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Source: CBS Kerncijfers wijken & buurten
Number of establishments
Enschede is a vibrant mid-sized city in the eastern Netherlands with approximately 162,000 residents and a diverse economic foundation that supports a substantial commercial real estate market. The municipality hosts around 17,865 business establishments across 11,376 non-residential properties, reflecting a robust and multifaceted economy. The business services sector leads the commercial landscape with 4,035 establishments, closely followed by trade and hospitality with 3,870 venues, indicating a strong presence of both professional services and consumer-facing businesses. This balanced sectoral distribution, complemented by significant government, education, and healthcare operations comprising 3,265 establishments, plus industrial and energy activities with 2,095 locations, demonstrates that Enschede functions as both a regional service hub and an economic engine supporting diverse commercial activities.
For prospective tenants and buyers, Enschede presents compelling fundamentals rooted in its substantial labour market and local purchasing power. The city supports a working population of nearly 82,000 professionals with a net labour participation rate of 66 percent, ensuring reliable availability of skilled and semi-skilled workers across sectors. Average resident income stands at €29,800 annually, indicating a healthy local consumer base capable of supporting retail and hospitality operations. The sector composition suggests that Enschede is particularly well-suited for office space dedicated to business services, retail and food-and-beverage establishments benefiting from both resident and visitor spending, and light industrial facilities. Commercial operators seeking a location combining professional services demand, consumer traffic, and workforce stability will find Enschede an attractive market with proven sectoral diversity and economic resilience.
CBS dataset: 85984NED · Last updated: June 29, 2026

Miquel van Dongen
Tech Director
As Tech Director at RE-SEARCH, Miquel van Dongen is co-responsible for developing the platform and for collecting, structuring and analysing data. By combining technology with real estate expertise, he ensures that RE-SEARCH can continuously generate reliable and up-to-date market data.
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At a glance
Office space for rent in Enschede: 1 property. 100% of listings carry energy label A or better.