Quick tip: Difference between Twente and Achterhoek

There are two regions in the east of the Netherlands that often get confused: Twente and the Achterhoek.

Twente is the eastern part of the province of Overijssel. Major towns are Enschede, Hengelo, Almelo, and Oldenzaal.

Map of Twente

Map of Twente. Credits: Ilya Kolbeek, via Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA)

The Achterhoek is the eastern part of the province of Gelderland. Major towns are Winterswijk, Groenlo, Lochem, and Zutphen.

Map of the Achterhoek

Map of the Achterhoek. Credits: Centraal Bureau voor Statistiek, via Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA)

About Yvette Hoitink

Yvette Hoitink, MLitt, CG®, QG™ is a professional genealogist, writer, and lecturer in the Netherlands. She has a Master of Letters in Family and Local History from the University of Dundee, and holds the Certification of Genealogist and Qualified Genealogist credentials. Yvette served on the Board of Directors of the Association of Professional Genealogists and won excellence awards for her articles in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly and the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly. Yvette has been doing genealogy for over 30 years. She helps people from across the world find their ancestors from the Netherlands and its former colonies, including New Netherland. Read about Yvette's professional genealogy services.

Comments

  1. My partner has ancestors in both the Achterhoek and Twente with Eibergen and Neede just close to the border between those areas, so I’ve copied the DTB files of both areas below the same directory for convenience. Also, both Twente and the Achterhoek have a place named Hengelo, just to increase the confusion. 😉

  2. henk Meerdink says

    De grootste plaats in de Achterhoek is Doetinchem, niet vermeld. Dat zal je door de inwoners niet in dank worden afgenomen. Zij pretenderen zelfs dat Doetinchem de “hoofdstad” van de Achterhook is. Fout natuurlijk want dat is uiteraard Winterswijk.

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