Upon foundation, Hengelo was a small village and expanded only during the era of the industrial revolution. The construction of a railway network influenced the economic reputation of Hengelo, making it an important business centre. Industries specializing in technical and engineering spheres started to establish their branches in the city. Nowadays, Hengelo is home to numerous domestic and international corporations that contribute to the digital and tech development of the province - Siemens, Thales, Eaton, AkzoNobel, Alstom SA, etc. Besides technologies, Hengelo supports logistics, educational, commercial and numerous other fields.
