Twente

Twente
Flag
Location of  Twente  (Yellow)
Capital	Enschede
Official languages	Dutch
Ethnic groups	predominantly European
Area
• Total	1,503 km2 (580 sq mi)
Population
• 2012 estimate	626,586
• Density	416.9/km2 (1,079.8/sq mi)
Currency	Euro3 (EUR)
Time zone	GMT+1
Drives on the	right
Calling code	+31

Twente (English: Twenthe, Dutch: Twente [ˈtʋɛntə], Tweants dialect: Twente / Tweante) is a non-administrative region in the eastern Netherlands. It encompasses the most urbanised and easternmost part of the province of Overijssel. Twente is most likely named after the Tuihanti or Tvihanti, a Germanic tribe that settled in the area and was mentioned by the Roman historian Tacitus.

The region's borders are defined by the Overijssel region of Salland in the northwest and west (the river Regge roughly defines the western border), the German County of Bentheim in the northeast and east (the river Dinkel roughly defines the eastern border) and the Gelderland region of the Achterhoek in the south.

Twente has approximately 620,000 inhabitants, most of whom live in the three largest cities: Almelo, Hengelo and Enschede, the latter being the main city of the region.

Twente comprises fourteen municipalities: Almelo, Borne, Dinkelland, Enschede, Haaksbergen, Hellendoorn, Hengelo, Hof van Twente, Losser, Oldenzaal, Rijssen-Holten, Tubbergen, Twenterand and Wierden.