The Oude Markt terraces are the social heart of Enschede — on any warm evening, the entire square fills with people at the café and bar terraces that ring it. The clientele is mixed: students, locals, shoppers, and visitors all occupy the same outdoor space, which gives the square a democratic quality that more upmarket cities sometimes lose.
Drinks prices are lower than in Amsterdam or Rotterdam. The Grolsch brewery's hometown connection means Grolsch is available everywhere, and locally it is considered a point of pride. The terraces fill quickly after 5 pm and stay busy until midnight; on summer Fridays the square is at its most animated.