Enschede Airport Twente airport (ENS/EHTW) is located 6km north of Enschede and was opened in August 1931 officially. It was a military airport until 2007, but then the base got closed. Since this day, ENS airport mainly serves as storage and scrap airport for big aircraft (like B744, A340 or A330) so most of the traffic is unregular and most aircraft are landing here for the last time before being scrapped. On average there one may see 5 bizjets per week. New airliners for storage/demolition is like 2-3 planes per year. The military do have a exercises once in a while, maybe 2-3 times per year.

Typical visitors for scrapping are Kuwait Airways, Swiss, Air France, TAP, Qatar Airways and KLM – all with their heavies.

The surrounding area is a nature reserve! You can’t walk into the fields, or along the fence adjacent the runway. If there is a plane coming, local authorities are patrolling and will give you a hefty fine. Walking around there will lead to the point that the company who receives the jets won’t publish the arrivals anymore because of pressure from the authorities. There were already last warnings, please respect this and preserve the possibility for the spottercommunity!

Written by Bas Velders and Severin Hackenberger. Pictures provided by Daniel Grotheer, Kevin Harms, Patrick Volmer and Tim Velmer. Last Update: May 2019

Rating
Movements
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
05/23	2987m x 45m Asphalt
Terminals	No terminal as there is no regular traffic.
Spotting Information
Ladder	Not necessary but it could be helpful at some spots.
Car/Public Transport	Car is highly recommended.
Restrooms	Not really around here except inside the shops/restaurants.
Drinks/Food	Only few around the airport, therefore more into the city centre directions.
Hotels	Only into the city centre directions. No hotels right by the airport.
Season	As there is no regular traffic here the season doesn’t matter until there isn’t coming an aircraft for storage or training. Nevertheless summer might be better as the sun is shining longer then (most storage arrivals come in late evening) and the weather is totally better.
Runway Usage
05/23	Mainly depends on the wind, but rather 23.

	Spot #1 – Field
WHERE	Take the N737/Vliegveldstraat and exit the street north of the airport’s westend. Therefore take the exit to the south/southeastern direction in the big roundabout and drive down all way on Oude Vliegveldstraat until you get to a crashgate. Park your car there and search your favourite position along the fence.
WHAT	Arrivals onto runway 05 as well as the storage apron just next to you, although the plants are already quite high so they block the apron view mostly.
TIME	Runway/arrivals: From late afternoon till sunset. Apron: You can honestly walk around the apron along the fence to its southern side, so you can honestly use this spotarea for the apron all day.
MISC.	Bring with you what you need, no toilets, no food, no drinks. A 3 or even 4 step ladder is helpful to photograph over the fence well.
FOCAL LENGTH	24-200mm A346 on runway = ~70-100mm (depending on your position)

ENS-Spot1

ENS-Spot1

	Spot #2 – Ledeboerweg
WHERE	This spot is no exact position rather the area around Ledeboerweg on the fields. Just try to park your car somewhere nearby, which is quite difficult due to limited space and parking restrictions. But once done, search your favourite position aorund here.
WHAT	Arrivals onto runway 23.
TIME	From afternoon till sunset. In winter unuseable.
MISC.	Nothing really nearby. Take everything you need with yourself.
FOCAL LENGTH	150-300mm

ENS-Spot2 / © Tim Volmer and Kevin Hams

ENS-Spot2 / © Tim Volmer and Kevin Hams

ENS-Spot2 / © Tim Volmer and Kevin Hams

	Spot #3 – Grefteberghoekweg
WHERE	From the highway A1, go south towards Enschede. After the the fastfood restaurant, turn right and turn left onto the parallel road: Noordergrensweg. Follow this road until you reach a sharp turn. Parking space is limited here and in most locations prohibited. Try to search for a ”Legal” parking spot or you could be fined/ sent away. There is a crash gate where you have a view on the runway and some of the stored aircraft.
WHAT	Runway 23/05 and stored aircraft.
TIME	From early morning untill ~14:00.
MISC.	There is nothing there.
FOCAL LENGTH	120-300mm

ENS-Spot3

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	Spot #4 – Spotters Hill
WHERE	From the highway A1, go south towards Enschede. After the the fastfood restaurant, turn right and turn left onto the parallel road: Noordergrensweg. Park near the hanger/monument and walk into the nature reserve. NOTE: Stay on the paths! Keep our hobby fun for everybody. Keep right until you reach the spot.
WHAT	Runway 23/05 and stored aircraft.
TIME	From early morning untill ~14:00.
MISC.	There is nothing there. Heat haze is a problem in summer. Nothing around here, be aware of long walking times!
FOCAL LENGTH	120-200mm

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	Spot #5a and 5b – Viewing tower/Water pond
WHERE	From the highway A1, go south towards Enschede. After the the fastfood restaurant, turn right and turn left onto the parallel road: Noordergrensweg. Park near the hanger/monument and walk into the nature reserve. THen you can decide between spot 5a or 5b, but NOTE: Stay on the paths! Keep our hobby fun for everybody. Spot #5a: Water pond – Just walk along the path for about 800m. Then you can shoot from a water pond on your left. Hard to discribe, easy to find… Spot #5b: Viewing Tower – Well, just continue walking into southwestern direction, cross the former runway and just head towards the tower, which is easy to see. Just approach it and climb up. Spot #5a is ~800m form the parking and spot #5b is ~1,6km from the parking! Takes a bit till you’re there!
WHAT	Runway 23/05, stored aircraft, C-platform
TIME	From early morning untill ~14:00.
MISC.	There is nothing there. Heat haze is a problem in summer. Nothing around here, be aware of long walking times!
FOCAL LENGTH	300-500mm

Pictures from spot #5a – water pond:

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Pictures from spot #5b – viewing tower, which looks like THIS

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	Spot #6 – Fence
WHERE	Pass the “@Marcook’s” facilities and head northeast. Shortly afterwards make the turn to the left into northwestern direction. Follow this street till its end when you end up at the fence. Search your favourite position here… You are not allowed to park your car at the Weerseloseweg, you could be fined 104 euros. I suggest parking at 52.264794, 6.871321 (the dirt area next to the N737 (see map)) and walk to spot 6. The parking lot next to @Marcook’s is only opened for their customers.
WHAT	Runway 23/05 and stored aircraft here nearby.
TIME	From sunrise untill ~14:00.
MISC.	There is nothing there. Ladder needed.
FOCAL LENGTH	50-300mm

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	Spot #7 – Sniedersveldweg
WHERE	Right at the roadside of “Sniedersveldweg” path which leads one very close along the airport edge and the fence. Just search your favourite position here as you can park/stop with your car almost all the way along the street as long as you don’t block farmer traffic…
WHAT	View onto 05 arrivals is a bit “more free” than from spot #1 and also 23 departures, mostly too high though.
TIME	From late midday till sunset, rather on longer days.
MISC.	There is nothing there.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm

ENS-Spot7

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