Oldenzaal Things to Do

The town has a trio of little museums showcasing different aspects of its history and culture. These are located on the two streets (Marktstraat and Hofmeijerstraat) on the north side of the square around the basilica.

The Palthe-Huis is a former merchant's home restored with the richly onrnate furnishings and fittings of the period and a couple of galleries of exhibits - www.palthehuis.nl

The Museum de Hofnar is the town's carnival museum.

The Museum de Pelgrim features aspects of the town's religous culture - www.museumdepelgrim.nl

I never did make the time for a visit to these as the weather was just too good for indoor stuff. They look interesting for a rainy day thing to do though.

This little ice-cream parlour on Bischopstraat was doing a roaring trade with the local youngsters every night I was here. Just before it is a little mini-square with benches and low walls for them to congregate and it really was a pleasure to see them enjoying the simple things in life, unlike back here in the UK where the teenagers just seem to hang around corners smoking and looking bored.

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The English Garden is a hidden part of Oldenzaal at the South East side of town, just North of the railroad. It's a different name for the "De Haer" park, located on a hill South of the Tankenberg (which is much higher) founded by Gelderman. One of his sons married an British lady and to avoid homesickness she ordered an English garden to be made.

Garden archtect Springer designed a 9 hectares big the Park Kalheupink, what was called the English Garden by the locals.

The Tankenberg Theekoepel is located at the top of the Tankenberg and dates from 1850.

The stone in fornt reads:
IS T ALLES WISSELING WAAR WE OOK ONZE OOGEN WENDEN,
DE TIJD BOUWT WEDER OP TERWIJL ZIJN HAND VERSTOORT.
HIER GOLFDE EENS DE ZEE WAAR NU DE AKKERS TIEREN
EN UIT VERMOLD GEBEENT KWAM NIEUWE GROEIKRACHT VOORT
EN EVENALS NA T UUR HERREES IN SCHOONER LUISTER.
BESTRAALDE OOK HOOGER LICHT HET MENSCHELIJK VERSTAND.
HIER TOCH WAAR T HEIDENDOM ORAKEL TAAL DEED HOREN.
STAAT NU TER ERE GODS HET DIERBAAR KRUIS GEPLANT.
LAAT DAN DE WUFTE TIJD OOK EENS DEEZ HEUVEL SLOPEN.
LIGT RIJST NOG SCHOONER PLEK IN BEKOORLIJK OORD
MAAR DAN ZELS ALS HEEL D'AARDE HAAR EINDE IS GENADERT
BRENGT TOCH DE LEER VAN T KRUIS HAAR VRUCHTEN EEUWIG VOORT.

Have a look at the statue of Toon en Karel Borghuis. It's at the corner of the Ganzenmarkt looking towards the St. Plechelmus Basilica.

The two brother Borghuis stimulated local music, dance, dialect and songs for many years.

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The St. Plechelmus Basilica is The heart of Oldenzaal. The old city is build around this church that dates from 1150 constructed with Bentheimer sandstones. The Tower dates from 1240 and can be viisited from june to september.

Church visiting hours march - may:
Mondays - Saturday: 1PM - 4PM

Church visiting hours june - august:
Mondays - Fridays: 10AM - 4PM
Saturdays: 1PM - 4PM

Tower visiting hours june - september:
Wednesdays & Saturdays: 2PM & 3PM
Some Fridays: 7PM & 8PM

Each year at the end of August the "Twente Ballooning is held at the Hulsbeek.

It's a four day event starting at 5PM each day.
Hot air balloons are the mean attraction, but there many avionc related activities.

The final day is closed with the nightglow, music, fireworks and hot air balloons in rhythm.

At the West end of Oldenzaal the recreational Hulsbeek park is located.

You can cycle, mountainbike, kart, skate, play ballgames, swim, surf, fish, row, ride a horse, walk and more on this 250 ha terrain.