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, CG®, QG™ is a professional genealogist in the Netherlands. She holds the Certified Genealogist credential from the Board for Certification of Genealogists and has a post-graduate diploma in Family and Local History from the University of Dundee. She has been doing genealogy for over 30 years and helps people from across the world find their ancestors in the Netherlands. 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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