Hengelo real estate: affordable houses in Twente, eastern Netherlands

The city was a machinery and electrical manufacturing centre, and redevelopment around the Hart van Zuid district has changed the centre. Trains run to Amsterdam and onward to Germany on the same line, and Enschede, with its university, is only minutes away. Compare Enschede, Borne, Oldenzaal, Almelo, Nijverdal and Lochem.

Buyers include students' parents, commuters to Enschede and Germany, and investors in the rental market.

Typical stock includes post-war terraced houses, 1970s family homes and newer villas on the edge of town, with some historic factory-district housing. Prices per m² of €3,455 are much lower than in Amsterdam, so the same budget buys a house with a garden. Check the energy label and insulation, since heating costs can be high, and ask about the roof, foundation and any asbestos in older garages. In Twente, there are also holiday parks and country estates for buyers seeking a second home.

Dutch transfer tax is 2% for owner-occupied homes and 8% for other homes. Add notary, valuation and survey costs. Foreign buyers face no general bar, but Dutch mortgages need a BSN and local income, so many use cash. Ask for the VvE paperwork on flats and the energy label on every home.

See our Netherlands buying guide, financing guide and Netherlands overview.