Groningen (city) - Groningen (stad)

Groningen[1] is the capital of the eponymous Dutch province Groningen.

Info

The city is a real university city, which is reflected in the large presence of students and entertainment venues. The large number of students ensures a young and lively appearance. Combined with the history, good museums and the many shops and restaurants, it is a beautiful destination to visit.

In the entire province, as well as a piece adjacent Drenthe and Friesland, this city has a regional function.

Arrive

By plane

Groningen Airport Eelde is located 10 kilometers from the city in Eelde-Paterswolde. Charter flights and scheduled flights depart from the airport to Aberdeen, Gdansk and London. From the airport you can travel to the city with bus line 9 or Airportlink 100. Please note that line 9 from the main station does not always run to the airport and that the text "not to airport" is missing.

By train

By Dutch standards, the city is quite far away from the major cities in the west. Groningen has three stations: Groningen (Main station), Groningen Europapark and Groningen Noord (Noorder station). All trains terminate at the main station and some regional trains stop at the other two stations. Every hour, four trains leave for Zwolle, an intercity to Rotterdam, an intercity to The Hague and two sprinters to Zwolle. These stop at the following stations:

• Intercity Rotterdam: Groningen - shafts – Zwolle – Amersfoort – Utrecht – Gouda - Rotterdam Alexander - Rotterdam
• Intercity The Hague: Groningen - Assen - Zwolle - Lelystad - Almere Centre - Amsterdam South - Schiphol - Lead Central - the Hague Central
• Sprinter Zwolle: Groningen - Groningen Europapark - Assen - Beilen - Hoogeveen - Meppel - Zwolle

In addition to these NS trains, Arriva has a number of regional connections:

• Slow train Leeuwarden (2x per hour): Groningen - Zuidhorn - Grijpskerk - Buitenpost - De Westereen - Feanwâlden - Hurdegaryp - Leeuwarden Camminghaburen - Leeuwarden
• Express train Leeuwarden (1x per hour): Groningen - Outpost - Leeuwarden
• Stop train Roodeschool (1x per hour): Groningen - Groningen North - Sauwerd - Winsum - Baflo - Warffum - Usquert - Uithuizen - Uithuizermeeden - Roodeschool
• Delfzijl stop train (1x per hour): Groningen - Groningen North - Sauwerd - Bedum - Stedum - Loppersum - Appingedam - Delzijl West - Delfzijl
• Winschoten/Bad Nieuweschans stop train (1x per hour): Groningen - Groningen Europapark - Kropswolde - Maartenshoek - Hoogezand-Sappemeer - Sappemeer East - Zuidbroek - Scheemda - Winschoten
• Bad Nieuweschans stop train (1x per hour): Groningen - Groningen Europapark - Kropswolde - Maartenshoek - Hoogezand-Sappemeer - Sappemeer East - Zuidbroek - Scheemda - Winschoten - Bad Nieuweschans
• Veendam stop train (2x per hour): Groningen - Groningen Europapark - Kropswolde - Maartenshoek - Hoogezand-Sappemeer - Sappemeer East - Zuidbroek - Veendam

By bus

The city's bus station is directly in front of the Main Station. From here regional buses from Qbuzz and Arriva depart to destinations in the province and places in Drenthe and Friesland. A separate formula within the bus company is Qlink. This formula connects the transferia (P R) around the city with the center. In addition to the Qlink formula, there is also Airportlink line 100, a direct connection to Groningen Airport Eelde and various Qliners for long distances.

• Qlink line 1 (Zuidhorn - Aduard -) P R Zernike - Zernike Campus - North Station - Grote Markt - Main Station
• Qlink line 3 Leek - P R Hoogkerk - Main station - Grote Markt - P R Kardinge - Lewenborg
• Qlink line 4 Roden - P R Hoogkerk - Main station - Grote Markt - P R Kardinge - Beijum
• Qlink line 5 (Annen - Zuidlaren -) P R Haren - Main station - Grote Markt - UMCG - P3/Euroborg - Station Europapark
• Qlink line 6 (P R Haren -) Main station - UMCG - Ten Boer - Ten Post - Appingedam (- Delfzijl)
• Qlink Line 15 Main Station - Zernike Campus
• Airportlink 100 Groningen - Groningen Airport Eelde
• Qliner line 300 Groningen - Zuidlaren - Gieten - Borger - Emmen
• Qliner line 304 Groningen - P R Hoogkerk - Marum - Drachten
• Qliner line 312 Groningen - P R Haren - Annen - Gieten - Gasselternijveen - Stadskanaal
• Qliner line 314 Groningen - Drachten
• Qliner line 315 Groningen - Heerenveen - Lemmer - Emmeloord
• Qliner line 324 Groningen - Drachten - Heerenveen - Lemmer - Emmeloord

Lines 3 and 4 are combined between P R Hoogkerk and P R Kardinge and stop at the same stops. Line 5 runs no further than P R Haren a few times outside rush hour and then stops at the transferium. The buses to Zuidlaren and Annen stop on the other side of the highway. Line 15 only runs during school hours and therefore not in the late evenings, at weekends and during the summer holidays. Qliner line 324 only runs in the evenings and at weekends, while lines 304, 315 and 320 run during the day during the week.

Flixbus is also active at the bus station with lines 821 (Hengelo and Enschede), 822 (Apeldoorn and Eindhoven) and SKI12 which only runs in winter to Austria via Arnhem and Nijmegen. The bus lines also stop south of the city at P R Haren.

International buses

In addition to national, Flixbus also offers international bus rides from the bus station and P R Haren. These buses run to destinations in Germany (e.g. Berlin, Bremen and Hamburg). The intercity bus line Rotterdam - Copenhagen from Eurolines also goes via Groningen. For other destinations with Eurolines in France and England, you have to change once in Amsterdam. The last international bus company is Ecolines which has a connection with the Polish capital Warsaw.

By car

The A28 motorway offers a direct connection to the south towards Zwolle, Amersfoort and Utrecht. At the Julianaplein junction, the A28 connects to the Groningen ring road. From there, the A7 motorway provides connections to both the west (dragons, Leeuwarden, Amsterdam) and the east (Winschoten and the German A31). Important arterial roads to the rest of the province are the N46 direction bedum, the N360 towards Delfzijl and the N355 towards Zuidhorn.

In the 1990s, so-called city markers were placed at seven points along the main access roads to the city. Each one was designed by a different artist and they are therefore very diverse in design.

Keep in mind that the city center of Groningen is 'car-free'. This means that many streets are not or very limited accessible by car. There are a number of parking garages accessible around the center, but simply driving into the city center in search of a destination will inevitably lead to problems.
With the Qlink buses, however, you can park for free on the outskirts of the city, after which you can travel to and from the center with a maximum of five people for six euros. See the website of the Municipality of Groningen.

By boat

Groningen is still an important junction of waterways. The city originated along two relatively small streams, the Hunze and the Aa. To the north of the city these came together, this oldest connection with the sea is now the Reitdiep, which mainly has a function for pleasure craft.

The Damsterdiep was already dug in the Middle Ages towards Appingedam and Delfzijl. The capacity of this deep proved insufficient in the nineteenth century, when the Eems Canal was constructed.

The east of the province, in the past particularly important for the supply of peat, was opened up by the Schuitendiep and by extension the Winschoterdiep. Via Veendam and Wildervank a connection was made in the direction of Stadskanaal, as the name suggests, the canal of the city.

The Hogeland was accessible via the Boterdiep. Towards Friesland, the Hoendiep was first dug, in the 1930s the Van Starkenborgh Canal was constructed as a job creation project. This canal forms the connection between the city and Amsterdam via Lemmer and the IJsselmeer.

The connection with Drenthe was improved in the 19th century by the construction of the Noord-Willemskanaal, which partly took over the function of the Drentsche Aa. It is connected to the Eemskanaal and Winschoterdiep in the middle of the city via the Connection Canal.

Travel around

By bus

Groningen originally had its own Municipal Transport Company. In the past there were trams and trolleybuses, but nowadays only buses run. The city buses now run for Qbuzz.

• Qlink buses between the P R parking spaces and the center.

By car

The city center of Groningen is divided into four sectors for car traffic, which are mutually inaccessible by car. To get from one sector to the other, you have to drive via the Diepenring.

By bike

Because Groningen is a student city and because of the traffic circulation plan, the bicycle is a very popular means of transport. There is a lively trade in second-hand bicycles among students and other young people. The police and the municipality are fighting an almost hopeless battle against bicycle wrecks lying around. During the reconstruction of the station square in front of the main station, an underground parking lot or storage place for bicycles, also known as the city balcony, was built.

To look at

• 

  Cityscape

• 

  fish market

• 

  University

• 

  Large market

•    Martini tower (by the inhabitants of Groningen, townspeople, called d'Olle Grieze). Groningen had a hard time during the Second World War. The Grote Markt in particular was heavily damaged during the liberation in April 1945. The symbol of the city, the Martinitoren and the accompanying church were spared, as well as the Gold Office and the town hall.
• Northeast of the Grote Markt is the Martini cemetery with the provincial house and the Prinsenhof. Behind that building is the beautiful Prince's Garden with one of the richest designed sundials in the country above the entrance.
• On the west side of the Grote Markt is the fish market. The south side of this square in particular contains a number of beautiful buildings. The square is bordered on the west by the corn exchange, a reference to the wealth of the province in the nineteenth century, which was based on the cultivation of grain on the fertile marine clay
• Behind the Korenbeurs rises the Der Aa Church, after the Martinikerk the second parish church of the historic city. A little further to the west, along the water, or in Gronings 'het deep', along the Hoge der Aa are a number of beautiful warehouses and residential houses. There are also similar buildings along the Noorderhaven.
• The new church was built in 1660 and the first church in Groningen to be built for Protestant worship.
• The . is located on the Radesingel Saint Joseph's Cathedral, a creation of P.J.H. Cuypers, who has been the cathedral church for the diocese of Groningen since 1981.
• A special aspect of Groningen are the many courtyards, called guest houses in Groningen. The most famous are the Pelstergasthuis and the Pepper guest house. The main station from 1896, right outside the so-called Diepenring, is one of the most beautiful stations in the Netherlands.

Museums

• It Groninger Museum, Museum Island 1; [2] without a doubt the most important museum in the city. Originally this was a fairly traditional provincial regional museum, but it has developed into one of the most innovative museums in the Netherlands. The new building from 1994, on an artificial island in the Connection Canal, is worth a visit in itself.
• It Dutch Comics Museum[3], Westerhaven 71 9718 AC Groningen, telephone 31 50 3178470. Museum dedicated to comics mainly from Dutch soil (including Agent 327, Dirk-Jan and Ollie B. Bommel). Comic fanatics who want to read everything there is to read can quietly spend a few hours here. Also has a comic book store and sometimes there are workshops.
• It Graphic Museum, a museum dedicated to graphic arts and printing techniques.
• Northern Maritime Museum, Brugstraat 24, ☎ 31 50 312 2202. The Northern Museum of Water Transport. The museum describes the history and role of water transport up to 1970. The museum is located in one of the oldest buildings in the city.

Art in public space

There are many sculptures (about 400) in public space in Groningen, including some by Wladimir de Vries. The sculpture project of the University of Groningen has also produced several works of art. There is also a statue or installation of the so-called City Markings project from 1990 on every outgoing road from the municipality. There is a public toilet near the Northern Maritime Museum, designed by architect Rem Koolhaas.

To do

• To a match of Fc Groningen in the Euroborg. Within walking distance (15 to 20 minutes) from the center, but it also has its own train station (Groningen Europapark).
• feeding ducks in the Noorderplantsoen, or just take a nice walk, if you don't have small children or no bread with you. In summer it can be very busy here due to the large amount of students.
• Shop. Due to its regional function, Groningen has a wide range of shops. See streetservice.nl for all the shops of the city. Recommended is the Folkingestraat, between Zuiderdiep and Vismarkt, where the most unusual shops are located.
• Misuse. You can easily rent a bicycle at Groningen's main station. Many cycling excursions through the city are also organized, see bicyclestadgroningen.nl and Office HBA, accompanied by a guide who can tell a lot about art, history and culture.
• Sailing on the canals, by rowing boat, cruise, canoe or pedal boat. See Groningen ferry [4], Kool tour company [5] or canoe rental 't Peddeltje [6]. Tip: print in advance the canoe card from [7], which tells you what you see along the way along the water.

Art and culture

Groningen is the largest, Groningers would say the only city in the north of the Netherlands. The city therefore fulfills a central function, which is further enhanced by the presence of the university and the large number of young inhabitants that this entails. This is reflected in a very varied cultural offer.

Would you like to know what the offer of music, film and theater is in the week that you are in Groningen? Then tap the UitLoper as soon as possible, the weekly free nightlife guide of the city of Groningen. This is available at the tourist office next to the Martinitoren, but also in almost every pub. Look for an oblong leaflet (about 10 cm wide and 50 cm long).

galleries

Groningen has many galleries, which are free and accessible. Various artists regularly exhibit their works here. There is photo gallery Lichtzone [8] at the Oude Kijk in 't Jatstraat 36, which organizes a new photo exhibition every month. Gallery NoraDeKlein [9] (Visserstraat 43) focuses more on painting and visual arts. For 20 years there has been 3 Gallery Muskee at the Reitemakersryge [10], which includes works by De Ploeg.Kunstacademie Minerva [11] organizes its graduation exhibition several times a year. Then dozens of freshly graduated students show their very varied work.

To learn

To work

To buy

• Visit the markets at Vismarkt and Grote Markt (several times a week, for food and non-food).
• Groningen has three organic supermarkets: De Nieuwe Weg (on Nieuweweg [12]), Maikel (on the Boterdiep [13]) and the Dandelion (Zuiderdiep [14]).
• The large chains, such as HEMA, H&M, and C&A are mainly located on the Grote Markt, Vismarkt and Herestraat.
• Smaller shops, with all their surprises, can be found in Folkingestraat, on Zuiderdiep, Oude en Nieuwe Ebbingestraat and Oude Kijk in 't Jatstraat.

Food

The city of Groningen is perfectly suited for a nice meal out. The prices of the better restaurants in the city center are remarkably lower than those in the west of the Netherlands.

Budget

• Restaurant 't Pannekoekschip; Schuitendiep 1017 9711 RB Groningen, telephone: 31 50 3120045 [15]. Eating pancakes on a former freighter in the center of Groningen. From a simple pancake with syrup (which you can scoop yourself from a large mason jar with a wooden spoon) to an extensive tortilla-like whole full of beef and vegetables. Popular with all age groups, and packed to capacity from 6pm to 7pm.

Average

Groningen has a striking number of Indonesian restaurants and eateries, which are affordable and some of which also serve typical Indian dishes that you don't find everywhere in the Netherlands, such as saté kambing (goat meat).

• 2Belgians; Turf Singel 94; [16]. Open Tues-Sat 17:30. Flemish restaurant, atmospheric food with original dishes; €30.00 for 3 courses, center of Groningen.
• Diner Café Diep; Schuitendiep 44; [17]. Local, oriental and Italian dishes; approximately €30.00 for 3 courses, center of Groningen.
• Javanese Eatery Groningen[18]. Schuitendiep 33 satay kambing and ikan pepesan, and many other traditional Indonesian Javanese dishes. For a three-course menu you pay €19.85.
•    Fresh Today, Westerkade 10, ☎ 31 50 311 5105, e-mail: [email protected]. Mon 11:00-17:00, Tues 10:00-17:00, Wed-Sat 09:00-17:30, Sun10:00-18:00. Lunchroom specialized in sandwiches, salads & soup, fruit juices & smoothies, pastries & cakes. Sandwiches from €5.50.
•    Fresh Today, Carolieweg 9, ☎ 31 50 711 9972, e-mail: [email protected]. Mon 11:00-17:00, Tues 10:00-17:00, Wed-Sat 09:00-17:30, Sun 10:00-18:00. Lunchroom specialized in sandwiches, salads & soup, fruit juices & smoothies, banker & cake. Sandwiches from €5.50.

Expensive

• The Pearl Fisherman; Gelkingestraat 58-60; Phone: 31 50 3686044; [19]. Open Tues-Sat for dinner; fish restaurant in a romantic atmosphere in the heart of Groningen.
• Restaurant Muller, awarded with a Michelin star, Grote Kromme Elleboog 13. Open Tuesday to Saturday, evenings only. Reserve by phone only, 31 50 3183208. [20]

Going out

The nightlife has many cafes, mainly around the Grote Markt, Vismarkt, the Poelestraat, Peperstraat and the Kromme Elleboog. Groningen also has two prostitution areas, Nieuwstad and the A-kwartier.

Coffee and tea

You don't have to walk far in Groningen for a really good cup of coffee or tea. There are several tents that prepare these drinks with a lot of know-how and love. There is Puur in the Folkingestraat (trendy and hip), Simon Levelt on the Zwanestraat (Fair Trade), Coffee-Break on the Zuiderdiep (comfortable) and Coffee Company (national franchise).

Also recommended is the NOVO Konditorei, where service is provided by people with intellectual disabilities.

Theater and music

Groningen has an exuberant cultural life. In addition to established institutions such as the Stadsschouwburg on Turfsingel, cultural center de Oosterpoort on Trompsingel, Vera on Oosterstraat, Grand Theater on Grote Markt and Simplon on Boterdiep, there is a lively circuit of pubs with live music at least once a week. is being brought. Groningen is one of the few big cities that also has a real underground scene. The Prinsentheater is an important amateur theater stage on the Noorderbuitensingel. For large productions there has been a new hall in Martiniplaza for several years now.

Every January, the city hosts the Noorderslagfestival, where the most important pop prize of Netherlands is awarded. Every summer the (partly free) theater festival takes place Noorderzon[21] place, partly in the Noorderplantsoen, partly spread over theaters and other locations all over the city.

Live music in the evening

The Irish Pub is located at the Gedempte Kattendiep O'Ceallaigh, where Irish folk music regularly accompanies the tapping of Guinness. [22]

stay overnight

Campsites

In the summer the city ​​camping recommended in the City Park.

Ho(s)tels

You can sleep cheaply at the following locations:

• 'Container hostel' RebelRebel [23]

• Simplon Youth Hotel[24].
• Bud Gett Hostel[25]
• Pension Tivolic - Muted Zuiderdiep. [26]

For example, in the middle class there is:

• Hotel Martinic Gedempte Zuiderdiep 8. [27]

In addition, Groningen has several more expensive hotels in different comfort and price ranges, including:

• NH Groningen, Hanseatic Square, 132, 31 50 5848181 [28]. The hotel is located just outside the city center, opposite the UMCG (University Medical Center Groningen). It is easily accessible by following the UMCG signs. [29]
• Schimmelpenninck Huys, on the Oosterstraat, a side street of the Grote Markt. So in the heart of Groningen. [30]
• Hotel Corps de Garde, Oude Boteringestraat 74, two minutes from the Grote Markt. [31]
• Hotel de Doelen, Grote Markt 36, 31 50 3127041. The hotel is located in a monumental building, at the foot of the Martini Tower. A classic hotel with all modern amenities. For a snack and drink you can visit the authentic lounge or the adjacent Drie Gezusters restaurant.[32]

Bed&Breakfast

Groningen has a wide range of B&Bs, with prices varying from around €50.00 to €100.00 per night for 2 people. Part can be found via http://www.bedandbreakfast.nl or https://www.bnbreserveren.nl, another part can be requested from the Groningen tourist office. Tip for motorists: arrange a B&B with its own parking space. This can make a significant difference in your parking costs.

Safety

Health

Contact

Daily life

all around

From Groningen you can go in all directions.

• With train or car you are so in Germany.
• There is a bus going to several times a day Lauwersoog, where you take the boat to Schiermonnikoog can grab (or just in the Lauwersmeer area can blow out).
• Walk out of town through the Pieterpad, north to Pieterburen (30 km), south to the Sint Pietersberg near Maastricht, the latter will take many days.
• With an hour and three quarters of an hour train you are in Amersfoort, with two hours in Utrecht and with two hours and fifteen minutes in Amsterdam. Rotterdam and The Hague can be reached in two hours and 45 minutes.
• hitchhiking you depart from the Emma Viaduct (200 m west of Groningen Central Station), on the road to the A28, or from the Europaweg, (500m west of the IKEA) to get onto the A7 or A28.

This is a usable article. It contains information on how to get there, as well as the main attractions, nightlife and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but dive in and expand it!