OVERIJSSEL - Geography and history
Overijssel is the seventh largest province of the Netherlands in terms of population and the fourth in terms of area. To the east the province borders the German Land of Nordrhein-Westfalen, and to the west it borders the IJsselmeer (Zuiderzee), with Flevoland, an area which has been reclaimed from the sea. If you travel through the province from west to east, you will see some very varied scenery as you pass through a number of districts, each with its own individual character and dialect. After crossing the river Ijssel, you pass through Salland, with its hedgerows and hills, then through the Vechtdal, with its parkland scenery and - between the river Regge and the river Dinkel - Twente, with its wooded areas and converted summer residences on the outskirts. The major towns - the provincial capital of Zwolle and the other IJssel towns of Kampen and Deventer - are situated in the west, while the Twente towns of Enschede, Hengelo and Almelo are all in the east. The area inbetween is rural. The towns are all interconnected by regional rail and road networks and by water via the IJssel and the Twente canal. There is easy access to the region by main railway lines and motorways from the Randstad and also from Germany. Twente airport connects the region with Schiphol airport.
Business in a rural setting
Overijssel is blessed with pleasant and varied scenery. It is at the crossroads of major road, water and rail connections between the Netherlands, the north German ports and Scandinavia. At the same time Overijssel lies on the route between the most important economic centre in the Netherlands - the Randstad - and German cities such as Hannover and Berlin.
The medium-sized towns in Twente have long been industrial centres, while the picturesque IJssel towns, which were members of the Hanseatic League, have a long tradition of trade, transport and industry.
The towns have good facilities and adequate room to expand. The outward-looking Twente Technical University is in the forefront of applying new technologies to production processes and is of particularly great importance to small and medium-sized innovative industries. The Technical University is also involved in business and management studies.
The restructuring of the old textile and metalworking industries in Twente is not yet complete. This means that old factory buildings and industrial estates are still in the process of being renovated.
At the same time, as a result of this restructuring, a large number of jobs have been created. Although the economy of Twente has made a good recovery, full employment has not yet been achieved, and the area still has a comparatively high unemployment rate.
Two conurbations in a rural area
Twente has a character all of its own. A dialect is spoken there which is related to German. The heart of this region is the Twentse stedenband (the Twente conurbation) comprising Almelo, Hengelo and Enschede. It is still one of the most important industrial centres. Around these focal points there are extensive rural areas, where pastureland alternates with extensive woodland. In the rural centre of the province are the smaller towns of Nijverdal and Rijssen.
Zwolle, which is situated in West-Overijssel, performs an important regional function in this mainly agricultural area. In addition to industry, the town itself has, as the result of its situation, a very active transport and distributive sector. The automation and insurance branch is well represented. Some government offices are also located there. The immediate environs of Zwolle, apart from the town of Kampen at the mouth of the river IJssel, are sparsely populated. In the most northerly part there is an extensive area covered by water, in which is found Giethoorn, which is criss-crossed by small canals, and is often called the 'Venice of the north'. Further south is Deventer, which is beautifully situated on the river IJssel. In this historical town, the provision of business services is an important industry. Many consultancies operate on a national level. The area around Deventer is mainly agricultural, with mixed farming.
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