The Roombeek neighbourhood in Enschede, which was devastated by the massive explosion of a fireworks depot on 13 May 2000, swiftly became a bustling building site covering an expanse of no less than 400,000 square metres. A raft of initiatives has been launched for other parts of the city since then, and the redevelopment and construction plans have gained momentum.

The Roombeek neighbourhood in Enschede, which was devastated by the massive explosion of a fireworks depot on 13 May 2000, swiftly became a bustling building site covering an expanse of no less than 400,000 square metres. A raft of initiatives has been launched for other parts of the city since then, and the redevelopment and construction plans have gained momentum.

With a population of 150,000, Enschede is the biggest city in the east of the Netherlands and the country’s 10th largest city. Enschede belongs in the category of places to which the Dutch expression ‘unknown is unloved’ applies. At the most unexpected spots in the city one finds architectural pearls and wonderful streetscapes. Highly interesting projects are to be realized there over the coming years, complementing the existing qualities with new facilities such as museums, an opera house, council offices, a hospital and a venue for pop music. The architecture firms involved include MVRDV, Liesbeth van der Pol and Onix. Enschede is re-creating itself in one fell swoop.

Documentary photographer Theo Baart has captured the urban, scenic and architectural qualities of Enschede in 60 or so photos – from the panoramic landscape of the region of Twente on the edge of the city to the surprising city centre. The City of Enschede’s ‘municipal urban planner’, Ton Schaap, turns the spotlight on about 10 projects (by famous designers such as Bjarne Mastenbroek and Jan Hoogstad) that are to be realized over the coming years.

Everyone is curious about developments in Enschede in the wake of the fireworks disaster. This book shows that the city is more vital than ever.