Hengelo, Netherlands

Capital City

With a population of just 81,049, Hengelo is a small, industrial city in the east of the Netherlands. While it boasts convenient transportation links, the city lacks much historical charm - a consequence of heavy Allied bombing during World War II that leveled the town center. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the postwar reconstruction plan, while praised architecturally, came at the cost of demolishing numerous historical buildings. And the climate, while typical of the Netherlands, features harsher winters than the coastal regions. Overall, Hengelo is best suited for practical-minded individuals more interested in functional infrastructure than picturesque canals and old-world ambiance.