For renters, Overijssel roughly splits into two areas. In the west are Zwolle, the provincial capital, and Deventer, both near the IJssel. In the east is Twente, with Enschede and Almelo.
These areas are too far apart to combine without thinking it through. So first decide which part of the province you need to be in every day. On this page you can read which neighbourhoods make good starting points in each city and what to look out for in a listing; the city pages then show today's listings.
Enschede is home to the University of Twente. Around the start of the academic year, many students there look for rooms and small homes at the same time.
Cities in Overijssel
Zwolle and Deventer each have a historic centre and their own housing supply. Enschede is the largest city in Twente, and Almelo lies west of Enschede. So on the IJssel side and in Twente, you always have two cities you can combine.
Which side suits you depends mainly on where you work or study. A job in Zwolle and a home in Almelo mean a long daily journey, even though both are in Overijssel.
The provincial capital has a historic centre with canals, the Sassenpoort and the Peperbus. Binnenstad, Hanzeland, Assendorp and Kamperpoort are good starting points for a central search; Holtenbroek and Aa-landen are on the north side. Zwolle-Zuid grew around the former hamlets of Ittersum and Schelle.
Give Stadshagen its own search round. The district has a shopping centre, the Cultuurhuis and Twistvlietpark. For listings in De Tippe and Breezicht, also read the municipality's information on the area's development.
The largest city in Twente and a real student city, with the University of Twente on its north-west side. Students, first-time renters and young families partly look for the same affordable homes here. The Binnenstad is close to shops, restaurants and the station. Roombeek was rebuilt after the 2000 fireworks disaster into a green district with distinctive architecture. Twekkelerveld borders the campus directly.
First decide whether you want to live near the campus or near the centre; a home close to one can mean a long bike ride to the other.
An old Hanseatic city on the IJssel. You can choose between the Binnenstad and the eastern districts of Colmschate and the Vijfhoek. Deventer has two stations, Deventer and Deventer Colmschate, so put both on your map if you travel by train. Binnenstad and Voorstad sit side by side; Keizerslanden has its own district shopping centre.
When you go to a viewing, walk a little beyond the front door, to the supermarket or the station, and see where you could keep your bike.
Lies west of Enschede. Binnenstad, De Riet and Hofkamp are useful names for sorting listings, as are Schelfhorst and Windmolenbroek. The municipality counts Nijrees and Groeneveld as part of Windmolenbroek, although residents sometimes call them separate neighbourhoods. The municipality also includes the villages of Aadorp and Bornerbroek; decide in advance whether they fit your plans.
If you are searching in Twente, Enschede and Almelo are the obvious pairing. On the IJssel side, consider Zwolle and Deventer together if you travel in both directions. Combining Zwolle and Enschede only works if you have really checked the daily journey between the two sides of the province.
Stations and neighbourhoods
Several cities in Overijssel have more than one station, and the University of Twente lies outside central Enschede. So check the connection from each address at the times you normally leave. Distance to a station is only useful if its trains fit the journey you need to make.
Municipality, village and neighbourhood name
Municipalities such as Almelo also include villages, and residents sometimes use neighbourhood names that differ from the official division. A listing with an unfamiliar name may therefore refer to an area you are already considering, or to a village outside the town. Always check the full address.
New builds and area development
Construction is still under way in districts such as Stadshagen in Zwolle. For a new-build home, check the handover date, the route to the home and which facilities are already open. A project page or artist's impression does not prove that the homes pictured are available to rent now.
How Addressly helps
Addressly monitors matching listings in the cities you choose and can request viewings from your own inbox. Replies come to you, and you make any further arrangements directly with the landlord.
No. They are on different sides of the province: Zwolle in the west near the IJssel, Enschede in the east in Twente. First choose which part of the province fits your daily destination.
Which stations does Deventer have?
Deventer has its main station and Deventer Colmschate station on the east side. From your address, check which station you would use and whether its trains fit your journey.
Where is the University of Twente relative to central Enschede?
The campus lies outside the centre, on the north-west side of the city. The Twekkelerveld district borders the campus directly. A home in the centre is closer to the station and the shops.
Are villages such as Aadorp part of Almelo?
Yes, the municipality of Almelo also includes Aadorp and Bornerbroek. A listing under ‘Almelo’ may therefore be in one of those villages.
What is Stadshagen?
Stadshagen is a district on the west side of Zwolle with a shopping centre, the Cultuurhuis and Twistvlietpark. Parts of it, such as De Tippe and Breezicht, are still being built; for a new build, check the handover date and which facilities are already open.
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