When moving to Enschede from abroad, there is a great network of planes, trains and buses to get you into the center of the city. You can also opt to drive yourself.

By plane

The Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam is the largest airport in the Netherlands, offering the most connections. However, the airport nearest to Enschede is the Twente Airport.

By train

The most common way to get in and out of Enschede is the train. There are simple connections from both The Netherlands and Germany. Plus, intercity trains also go to the Schiphol Airport and The Hague, as well as to Dortmund and Münster in Germany. To get the most up-to-date train schedules, check 9292 journey planner and NS website.

By car

It is very easy to get into the city center by car, especially when using Google Maps. You may want to print out your maps ahead of time, just in case the data with your phone service is not working.

Renting a car in Enschede is simple. There are several companies to rent from, including Hertz, Sixt, Europcar and others.

By bus

While it may take a little longer to get into the city by bus, it is cheaper, and it might be your best option if you’re on a tight budget. You can check to see if there is a direct bus from your home city into Enschede. You may also check with the following companies: Goeuro, Flixbus, Eurolines, Comparabus and Ouibus.

Bicycle

As mentioned, cycling is really the way to go in this compact city. As soon as you find your student accommodation in Enschede, the next thing on your list should be to get a bike. Plus, there are bike paths that criss-cross the city, so riding a bike is even safer than before.

This is also the cheapest method of transportation. Many residents only take other modes when it’s raining heavily.

OV-chipkaart

For all public transportation, the residents of the Netherlands use the OV-chipkaart. The OV-chipkaart can be loaded with credits, with which the journeys can be paid. You can add credits to the card with coins or a credit card at vending machines that are located throughout the city.

One important thing to remember is that you must scan the card at the beginning and the end of each trip that you take, and the OV-chipkaart will charge you accordingly. If you don’t scan it, you will have to pay a fine if you are caught. Once you get used to doing this, it will be quite simple.

Now, there are two different types of OV-chipkaarts. The anonymous one is blue and can be purchased throughout the city, such as at stations and the airport, and anyone can use it.

The personal one is yellow, and you must obtain it through filling out an application and submitting it to receive its advantages. The card offers an annual discount of 40% for travel during the times of 9:00-16:00, 18:30-6:30 and throughout the entire weekend. It can be purchased for €50 for one year. However, keep your eyes open for a special price of €29 that is on offer occasionally. Plus you’ll also save €7.50 on the purchase of the card. Even if you travel by train just two or three times per month, this card will pay for itself!

Bus

Bus transportation in Enschede is offered by Arriva and Twents. You can still pay for the bus with your OV-chipkaart.

Train

Throughout all of the Netherlands, you will find well-connected, convenient railway systems. NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen) provides most of the services, and it is considered to be one of the busiest in the world, especially with trains that run 24 hours a day between the major cities. Considering the time that you’ll save and the convenience, trains are also pretty affordable.

To board a train, you may use your OV-chipkaart, or you may opt to purchase a normal ticket. Both the anonymous and the personal OV-chipkaarts apply, but when using the anonymous card, you must have at least €20 on your card to begin your journey, but only €10 on the personal card. As always, remember to scan at both the start and the end of your journey.

If you want to reach your destination without stopping at other stations, the Intercity Direct trains are your best option. You may also need to scan your OV-chipkaart card, but you will need to pay an additional €2,40 at the station. You may also purchase normal tickets, but this can become very costly if you travel often.