Molenstraat – appartement 4.2

I've been living here for over 2 years now. Above a shop (our own shop). The neighbourhood is very friendly and tidy. Many new buildings are being built for students and first-time buyers! Everything is very close by, which is super convenient. There are many rubbish bins and also racks for deposit bottles. Great neighbourhood!!

We have a shop in the city centre... 83 years in the family. Over the years, the inner city has changed a lot! And not for the better. Demolition of beautiful buildings, many empty shop premises where unfortunately only the so-called "fortune seekers" often settle. The result is that they are empty again after a while! It is often made difficult for shopkeepers because of all the rules from the municipality. Rules thought up by gentlemen somewhere in a warm office who don't even seem to know the whole situation in the city themselves. Streets are closed, the car park in our neighbourhood closed, and that, as they say, for a higher purpose! No, it is certainly not a pleasure to be a small independent business in a city like Enschede where there is only room for large worthless chains like Primark, Sissy Boy XL and Action. No more appreciation for a decent butcher, fish or fruit shop. Very unfortunate but that is the reality in Enschede.

Enschede is not really my place to live. There are a lot of junkies, people really live for themselves and there is no social cohesion. The house is easily accessible by public transport, as it is a 7-minute walk from the station. However, if you drive into the city centre by car, you can only do so between 7 and 11 o'clock. If you have your own car, you can't park it anywhere; it can be a 20-minute walk. School is very close, you have the UT, ROC van Twente and Saxion. Living in the city centre is convenient because everything is close by in terms of shops. There is also a lot of crime in the neighbourhood, young people walking around with weapons (apparently) and many junkies arguing over money and drugs. The houses in the centre are old and poorly insulated; you pay an arm and a leg for rent and gas, water, electricity. There is little greenery, although there is the city park.

The neighbourhood is cosy. Enschede is a beautiful city and I live right in the centre. The station is nearby and there is also a lovely city park a 10-minute walk from my home. A downside is that in summer the city can smell quite unpleasant, and therefore my home too. If you open the windows, it stinks quite a bit. Furthermore, you also have to deal with the noise of the nightlife from Friday to Sunday.