Hengelo (Dutch: [ˈɦɛŋəloː] ⓘ; Tweants: Hengel) is a city in the eastern part of the Netherlands, in the Twente region, in the province of Overijssel.

By consequence, it became a crossroad, inhabited early on in history, which has made it into an infrastructural hub and an industrial centre today.

Afterwards, a reconstruction plan was developed that made it into a modern city, partly at the cost of still remaining historical structures.

In what is known as the historical centre of Hengelo, archaeologists have found a camp site for hunters and gatherers, indicating that the location was inhabited during the Mesolithic, between 12,000 and 5,000 years BP.

Recent archaeological research in the north of Hengelo has led to the discovery of a prehistoric grave field,[6] as well as another settlement from Roman times, with pottery and other artefacts corresponding to the Weser–Rhine Germanic tradition.

In that period, however, various landmark buildings were erected, especially the Waterstaatskerk (1839), and the Lambertusbasiliek (1890),[9] a Roman Catholic basilica built in 1890 devoted to Saint Lambert.

After the construction of its railway station, in 1866,[10] industrial development accelerated, with a focus on technology: Stork B.V., Hazemeyer, N.V. Heemaf (now part of France's Alstom, Brush HMA, Brush-Barclay, Eaton Corporation, Essent, Heemaf BV, Vattenfall, and Wabtec), KHZ (now AkzoNobel), and Hollandse Signaal Apparaten (now part of the Thales Group).

[13] By extension, Hengelo also became a reference for modern architecture, with innovative housing designs, such as Klein Driene I & II (1945-1965, C. Pouderoyen & W.R. van Couwelaar ),[14] Housing Hengelose Es (1962-1968, Van den Broek & Bakema),[15] and De Kasbah (1969-1973, Piet Blom).

Although the former military airport is derelict and plans to revive the place were canceled in 2012, the weather station of the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute is still located there.