Groningen

For other places with the same name, see Groningen (disambiguation).

The decorated tower of the Aa-Church rising above the neighbourhood.

Groningen is a lively university city in the Northern Netherlands. It's the capital of a province with the same name and home to some 190,000 inhabitants. Its large university with some 50.000 students give the city a pleasant youthful atmosphere and plenty of things to do. Combined with the fine historic heritage, an excellent museum and good shopping opportunities, this is a prime destination in the north.

Understand

Archaeologists have found traces of inhabitance from the neolithic and the later Iron Age. It is not quite clear if the area has been inhabited continuously since that time. However, it is certain that the city appeared in writing in the year 1040 as "Villa Cruoninga", apparently already a place of some significance. The city has a rich history, which can be seen clearly from the old medieval buildings in the down town area.

In the 13th century, when Groningen was an important trade centre, its inhabitants built a city wall to underline its authority. The city had a strong influence on the surrounding lands and made its dialect a common tongue. The most influential period of the city was the end of the 15th century, when the nearby province of Friesland was administered from Groningen. During these years, the Martini Tower was built, which loomed over the city at (then) 127 meters tall, making it the highest building in Europe at the time. The city's independence came to an end when it chose to join forces with the Spanish during the Eighty Years' War in 1594. It later switched sides, joining the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands.

In 1614, the University of Groningen was founded, initially only for religious education. In the same period the city expanded rapidly and a new city wall was built. That same city wall was tested during the Third Anglo-Dutch War in 1672, when the city was attacked fiercely by the bishop of Münster, Bernhard von Galen. The city walls resisted, an event which is celebrated with music and fireworks on 28 August (as "Groningens Ontzet" or "Bommen Berend").

The city did not escape the devastation of World War II. In particular, the main square, Grote Markt, was largely destroyed in April 1945, at the Battle of Groningen. However, the Martinitoren, its church, the Goudkantoor, and the city hall were not damaged. The battle there lasted several days.

Get in

By train

It's a fairly long way from the major destinations in the Western Netherlands, but getting here is not hard. Groningen has three train stations, the central station (Station Groningen), Groningen Europapark and Groningen Noord. All trains eventually arrive at the central station; only a few trains stop at the smaller stations.

There are direct trains from The Hague and Schiphol airport and from Rotterdam and Utrecht to Groningen (2.5 hours) and Amsterdam Centraal can be reached with one change at Lelystad or Amersfoort/Utrecht. (2h20m). These intercity trains leave every half hour. A regional line runs west to Leeuwarden every half hour.

There is an hourly international connection that terminates in Leer Bahnhof (Germany). Once over the border, you can change line to reach Bremen, Hamburg and Hanover. Note that the train to Leer is very local (and therefore slow). A special ticket is available for €10,30 or €17 return (May 2012) - you can only find it at the Arriva counter inside Groningen railway station [1]. In Leer, the train connects to an RE going to Hanover via Oldenburg and Bremen.

By bus

The main bus station is right next to the central train station.

There is a direct buslink to Bremen, Bremen airport and Oldenburg (starting at €9, one-way) [2]. Bus leaves opposite the trainstation. Be aware that you need to book a day in advance to get the lowest fare.

You can get a ticket directly from and to Bremen Airport at the VVV office in Groningen, or book (and print) online. Prices vary depending on the hour of the day.

At the bus terminal you can find direct buses to Lelystad, via Heerenveen, Lemmer and Emmeloord as well as a wide range of city buses and lines to virtually all large and small destinations in the region.

By car

A myriad of roads lead to and from Groningen, making the city well reachable by car. The major highways are the A7 (west-east) and the A28 coming from the south. Several fine N-roads connect the city to nearby destinations, and are the way to go further north. The most notable ones are the N360 to Appingedam and Delfzijl, and the N361 north, direction of Winsum.

Driving in the old city, particularly within the central canal ring, is not the best option. Parts of town are car-free, there are many one way roads, parking is not always easy to find, and none of it is free.

There are several Park & Ride facilities; once of the biggest is on Sontweg, to the east of the city and near IKEA. It is clearly marked when driving on the ring road. Parking there is free, and for 2 euro (one way) or 5 euro return for 5 people, a regular bus service takes you right to (and from) the Grote Markt, the heart of the city.

If you are coming from Germany you can park at "kardinge". Follow the road to "Eemshaven" and take the exit "Kardinge". The busses here go about every 10 minutes or more often and for the same price as trip from IKEA.

By plane

Groningen is served by Groningen Airport Eelde (GRQ  ^IATA) with direct flights to and from selected cities in the United Kingdom, Austria, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Turkey.

Get around

The Goudkantoor is one of the most outstanding buildings in the city centre.

Like most cities in the Netherlands, Groningen's historic city center is surrounded by a canal, the diepenring. Most of the sights are within this area, and the Central Station is 50m outside it.

Within the diepenring, traffic is very restricted; Groningen's centre is designed to be as traffic-free as possible, and it is very difficult to drive and park within this area. Even resident parking permits are strictly rationed. However, the central area is compact and can be easily crossed on foot or with a bicycle.

Further out, Groningen has a loosely connected ring road, consisting of several N-roads forming a rather square ring shape around the centre. The city sprawls somewhat and crosses this ring in places, but most of the population live within this area.

By bike

Getting from any place in Groningen to the centre will take at most 20 minutes cycling. This makes the bike a fast, cheap and easy way to travel in Groningen. Don't get scared by the overwhelming amount of bicycles. The city houses tens of thousands of students, whose primary means of transportation is the bike. Be advised though; bicycle theft is pretty high so use a good lock (preferably two).

Bicycles are available for rent at a number of places around town, including a facility in the Central Station. Many hotels offer bike rental to their guests as well, usually for fares around or under €10 per day.

By bus

If you haven't got a bike the bus is the best option for distances you don't want to walk. All buses run through (or end on) Central station. Most buses have a stop at the Grote Markt. The major bus lines are listed below. Tickets are available by the driver (during off-peak periods you can buy a Eurokaartje, cost €2,00) or see the OV-chipkaart sections on the Netherlands page for other payment methods. Note that the Central Station is listed as bus stop "Hoofdstation" in and on buses and on bus stops.

• Line 2 runs from the northern train station (Station Noord) to De Punt via Korreweg, Central Station, de Wijert and Eelde.
• Line 6 runs from Hoornsemeer to the northern Station Noord via the Martini hospital, Paterswoldseweg, the Central Station, the Aa-kerk, and Vinkhuizen (note: check the destination: terminates quite often in Vinkhuizen)
• Line 7 runs from Central Station to Station Noord via Zuiderdiep, UMCG Hospital and the Korreweg.
• Line 8 runs from Hoogkerk to Corpus den Hoorn via the Westerhaven, the Central Station, and the Martini Hospital.
• Line 9 runs from the Central Station to Selwerd/Zernike via the Aa-kerk, Westerhaven, Noorderplantsoen and depending on departure time, Paddepoel and Selwerd or Paddepoel and Campus Zernike.
• Line 11 runs from the Central Station to the Zernike/Zuidhorn, via Zuiderdiep, Grote Markt, Noorderplantsoen and Paddepoel.
• Line 12 runs from Central station via Kardinge to industry terrain Driebond via Euroborg and Europapark station.

Q-Link

Q-Link is a group of 4 bus services which are combinations of previous regional and city bus services. These buses are air conditioned and have a WiFi connection and run from city destinations to places just outside the region. One exception for line 15 which is a student express line to Zernike.

• Line 3 runs from Lewenborg to Leek via Kardinge, Grote Markt, Zuiderdiep, Central Station and P+R Hoogkerk.
• Line 4 runs from Beijum to Roden via Kardinge, Grote Markt, Zuiderdiep, Central Station and P+R Hoogkerk.
• Line 5 runs from station Europapark to Annen via UMCG Hospital, Grote Markt, Zuiderdiep, Central Station, P+R Haren and Zuidlaren. Note that sometimes this bus terminates at P+R Haren, so make sure Zuidlaren and Annen are mentioned if you travel this way.
• Line 15 is a student express service from Central Station to college campus Zernike. It is located just north of Paddepoel and line 15 runs via Rembrandt van Rijnstraat and Paddepoel. Please do note that these buses are very crowded in the morning to Zernike, and in the afternoon back to the Central Station. Also does not run in weekends.

See

For centuries already, the tower of the Martinichurch is the main landmark for the city.

The city centre is both pleasant and interesting, with plenty of cultural heritage and a laid-back atmosphere. Together with the excellent Groninger Museum, it forms the main attraction for visitors.

Severe battles left hundreds of buildings in ruins in 1945, but a good number or monuments remain. Strolling through the city centre you'll encounter former canal warehouses, the city hall, several churches, the former Gold Office and many other historic buildings. Over recent decades, the city has attempted to find a balance between modern architecture and historic grandeur: and with success. The latest initiative is a major renewal of the eastern side of the Grote Markt, for which the building is currently in progress and planned to be complete in 2017.

Like many cities in The Netherlands, the centre is surrounded by a canal. Several historic canals have been "gedempt", or filled, however, and turned into streets. This is reflected in their names, and you'll likely find yourself strolling along the Gedempte Zuiderdiep. The heart of the city is formed around the two adjoining market squares, The Grote Markt (or Large Market) and the Vismarkt (or Fish Market). Standing tall on the edge of the Grote Markt is the Martini Tower, a true landmark for Groningen and one of its main attractions.

Museums

Groninger Museum

Note that like in many cities in Europe, Groningen's museums are generally closed on Mondays.

• 1 Groninger Museum, Museumeiland 1 9711 ME Groningen, Nederland, ☏ +31 50 366 6555. Just opposite train/bus station. Spectacular architecture. Hosts state of the art of contemporary art in the world. Named one of the five most progressive modern/contemporary art collections in the world, this museum's changing exhibitions regularly attract visitors from all over the country. 

• 2 Noordelijk Scheepvaartmuseum, Brugstraat 24 Groningen, Nederland, ☏ +31 50 312 2202. The northern museum of water transport. Shows the history and role of transport over water until the 1970s. 

• 3 Universiteitsmuseum (University Museum), Oude Kijk in 't Jatstraat 7A, 9712 EA, ☏ +31 50 363 5798. A strange and wonderful little museum located just off Oude Kijk in 't Jatstraat. Temporary exhibitions, often of a technological bent, are held on the first floor; upstairs (past an elaborate stained-glass window in the stairwell) is an eclectic collection in the Victorian style, with everything from anatomical specimens and taxidermied animals to early scientific instruments. 

• 1 Het Nederlands Stripmuseum, Westerhaven 71, ☏ +31 50-3178470, [email protected]. The Dutch cartoon museum (strip = cartoon) has opened in 2004 and shows many cartoons made by Dutch cartoonists. It's also suitable to visit with children (not least because there's a McDonalds next-door with a play area), but also because they can learn how to draw cartoons by themselves. +/- € 7.-. 

Historic heritage

The Prinsentuin is a lovely Renaissanse style garden and an excellent place to just sit down and relax for half an hour.

• 4 Aa-Kerk, Akerkhof. This beautiful church with its remarkable yellow-painted tower stands tall above the neighbouring Korenbeurs. Establised between 1425 - 1492, the churches tower was repeatedly destroyed and replaced, with the current one originating in 1711 after the one before suddenly collapsed. Today, the building is no longer used for religious services but is open for visitors and regularly houses expositions. 

• 5 Gold Office (Goudkantoor), Waagplein 1 (More or less between the two market squares). This beautifully decorated building on the edge of the Grote Markt is hard to miss. Built in 1635, it originally served as the office for the city receiver. The words Date Caesari quae sunt Caesaris, Lating for render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's, still reminds of this early function of the building. Later, between 1814 and 1887, it served as a gold office in the sense that this was the place where gold and silver works were authenticated and marked as real. Today, it's a café. 

• The Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, the University of Groningen, is the second-oldest university in the Netherlands and one of three State Universities of the Netherlands. It was established in 1614. While the university has its share of modern buildings, both in and out of town, the Academiegebouw is an old and attractive building with a tower and worth strolling past.

• There are several late-medieval Guest Houses (Gasthuizen) scattered through the city centre within the ring of canals. During daylight hours these picturesque courtyards can be visited for free. Be mindful that the houses themselves are not open to the public and that the people living in them enjoy their quiet and privacy. Visitors are welcome in the courtyards. Access is through gated doorways that will be unlocked during daylight hours and locked during the evening/night. The largest one is in the Pelsterstraat, next to the church and consists of several courtyards connected through archways. Another one is located behind the Vroom and Dreesman shopping centre in the Rode Weeshuisstraat (Red Orphanage Street). In the Peperstraat, near the end on the left when viewed from the Poelestraat, is the Peperstraat Guest House. Part of the medieval city wall is still visible from the courtyard. The St. Anthony Guesthouse is located opposite the police headquarters on the Rademarkt just south of Zuiderdiep.

• Synagogue. The synagogue was built after the oriental design of the New Synagogue in Berlin. Shortly after WWII the Jewish community was forced to sell the synagogue since only a mere 7% of the entire Jewish community of Groningen survived the war. In 1981 the building was renovated and rehabilitated. 

The Old Roman Catholic Hospital

• Oude RKZ, Old Roman Catholic Hospital. This is an old Roman Catholic hospital in the South of the city, in Helpman. The hospital itself was abandoned in 1978, after which it was squatted. Until 1986 the Oude RKZ was the largest squat in The Netherlands and possibly in the whole of Europe. In 1986 the government allowed the squat to be legalized. Nowadays it is a vibrant place where 250 people from all ages find a place to live and to share what is important. The former squat has cheap folk kitchens on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. There are also 2 bars, a cinema, yoga and capoeira sessions and many many other things. Being a motor for the Dutch alternative and artist scene, the Oude RKZ is a well known place to many people from all over Europe. If you want to eat at the folk kitchen it's best to call on the same day to reserve a meal. Meals are served at 18:30 hrs and the number for the reservations is +31505257601. 

• Prinsenhof & Prinsentuin, Martinikerkhof 23, entrance of the public gardens at the corner of Turfsingel and Kattenhage. Just a short walk from the Grote Markt, the lovely Renaissanse gardens of the Prinsenhof can be a remarkably peaceful place to relax for a little while. It has a rose garden a herb garden and The Prinsenhof building originates in the 15th century and was originally a wealthy mansion for the city's bisshop or "stadtholder", and later was used as a military hospital. Now, a restaurant has been opened within the building. The gardens are open for public and house a pretty sundial. When the weather is nice, volunteers run a small tea house here. 

Do

• Take a guided bike tour. the best way to discover Groningen. 

• Climb the Martini tower. For a nice view over the city. It's one of the most famous sites in Groningen. Its name has nothing to do with the drink, by the way but refers to Saint Martin. Though locals call the tower d' Olle Grieze which means 'the old grey one' and is related to its colour. Tickets are available in the VVV (tourist information) shop just over the road. 

• Take a canal cruise [3] around the historical center.

• Like many Dutch cities, Groningen has beautiful canals around the centre. From the 1st of April until the 1st of Oktober it's possible to hire a canoe and paddle around the centre. It's a round trip that gives you a totally different view of Groningen since you are lower than the streets and you can pass very close along the many house boats in the city. Some bridges have a secret 'roof' that can only be seen when you pass under the bridge (or if you're standing at the right side when the bridge opens vertically). A tour around the centre takes about 1 – 2 hours, depending on how fit you are, how many stops you take for photo shootings, and water battles.* 't Peddeltje kanoverhuur, Herebrug (coming from the centre it's on the right side of the bridge, walk to the middle of the bridge and then down the stairs), ☏ +31 88-1198860. 11:00 - 19:00. € 8 - 20.  - GPS: N53° 12' 49.4274" E 6° 34' 25.215"

• Walk in het Noorderplantsoen. On a sunny day, this is the place to relax after a hard day's work for a lot of students. 

• Visit the Noorderzon open-air theatrefestival. In the second half of August, art, comedy, dance and theatre in the Noorderplantsoen. 

• See a band at Vera underground pop club. Where Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Sonic Youth, the White Stripes and many others performed. 

• Visit the annual Eurosonic and/or Noorderslag music festivals, where dozens of bands from all over the world perform on various stages spread throughout the city.

• Friday Fun Skate (the start and finish of the tour are always at the oval pool in the Noorderplantsoen park). gathering from 19:45, departure at 20:00. Every Friday from mid April until mid September skaters gather in Groningen to skate together. The group is accompanied by a rolling music boombox. The tours are quite easy to ride, though total beginners might find it a bit scary to have so many others around themselves. Each week another tour is chosen. It's possible to get an sms service to know if the Friday Fun Skate takes place or not. Length: 18 - 23 km. GPS: N 53° 13' 25.1364" E 6° 33' 19.6128" costs: free. 

• Take a free bus-ride on the National Day of Architecture organised on Saturday around 21 June by GRAS-platform. Buses leave from Stadsschouwburg on Turfsingel from 11AM. on. Buses will take you to some highlights of newest architecture.

Buy

• The Herestraat, the city's pedestrianised shopping street, runs south off the Grote Markt and contains most of the city's everyday shopping needs and 'standard' Dutch clothing stores and chains. This is where you'll find Hema, Blokker, de Bijenkorf, and so on.

• Other shopping streets (Oosterstraat, A-kerkhof / Brugstraat, Folkingestraat, Stoeldraaierstraat / Oude Kijk in 't Jatstraat) extend out from the Grote Markt and the Vismarkt. Their side streets (Zwanestraat, Grote Kromme Elleboog) are often worth a look too. All streets within the central canal ring are low traffic due to restrictions - but watch out for cyclists, who don't often pay attention to pedestrian crossings.

• The most picturesque shopping street is called the Folkingestraat; it runs south from the Korenbeurs (the former corn exchange) at the end of the Vismarkt towards the museum bridge and the Central Station. It has a lot of little shops full of firsthand and secondhand little gifts, intercultural foods and great books.

• The lovely Oude Kijk in 't Jatstraat has different characteristic shops including plenty of art galleries, a travel bookshop, two branches of a great coffee and tea chain, an excellent independent bakery, a particularly nice cafe, shops selling toys and games, and a few second-hand furniture and clothes shops. It used also to have the best home made chocolate shop in town. However, that's now moved round the corner to...

• Grote Kromme Elleboog, which also has shops selling beer, herbs and spices, coffee, cooking utensils etc.

Eat

The centre of Groningen has many nice little cafes or restaurants where you can eat. Groningen is a real university city, so there are plenty of cafe-restaurants where you can eat for about €10.

• 1 Eetcafé De Balk, E. Thomassen à Thuessinklaan 7, ☏ +31 50 280 9439. Got a prize for "Best Eetcafe 

• 2 De Zevende Hemel (Seventh Heaven), Zuiderkerkstraat 7 (north of the centre, near the Nieuwe Kerk), ☏ +31 50 314 5141. Excellent food and wine but quite pricey; a good place to go treat yourself. 
• 3 Eeterie De Globe, Akerkhof 22, ☏ +31 50 318 2226. 3 different main courses each day (one meat, one fish, one veg.) for €6.50 or €7.50 per course. Many customers eat here several times per week. 

• 4 Eetcafé 't Koetshuys, Blekerstraat 22-24, ☏ +3150 310511. 17:00 till 21:30. A nice little restaurant at only 5 minutes away from the Fishmarket (vismarkt). Great food, for a nice price. Prices vary from €9.50 for the dish of the day to €16 for the house specialty, Moroccan style marinated tenderloin. Main courses come with fries, a salad and depending on your dish, warm veggies. 

• FEBO, Grote Markt 34 (On the corner of the Grote Markt, near the Drie Gezusters pub), ☏ +31 50-313-3102. Opening hours vary; min. 1PM - midnight (Sun.), max. 11:30AM - 7AM (Sat.). In case of emergency! If you've left it too late before heading out for food and the restaurants have closed their kitchens, you can get all your deep-fried nutritional needs met at the FEBO automat. €1.50 - €2.70. 

• Fuji-Tei, Poelestraat 39-41 (200m down Poelestraat from the Grote Markt), ☏ +3150-318-9696. 14:00-23:00 Mon-Sun. Respectable, tasty Japanese and Korean food. The all-you-can-eat deals are excellent value for money. Fuji-Tei is somewhat cheaper than its sister restaurant Fujiyama, a teppanyaki restaurant on the corner of the Grote Markt - though if you want showmanship with your dinner, Fujiyama is the place to go. 

• Humphrey's. Vismarkt 42. avg. price 3 courses à la carte €18. 

• Land van Kokanje on Oude Boteringestraat for big and great lunch-salads (less than €10).

• Mr. Mofongo's, Oude Boteringestraat 26 (from Grote Markt walk towards the western end en turn right into Oude Boteringestraat. Mr Mofongo's is on the left hand side after approximately 150 meters.), ☏ +3150 3144266. 11AM-10PM. Fusion-style restaurant with very good dishes for a reasonable price. May get crowded in the summer and during midterms and endterms since the University's library is around the corner. Also a nice place to have drink later at night. 

• PUUR! (Natural Food), Folkingestraat 13, ☏ +31 50-3116175, [email protected]. A hip café that offers amazing food and drinks. On sunny day, you can sit outside in the back garden. It gets quite crowded on Saturdays. 

• Spring's. Grote Markt 30/33. avg. price 3 courses à la carte €15. 

• 't Feithhuis, Martinikerkhof 10, ☏ +3150-313-5335. 10.30AM-10.30PM. Close to the Martini tower and Grote Markt, this cafe-restaurant is sited in a historic building, and serves excellent locally sourced food. Dinner around €40 per head including drinks. 

• 't Pannekoekschip, Schuitendiep 1017 (It's a masted sailing ship moored on the inner side of the Schuitendiep canal - you can't miss it), ☏ +3150-312-0045. 12:00-21:00 Mon-Sun. Unashamedly touristy, the Pannekoekschip ("pancake ship") is an old sailing ship that's been turned into a pancake restaurant, serving huge and delicious Dutch pancakes. €8.50 - €13 for a savoury or sweet pancake. 

• Thai Jasmine, Schuitendiep 78 (On the outer side of the Schuitendiep canal, roughly opposite the Pannekoekschip), ☏ +3150-312-3416. Kitchen open 17:00-22:00 Mon-Sun. A fantastic, authentic little Thai restaurant just outside the inner canal ring. Often very full, but you can often wait at the bar until a table becomes available. 

• Ugly Duck. Zwanestraat 28. Main courses including bowl of salad, baked potatoes, vegetables from €10.50. Really good! 

• Lambik, Grote Kruisstraat 73, This small restaurant serves one meat dish or fish dish and one vegetarian dish and both dishes change every day. It is located next to the Noorderplantsoen, which makes it a good spot in the summer.

• De Kleine Moghul. Nieuwe Boteringestraat 62. This tatty-looking small Indian restaurant has an all-Indian staff, you can only pay cash and there is no English menu. The food is stunningly good, well worth a visit. 

• Vroom & Dreesmann department store, Grote Markt 21, has a cafeteria "La Place" on the top floor with an outdoor terrace.
• Boccaccio, Steentilstraat 38 (Walk east along Gedempte zuiderdiep until the road forks. Take right fork, located 2/3 down on the left), ☏ +31 (0)50 311 21 26FORMAT. 17:00 - 22::00. Tuscan cuisine. Great food and atmosphere. Weekly specials offer an excellent and reasonably priced 3 or 4 course menu. Make a reservation if you plan to eat after 18:00 as it can get busy! €38:50, 4 course menu. 

Drink

De Drie Gezusters

Groningen's reputation as university town is borne out in its nightlife, which is comprehensive, with numerous options for drinking and clubbing. There are also several places to play pool/billiards. Most bars have the standard Dutch beers, but more and more international, especially Belgian, beers are beginning to have a presence. Bars in the down town area do not have fixed closing hours. Theoretically they can stay open for 24 hours a day, which a few bars do.

Big parties (usually with electronic music) in the whole Netherlands can be found listed on Partyflock (in Dutch).[4]

• De Pintelier, traditional Belgian pub serving a plethora of kinds of beer and whisk(e)y. Located at the Kleine Kromme Elleboog 9, and open daily from 3PM, closing at 2AM Sun - Thurs and at 3AM Fri and Sat.
• Cafe de Koffer, another "speciaalbier" pub, at Nieuwe Blekerstraat 1. Lots of bottled beers, as well as a few on tap. Most are Belgian or Dutch, but there are also a few American and British beers on the menu - a real rarity around here. Open daily from 4PM to 3AM.
• Der Witz, a German pub located on the Grote Markt in a very small building. Serving many kinds of beer.
• De Spieghel, jazz pub in the Peperstraat with free and usually good live performances at most evenings starting around eleven o'clock. From Sunday until Wednesday performances are on the second level, which is a smaller, cosier bar and it gives you a more intimate performance. From Thursday until Saturday all performances are downstairs, which is a larger bar with a stage and the performances tend to be bigger (larger band). Relaxed atmosphere any evening. Guests who are at the bar downstairs may even choose the upcoming music from the jukebox.
• Het Kasteel, a compact international student hangout on Peperstraat. Sells Jäger and other shots for €1 and 13-beer 'zwaards' ('a sword') for €10.
• D'Ouwe Brandweer, on Zuiderdiep opposite Pathe-cinema.
• Huis de Beurs, on corner of Vismarkt. Has made a come-back and is very trendy now. Live piano music in the evening. The first Dutch socialst party was founded here.
• Cafe Atlantis, on O.K. i.h. Jatstraat opposite Faculty of Law. Dark, narrow place, mainly men, for playing chess and other games. Drinks very cheap.
• De Prinsentuin In summertime there is a nice terrace in a rose garden.
• De Drie Gezusters (Three Sisters). On the Grote Markt. Possibly the largest bar in the Netherlands as well as in Europe. Many bars connected in a mazelike fashion; has several façades on the Grote Markt that look like separate bars, but don't let that deceive you. 
• De Kosterij. In a corner of the Grote Markt, next to the Martinitoren. Family style. Nice terrace in summertime. 
• Wolthoorn & Co. Turftorenstraat 6. Voted best pub in the Netherlands for several years.
• Het Feithhuis. Next to the Martini Tower. "Liberal" atmosphere. A good place to have lunch. 
• El Rubio, in Zwanestraat. Owner "Joop" only likes male gay guests.
• Newscafe, on Tussen de Markten. Nice terrace in the summer, good coffee, quite trendy.
• Vera, self-proclaimed club for the international pop underground and indeed there are good concerts and parties, check out their site [5]. Nirvana played here before they were big, still the pride of Groningen. Local high school crowd doesn't bother to turn up until 3AM for parties at Saturday nights. Entrance €1/month.
• Simplon, a bit outside the center at the Boterdiep, this ex-squad is now a podium for sometimes alternative concerts. Also electronic music like house, dubstep and drum'n'bass. Hosts e.g. a very popular monthly event called Technootjes and international DJs. Again, check their website [6] for what's happening.
• O'Cealleighs, an Irish pub on Kattendiep. Small pub, but good atmosphere; the place people go to play a bit of Irish folk of an evening.
• De Zolder (The Attic), Papengang 3A. Cosy stoner hang-out up a flight of stairs with reggae music and pool table.
• De Kar (The Cart), Peperstraat 15. Bar with mirrored dancefloor. Great place to have a beer and dance to cool alternative tunes. Tends to be either empty or completely crowded.
• Shadrak Experience the great atmosphere. Student night on Thursday 10 beer for 10euros and tequila shots for 2euros. One of the clubs which is open till the morning! Peperstraat 19.
• Kokomo Beachclub, Gelkingestraat (Corner of the Grote Markt). One of the biggest clubs in Groningen. On Thursday's it's packed with students (10 beers for €10). Plays great dance music in weekends and serves fine cocktails. 

Coffeeshops

Groningen also has a few excellent coffeeshops, where you can buy and smoke cannabis products at a reasonable price. NB! Alcohol is not served in any of the coffeeshops and ironically smoking only cigarettes is frowned upon as the Netherlands has introduced the smoking ban some years ago even though quite a few bars are increasingly ignoring this ban.

• The Glory, just off Zuiderdiep at the end of the Steentilstraat. Popular with lots of foreign students, and close to all major bus stops on the Zuiderdiep. Their
• 1 Café Dees, Papengang 3, 9711 PA, ☏ +31 50 313 2410. A cozy café with a nice selection of weed located in a small alley right next to the bar street Peperstraat. Inside a pool table, computers for surfing and big TV screens. Upstairs there's a bar called de Zolder ("the Attic") where you can smoke. There are reggae concerts on Tuesday nights. 
• 2 Metamorphose, Oude Boteringestraat 53, 9712 GE, ☏ +31 50 314 4460. Nice and little alternative shop, with mostly biological stuff. They serve a large variety of fresh tea. 
• 3 Driemaster, Nieuweweg 18 - 9711 TD, ☏ +31 50 314 2003. Has the same owner as Dees. 
• Dr. Anders. a pick-up coffeeshops Gelkingestraat near Grote Markt (the main square). 
• Upper 10'. Steentilstraat. You can get very nice stuff here but the place itself is a bit shady. 
• Oasis. on Meeuwwerderweg (only open till 7PM and not on Sundays) - which has good marijuana but is quite expensive. Nice café area makes up for it. Also a couple of tables outside during the summer time. 

• De Vliegende Hollander. Great stuff on Zuiderdiep opposite the Pathé cinema. Inside there's a smoking room but no real hangout space. 
• Medley (on Zuiderdiep next to Pathé cinema just opposite to Vliegende Hollander). A good cheap coffee shop, where at least Dutch & Arabic are spoken by the staff. I managed with English too just enough to get what I needed. This is just a pick up coffee shop. Can't smoke inside or stay there but it's quite cheap. Joints for €3,00 also many kinds of hash (maroc, afgan..) for about €5-€6 & weed/wiet: powerplant, sneeuwwitje (snow white), afgaan (afghan) 6, 10 or 20 euros. 
• The Clown. on Folkingestraat (a nice shopping street between Zuiderdiep and Vismarkt). 
• The Happy. Damsterdiep 5. 

Festivals

• Every year in January Eurosonic/Noorderslag, European's biggest showcase festival.
• Every year on May 5 Bevrijdingsfestival (liberation fastival), together with many other festivals throughout the country.
• Every year in May Dance Xperience XL, a dance festival.
• Every year in August 'Noorderzon Festival', a festival focused on music, visual arts and performance arts.
• Every two years in September/October 'Noorderlicht' a photography festival.

Sleep

As it is a fairly popular city trip destination among the Dutch, Groningen has plenty of choices for places to stay. There are no real top-end hotels however, so if you're out for luxury, you'll have to resort to some of the better mid-range places. Still, there are several very nice, historic hotels as well as a range of semi-modern and modern mid-range options. Travellers minding their budgets will find that accommodation here is relatively cheap.

Budget

• 1 Bud Gett Hostel, Rademarkt 3-3a, ☏ +31 50-588 6558. This modern hostel is situated half way between the railway station and the city centre. Its decoration is inspired by a Dutch painter Piet Mondrian and beds are made when you arrive. Dorm beds from €25, private doubles from €50. 
• 2 Camping Stadspark, Campinglaan 6, ☏ +31 50-5251624. Open from March to October, this camping ground is in the Stadspark, a large, wooded park just outside the ring road. If you're carrying a tent, this can be a nice budget alternative. € 18 for a spot, 2 people and showers. 

• 3 Simplon Youth Hotel (Simplon Jongerenhotel), Boterdiep 73, 9712 LL, ☏ +31 50 313 5221. This youth hostel has been around for a long time and remains a popular budget puck. Bunk-beds starting at €13,50. Rooms for up to 6 people are available, too. 

Midrange

• 4 Hampshire City Hotel, Gedempte Kattendiep 25, ☏ +31 50 - 317 5510. This large hotel has simple but modern rooms and a nice rooftop terrace. Located in the city centre it can be a little bit noisy at times, but overall this place gives good value for money. Rooms come in different types, with the more expensive ones being quite a bit more spacious. The staff is helpful and there are facilities like a sauna and Turkish steam bath. The hotel rents out bikes for €5. From €60 for a double. 
• 5 University Hotel, Kleine Kromme Elleboog 7-b, ☏ +31 50-311 3424. This nice little hotel is situated at a cosy square with bars all around, close to the university and right in the centre. It is in fact part of the university and offers short but also long stay accommodation. Rooms are nicely decorated in a modern fashion, the staff is friendly and there's free tea and coffee in the lounge. Breakfast is a bit limited and there aren't too many facilities beyond what you'd expect from any hotel, but in terms of price and quality - this is a really good deal. Singles/doubles from €62,50 /€79,50. 
• 6 Hotel Corps De Garde, Oude Boteringestraat 74, ☏ +31 50 - 317 5510. This charming, historic hotel is housed in a monumental 1634 building. Although equipped with all the modern day facilities you'd expect, it manages to retain its historic atmosphere, making it one of the finest places to stay in town. The only downside is that there's no space for an elevator, but the staff is very helpful, the breakfast very good and the lounge quite inviting. It has bikes for rent but note that car parking in the direct surroundings can be expensive. From €99 for a double. 

• 7 Martini Hotel, Gedempte Zuiderdiep 8, ☏ +31 50-317 5510. This is an old hotel, and guests have been accommodated in this building since 1871. It's a bit dated and the rooms are small and simple, but the location is good (in the city centre), there's a nice bar downstairs and the prices are quite reasonable too. It has triple rooms, if you're a party of three. Private parking is available but costs €12.50 and should be reserved in advance, as it is sometimes full. From €64,50 for a double. 

• Stee in Stad, Boterdiep 111, ☏ +31 50-317 5510. This is a fairly special hotel; three houses have been transformed into a hotel. In each house there are three rooms. Every room has a different theme. Its staffed by people who otherwise have few chances on the labour market and often have been on income support for a long time. At the hotel the can (re)experience what it's like to have a job and acquire the job skills. However, this place is more than a social business initiative. It's also a pleasant hotel at 5 minute walk from the old centre. Several rooms have shared bathrooms. Singles/soubles from €50/69. 

• Hotel de Doelen, Grote Markt, ☏ +31 50-312 70 41. This hotel is an all time favourite due to its nice location right at the foot of the Martini tower, facing the Grote Markt. This place has been receiving visitors for some 200 years and the decorations clearly intend to maintain the characteristic feel, but all modern facilities are in place. The lounge is pleasant and the staff friendly. The only downsides are the steep stairs to the entrance and -as with many places in the city centre - you'll have to park your car in one of the public garages. 

• NH Hotel De Ville****, Oude Boteringestraat 43, ☏ +31 50 3181222, fax: +31 (0)50 3181777FORMAT, [email protected]. This four star hotel in the city centre is stylishly decorated with a historic touch and offers more facilities than most hotels in town. Some of the rooms are a bit outdated but the staff is friendly and will park your bike in the nearby public garage, although the parking fees are fairly high. From €99 for a double. 

Go next

Catch a bus to Lauwersoog, only to hop on a ferry to the island Schiermonnikoog. This small island is a popular day trip destination but has plenty of places to stay if you'd like to enjoy the quiet atmosphere that reigns here after the day visitors have left. The star fort of Bourtange is another good choice and -if you have a car- less than an hour away. Visit the seal rescue centre in Pieterburen or head to the port town of Delfzijl for a maritime experience.

Routes through Groningen

Amsterdam ← Drachten ←	S  N	→ END
Utrecht ← Assen ←	S  N	→ END