the Netherlands
Enschede
Away-day guide
Enschede is compact, easy to reach by train and built around a lively central square, but European matchdays are tightly managed. Expect a fixture-specific away meeting point and possible shuttle buses rather than a casual pub-to-ground walk.
🚺 To De Grolsch Veste
From Enschede station, take a stopping train west for one stop to Enschede Kennispark; the stadium is immediately beside the station. Only trains shown as stopping at Kennispark are suitable, as Intercity services may pass through. Walking from Oude Markt takes roughly 50 minutes. Away supporters should use any compulsory fanzone shuttle or coach route specified for the fixture instead of travelling independently.
- Nearest stop
- Enschede Kennispark
- Lines
- NS Sprinter and regional trains on the Enschede–Hengelo corridor that are scheduled to stop at Enschede Kennispark
- Walk from centre
- 50 min
- Parking
- General parking around the stadium is controlled and spaces may require an advance permit. There is no reliable turn-up parking for away fans. Visiting coaches use a secured, pre-arranged area; drivers should follow the instructions supplied through the visiting club. Road closures can affect Colosseum, Capitool and nearby business parks.
Public transport
The centre is compact and Enschede station, Oude Markt and most central hotels are within a 10-minute walk of one another. For buses and trains, tap in and out with the same contactless bank card or phone using OVpay; every traveller needs a separate card or device. Paper and app tickets are also available. Use 9292 for door-to-door planning, NS for national trains and RRReis for local buses. Bus fares are distance-based, so there is no single flat city fare; a short ride is typically around 3. RRReis sells day products, but they do not automatically cover NS trains, and pay-as-you-go is normally better for a short weekend unless you plan several journeys. Always check out, including when changing operator. Cycling is practical, but OV-fiets hire generally requires an eligible account arranged in advance.
Typical prices
- Beer (0.5L)
- EUR 5.5
- Coffee
- EUR 3.5
- Meal, mid-range
- EUR 25
- Single transit ticket
- EUR 3
✈ Airports & cheaper alternatives
- Amsterdam Airport Schiphol AMS primary 170 km The railway station is beneath the terminal. Direct NS Intercity trains run at certain times; otherwise change at Apeldoorn or Hengelo. Allow roughly 2 hours to Enschede. The most practical major airport: plenty of flights and usually the simplest rail transfer, though fares can be dearer than Eindhoven or Düsseldorf.
- Münster Osnabrück International Airport FMO alternative 75 km Take the S50 airport bus to Münster Hauptbahnhof, then the RB64 Euregio-Bahn to Enschede. Allow around 2 hours, with extra time for the connection in Münster. The closest airport with scheduled passenger flights, but its limited route network means it is only useful if the flight times work.
- Düsseldorf Airport DUS alternative 135 km Use the SkyTrain to Düsseldorf Flughafen railway station, then travel by regional train via Münster or another suitable German hub. The final leg from Münster is the RB64 to Enschede. Allow about 3 hours. Often competitive for international flights, but the cross-border rail journey is longer and late-night connections can be poor.
- Eindhoven Airport EIN alternative 175 km Take bus 400 or 401 to Eindhoven Centraal, then an NS train to Enschede, normally with one or two changes. Allow around 3 hours from the airport. A useful low-cost option, particularly from the UK, but it adds a bus transfer and a long rail trip across the Netherlands.
🍺 Supporters' pubs
FC Twente
Home fans: Oude Markt is the main city-centre gathering area, with Moeke, Molly Malone and The Jolly Jug among its bars. Near De Grolsch Veste, Vak-P's supporters' home and Hatrans Noabercafé are firmly home-oriented. Café Stadspoort by Enschede station and Café Vrieler are also closely associated with Twente supporters.
Away fans: There is no permanent away pub. Police and the council normally nominate a fixture-specific meeting point, sometimes with food, drink, ticket collection and shuttle buses. Het Laadperron at Zuiderval/Getfertsingel was used in July 2026; Metropool and Willem Wilminkplein have been used previously. Molly Malone and The Jolly Jug may remain open for some fixtures, but they stand on home-fan Oude Markt and are not designated away venues. In colours, avoid Oude Markt, Vak-P's supporters' home, Hatrans Noabercafé, Café Stadspoort and Café Vrieler unless the authorities or club explicitly say otherwise.
FC Twente are in the 2026/27 Europa League qualifying rounds. Away arrangements vary by opponent and police risk assessment, so follow the visiting club's official notice rather than relying on arrangements from an earlier match. Ticket exchange and compulsory shuttle travel are possible.
Sourced from supporters' forums — always follow your club's and police advice for the fixture.
Nightlife
Oude Markt is the main night out, with pubs, terraces and late bars packed around the Grote Kerk. It is lively and easy for a group, but on FC Twente matchdays it is also the main home-supporter area. Walstraat is better for a quieter drink, cocktails or a meal, while the bars connected with De Pakkerij cater mainly to students and may have membership or event-entry conditions. For European games, away fans in colours are better off using the official fanzone rather than treating Oude Markt as an away drinking area.
Food & drink
Grolsch is the local beer and the standard lager in many pubs. For food, try Twentse krentenwegge, a rich currant loaf usually served sliced with butter, or straightforward Dutch match-trip staples such as bitterballen, kroketten and chips with mayonnaise or satay sauce. Oude Markt has the widest spread of pubs and restaurants; Walstraat and the surrounding side streets are better for a quieter meal or specialist beer. Portions are generally decent, but kitchens can close earlier than British visitors expect.
Cheap eats & beer
BackWERK near the station is handy for inexpensive sandwiches, pastries and coffee before travelling to the ground. De Broodbode around Stadsgravenstraat is another solid lunch option, while Happy Italy on Oude Markt does large pizzas and pasta dishes that work well for groups; reckon on roughly 10–15 for a basic meal. The Go Planet complex beside De Grolsch Veste has fast-food options, including KFC, but queues build before kick-off and some businesses have limited weekend hours. There is no dependable cheap-pint district: most central bars charge about 3–4 for a small 250–300ml beer and 5–6 for 500ml. Oude Markt has the biggest choice, but it is FC Twente's traditional gathering place and is unsuitable for visible away groups on European matchdays. There is no permanent away pub. Use the fanzone or meeting point named in your club's travel notice; recent arrangements have used Het Laadperron at Zuiderval/Getfertsingel and, previously, Metropool by Willem Wilminkplein.
Staying safe
Enschede is generally straightforward, but football policing can be strict. Keep away colours covered while crossing home-supporter areas, particularly Oude Markt and the pubs around the stadium, and do not try to enter a home section. Carry identification because it may be checked against the match ticket. Watch for bicycles when crossing roads and cycle lanes: bikes and mopeds can approach quickly and often have priority. Around the station and nightlife streets, use the usual precautions with phones and wallets. Local alcohol restrictions and glass bans may be imposed around high-risk matches, so follow signs and police instructions.
On matchday
The away section at De Grolsch Veste is segregated, with its own controlled entrance and coach arrangements. Use an away-end ticket and carry matching photo identification; home-end admission in away colours can be refused, and FC Twente may use ClubCard restrictions for home sales. European fixtures can involve ticket exchange at a designated fanzone followed by compulsory buses or an escort to the stadium. Do not assume you can make your own way to Enschede Kennispark: police may manage or restrict station access for away supporters. Roads around Colosseum, Capitool and the stadium can also be closed or controlled before and after the match. Follow your club's final travel bulletin, as the meeting point and transport plan change by fixture.