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Cycle past the flamboyant country houses of former textile barons

Cycling holiday Enschede

Name: Happy Cycling Holidays
Address: Hengelosestraat 300a, Enschede, Nederland, 7521 AN
Telephone: +31 (0)53 430 34 35
Location: Happy Cycling Holidays

During this cycling holiday, you'll dive into Twente's textile past. From Enschede, once the world's second largest textile city, you cycle to Gronau, Hengelo and the manufacturers' estates around Oldenzaal. Never has a history lesson been so fascinating, beautiful and relaxing. » read more about Cycling holiday Enschede

Intercity Hotel
Enschede, Gronau, Oldenzaal, Hengelo, Delden, Boekelo
Cycling through Twente's textile past

GPS APP E-bike Dog Zwaarte zwaarte_1

Cycling holiday
Single centre
3 or 5 days
Individual

from 195 p.p.
excl. additional costs

Prices and dates

from 195 p.p.
excl. additional costs

Prices and dates

Textiles in Twente

More than ten years ago, a devastating fireworks explosion shook the Roombeek district in Enschede. But from the ashes emerged a vibrant new neighborhood, one that sparked a renewed appreciation for the city’s industrial heritage. For HappyCyclingHolidays, this was the perfect moment to put Enschede on the cycling map. The route into Germany takes you past the rich textile history of both Enschede and Gronau.

Huge Contrasts

The factory owners – known as textile barons – built so-called garden villages for their workers; neighborhoods with abundant green spaces. On the way to Hengelo, you’ll pass through the garden villages of Het Lansink and Pathmos. A third route takes you past the flamboyant country estates of these textile barons, a striking contrast to the former workers’ homes. In short, a fascinating base holiday.

Enschede 700 Years

This year, Enschede celebrates a special anniversary: 700 years of city rights! What began in 1325 has today grown into a vibrant city, where history and modernity go hand in hand.

Roombeek

Manor in Hengelo

In Hengelo, too, factory directors had royal residences built for themselves, much like Engelbert Stork. In 1928, he received a thatched-roof mansion with a double garage, a beautiful garden, an inner courtyard, and two terraces on over two thousand square meters of land. Quite a contrast to the workers, who lived in just 32 square meters. If they wanted to move to a bigger house, all their children had to work in the factory. No wonder the workers started to grumble. They would shout, "Hop, hop, hop, hang those rich folks from the top. With a rope — first the man, then the dame, no hope."

Art of a Textile Director

After textile baron Jan Bernard van Heek passed away in 1929 at the Zonnebeek estate, just outside Enschede, he left behind more than two hundred valuable paintings, including works by 17th- and 18th-century masters. His plan to make these accessible to the public was carried out by his family. The paintings can be viewed at the Rijksmuseum Twenthe, in a building from 1929. Address: Lasondersingel 129-131.

Zonnebeek

Garden Villages for Workers

Gradually, the textile barons became more aware of the workers’ living conditions. They built new residential areas for them, established schools, and created parks. In Hengelo, the Garden Village Het Lansink was developed around 1911. It featured small and larger houses, gazebos, large gardens, public parks, and even a public swimming pool. From that point on, directors, office workers, and laborers lived side by side. An informational sign stands by the pond in the garden village.

When are you going to take this trip?

Cycling holiday Enschede

Prices and dates

Routes

In 2025, Enschede celebrates 700 years of city rights, a perfect opportunity to explore the city and its rich history by bike. Our routes take you through the history of Enschede and Southeast Twente, with special attention to the region’s impressive textile heritage. You follow the traces of the textile industry in Enschede, the German town of Gronau, and former textile hubs like Hengelo, Haaksbergen, and Oldenzaal. The routes lead along quiet roads and paths through the renewed Roombeek district, past city villas, old factory buildings, and garden villages. Along the way, you’ll pass parks and former industrial estates built by textile barons, often designed by renowned landscape architects such as Wattez and Springer, silent witnesses to a bygone era of grandeur.