Oldenzaal: Carnival City of Twente with a Romanesque Basilica
Oldenzaal counts about 31,400 inhabitants and lies in the eastern Twente region of Overijssel, close to the German border. The Sint-Plechelmusbasiliek, a Romanesque church with origins in the 12th century, dominates the centre. Unlike much of the predominantly Protestant eastern Netherlands, Oldenzaal has maintained a strong Catholic identity, reflected in its Carnival tradition, which is the largest in Twente.
The town held strategic importance in earlier centuries as a fortified settlement on the road from the Rhine to the north. The Tankenberg, a wooded hill to the northeast, offers walking routes unusual for the generally flat Twente landscape. Oldenzaal is a compact, walkable town with the Groote Markt as its social centre.
Enschede is about 10 kilometres south. Hengelo lies roughly 10 kilometres southwest. The German border is approximately 5 kilometres east, with the town of Bad Bentheim nearby.
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Oldenzaal counts about 31,400 inhabitants and lies in the eastern Twente region of Overijssel, close to the German border. The Sint-Plechelmusbasiliek, a Romanesque church with origins in the 12th century, dominates the centre. Unlike much of the predominantly Protestant eastern Netherlands, Oldenzaal has maintained a strong Catholic identity, reflected in its Carnival tradition, which is the largest in Twente.
The town held strategic importance in earlier centuries as a fortified settlement on the road from the Rhine to the north. The Tankenberg, a wooded hill to the northeast, offers walking routes unusual for the generally flat Twente landscape. Oldenzaal is a compact, walkable town with the Groote Markt as its social centre.
Enschede is about 10 kilometres south. Hengelo lies roughly 10 kilometres southwest. The German border is approximately 5 kilometres east, with the town of Bad Bentheim nearby.
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