Groningen: The Student City In Holland

Groningen is a city in the north of the Netherlands and the capital of the province of Groningen. This city is considered the most important in the northern provinces of the Netherlands. It is known for Martinitoren, the fifth tallest church tower in the Netherlands. Here are the University of Groningen and the Hansehogeschool of Groningen. The city is also famous for its large student community, as it has about 40,000 students out of a total population of 180,000. Due to this large number of students, the city has an active nightlife and many cultural activities. So in this article, we will travel together to Groningen and explore what you can do and see there.

Organizing your trip

Access to Groningen is relatively simple. Once you arrive in the Netherlands, you can take a train or a taxi, and you will arrive directly at your destination. In Groningen, there are hotels for all tastes and wallets. Remember to choose a property near the city center so that you are close to everything you need at any time of the day.

Must do & see

In Groningen, there are many things to see as it is one of the most important cities in the Netherlands. In particular, it is worth visiting the Museum of Groningen. It is the most famous museum in North Holland and one of the most famous in the country. The Groningen Museum is a modern art museum with works of local, national, and international artists.

It was founded in 1874 and has been housed in the current building since 1994. The current building is of the architectural School of “post-modernism,” It has three main wings and has been designed by architects Philippe Starck, Alessandro Mendini, and Coop Himmelb(l)au.

Another option is the Martindale bell tower. It is on the northeast side of Market Square and is the tallest bell tower in Groningen. It was constructed in 1482 and is the third tower built at the site, as the first two were destroyed by lightning. It is the city’s main tourist attraction as it offers unrivaled views of the city and the surrounding area. It contains a brick spiral staircase consisting of 260 steps, while the Spire within the tower contains 62 bells. The front of the building shows three images of men connected with the history of Groningen.

Once in the city, you have to visit the so-called Golden Office, a symbolic building behind the City Hall on Waagstraat Street near the main Square. It was built in 1635 as an office for the superintendent of the province of Groningen.

Finally, it is worth visiting Market Square, the central element of the city of Groningen, which was called ”Breede Merckt” until the 19th century. On the Square, there are some of the most important buildings of the city, such as the town hall and the Martinitoren Tower, department stores, restaurants, hotels as well as cafes. The name of the city arises as in the past (during the Middle Ages), the Square operated the city market, a common tactic in all the cities of the Netherlands.

Alternative tourism in Groningen

Many call Groningen “Little Amsterdam” since it is built around canals and is full of exciting museums. The variety of museums allows everyone to find something interesting to see. The Groninger Museum, the Noordelijk Scheepvaartmuseum, and the Universitetsmuseum Groningen are among the most famous museums.

Gastronomy

In Groningen, it is worth trying waffles, local cheeses, and cold cuts, for which they are famous. Like the Netherlands in general, Groningen has high restaurant prices, and they all close around 10 pm. Finally, in the Netherlands – and therefore in Groningen- the use of cash is limited, so make sure you always have your debit card with you!

So Groningen has many options that are worth seeing. Its cultural heritage, the new experiences it has to offer, and the ”character” of this student town make it stand out from other cities in the Netherlands.

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