rutbeek offers various walking, cycling and mountain biking routes, as well as water sports. These activities therefore differ in their aims and what you can do, not just in how you get around.
You can also plan your journey: Enschede Central Station receives trains from across the Netherlands and from Germany. Check your connections before travelling. Tourist Info Enschede offers city maps, brochures and city walks; if you would like to use these services, check the location details in advance. This lets you decide how to balance culture, nature and practical information according to your interests, rather than limiting yourself to a single way of exploring.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Enschede, Boekelo, Dorp Lonneker, Hardenberg, Zwartewaterland, Olst-Wijhe, Almelo, Hengelo.
For the overview of the wider region: Overijssel.
