Mobility week - travelling to the UT

We would like to warmly welcome participants of the ICCS Challenge to the University of Twente campus.

As part of the ICCS Challenge course, there will be a mobility week at the University of Twente between 28 April - 02 May 2025. On this page, you can find important travel information and all the information within a PDF file guide.

From your airport to Twente

When travelling from one of the Dutch airports, you can reach Enschede through the public transport systems. For all public transport in the Netherlands, you can stay up-to-date with departure and arrival times through the NS travel planner or 9292webpages (both also available as apps). Through these applications, you can purchase tickets (we recommend using NS travel planner for purchasing your train tickets). In all Dutch bus systems, you can check in and out using your debit card, credit card or smartphone (“OVpay”). Simply present your card in the bus to the check-in card reader when you board and present it again when you get off. Please note you cannot pay with cash for your bus or train tickets.

For both SCHIPHOL AIRPORT and EINDHOVEN AIRPORT (the two main airports for public travel in the Netherlands), signs and information points are available to guide you to the train station (for both, located right next to the airport). 

For travelling from abroad, you can find a description video on traveling from Schipol Airport to Enschede here.

When travelling large distances by train, it may be beneficial to travel alongside someone with an NS (Dutch railroad organisation) travelling subscription, who can allow their guests to travel with a 40% discount (‘samenreiskorting’). As a group, you can also purchase group tickets for train travelling at a discount.

Travelling to the University of Twente

To reach the University of Twente, either take the train to Hengelo train station and take bus line 9 to Enschede (passing two stops on the University of Twente campus: UT/Kennispark and UT/Westerbegraafplaats); or, taking slightly longer, continue on to Enschede train station and take bus line 9 in the opposite direction to Hengelo (again exiting for UT/Kennispark or UT/Westerbegraafplaats). From Enschede train station, you can also take bus line 1, travelling through the campus (passing various stops located on the campus, always indicated as “UT/…”). This bus line takes longer than bus line 9 and will only bring you slightly closer to the central O&O square on the University of Twente campus.

You can also travel to the University campus by car, following the route here. At the University campus, there are various (free) parking spots available (see here). You can find the parking spaces indicated on the campus map (below).

Travel within Enschede

Within the area of Enschede and the University of Twente, you will be able to travel around by bus. This commonly done by long-term visitors through a personal or anonymous “OV card”. When staying only a few days, you can use the Dutch public transport by checking in and out using your debit card, credit card and smartphone (“OVpay”). Please note you cannot pay with cash for your bus or train tickets. You can find the time schedule of the busses on the 9292 webpage/application. Checking in on the bus is always done through a box near the driver. For the train, you have to check in at a column or a portal when entering the station.

Campus map 

You can find the map of the University of Twente campus within the travel guide below this page or through this link.

Bike renting 

If you wish, you can travel as the Dutch do by renting a bike. Possible options for this are through Actief Twente, the Intercity Hotel in the city centre or any of these options. If you have a personal OV card, you can get the subscription to rent OV bikes at all stations in the Netherlands.

 When cycling, please make sure to keep the Dutch rules on cycling in mind (including this overview of cycling signs). Especially note these important rules:

• Helmets and other protective gear are not mandatory but can be highly encouraged for novice cyclists.
• Always indicate your turning direction and ring your bell to inform people you want to pass.
• Cycling lane are indicated with red street colouring and are often separated from the car and walking lanes, only in limited cases there is no cycling lane available. In such cases, always stay on the right side and/or cycle behind one another.
• Do not cycle in busy walking places such as city centres but rather walk. Signs with “fietsers afstappen” mean “cyclists, disembark”.
• Cycling under influence of alcohol (higher than 0,5 promille) is prohibited.
• Bike lights are mandatory (and important!) at night when the streetlighting turns on and are usually installed on a rental bike but can otherwise be bought at any supermarket or in vending machines at the University. Do make sure to take clip-on lights off when stalling your bike to avoid theft. 
• It is forbidden to hold a cell phone in your hand when cycling, so use a (fitting) cell phone holder placed on your handlebars or stop on the side of the cycle lane to use your phone. 
• Signs with “hier geen fietsen plaatsen” mean “do not park your bike here”.
• You cannot take your bike with you on the bus; for the train, you may only bring your bike outside of peak traffic and a bike ticket is required.
• Please also note that, as the Netherlands is a true cycling country, you are not supposed to walk on cycling paths or cross them without looking (in fact, looking over your shoulder before crossing is a must to avoid stepping into a cycler’s path). If there is no walking lane, walk strictly on the (right) side of cycling lanes.

In the city centre of Enschede there are many (guarded) bicycle parking spots you can use for free. Most remain open all day; please note that for some you need to press an intercom next to the door when picking up your bike late at night to open the automatic doors. On the University of Twente campus, make sure to store your bike in the designated spots.

Possible hotels around the University campus

For staying in Enschede, you can consider one of the following hotels (ordered from near to far from the University of Twente campus).

• On the University of Twente campus, you can stay at the U Parkhotel
• Opposite of the campus is Fletcher hotel De Broeierd
• Central in Enschede, close to the train station is IntercityHotel
• Slightly away from the centre is Van der Valk Enschede
• In Hengelo, there is City Hotel Hengelo

On campus, for groups there can be reservations made to stay at the campus blokhutten. There is also a hostel available in Enschede: Little Monkey

Connecting to WIFI

On the University of Twente, Eduroam (‘education roaming’) enables students, researchers and other members of staff to use their education or research institute’s wireless network. If you use Eduroam at your own institute, you can connect similarly on the University of Twente network. In Enschede, you can also make use of the free public network called “Enschede Stad van Nu”.

Facilities at the University of Twente

There are several educational/study facilities available on the University of Twente campus:

• At the DesignLab, there are creative spaces for collaboration, as well as recording studios and woodwork, electronics and sewing workshop spaces.
• At the Vrijhof, there are cultural spaces and music studios available.
• At the Vrijhof Library, there is a library space where you can study, lend books and book group study spaces (requires a University of Twente account).
• Printing shops from Xerox.

As well as facilities for the campus life:

• Swimming pools.
• Many sporting facilities and fields, including a fitness centre (requires a unioncard or campuscard).
• Restaurants on campus. 
• Theatre and cultural events. 
• Festivals (both in Enschede and on campus).
• Rooms for spirituality and praying. 
• There are laundromats located at the Bastille building at the loading dock, close to the Coop supermarket, and at the Witbreuksweg.
• You can buy University of Twente merch, office supplies and print work at the Union Shop.

Things to do in Enschede

There are various activities to do, and events held in Enschede all year round. You can find an overview here or here.  

When visiting the city centre, you can find many restaurants and cafes to enjoy a meal or a drink. At a restaurant, you can often see signs or ask for a ‘daghap’ (‘meal of the day’), which is a full meal offered at a low price.

Mobility week – 28th and April to 2nd of May 2025

Around the mobility week of the ICCS Challenge, there are several events taking place in Enschede/the Netherlands.

• 25^th of April – King’s Night; the night before King’s Day is traditionally a night of parties and festivals. You can find an overview of the activities for King’s Night and King’s Day in Enschede here and the King’s Night techno festival at the University of Twente campus here.
• 26^th of April – King’s Day; one of the biggest celebrations in the Netherlands. There are celebrations and markets across the Netherlands on this day, you can find an overview of the activities around the country here (and don’t forget to wear something orange!). Note, this celebration is annually on the 27^th of April, but in 2025 this day will fall on a Sunday, which is why the celebrations are held on the 26^th. Also good to note that city centres might be closed for cyclists on King’s Day and local public transport may drive at alternative times (see the public transport website 9292).
• 4^th of May – Day of Remembrance; the remembrance of victims of wars. There are special ceremonies held throughout many cities and there is a national moment of silence at 20:00. Before the moment of silence (church) bells are rung and after the moment, the Dutch national anthem is played throughout the country on trumpets. It is expected of everyone in all public places to remain silent during this moment.
• 5^th of May – Liberation Day; on Liberation Day, there are many celebrations and large festivals throughout the country.

Useful Dutch phrases

When visiting the Netherlands and Enschede, you will find that the majority of people will be able to easily converse with you in English. On the University of Twente campus, English is the main spoken language. However, some phrases can be useful to know if needed.