Groninger Museum

The Groninger Museum is the main art museum of the city of Groningen and one of the most recognisable buildings in the north of the Netherlands. It opened in 1994 on a small island in the water by the railway station, and its architecture was designed to provoke as much as to display. Instead of a single block, the museum is a cluster of pavilions in different shapes, materials and colours, wrapped around a central structure designed by the Italian designer Alessandro Mendini. Other architects and designers, including Philippe Starck, Michele De Lucchi and the Austrian studio Coop Himmelb(l)au, each took a pavilion, which gives the building its patchwork character.

The result is something like a collage in steel, glass, bright colours and gold, and it has divided opinion since opening day. Few people are neutral about it, and it has made the museum a symbol of the city's willingness to try new things. From outside, the building appears playful and surprising, and at night it is lit to bring out its colours. Visitors approach it across a bridge from the station side, which adds to the sense of entering a different world.

The collections inside match the variety of the architecture. They include material from the history and archaeology of Groningen and the surrounding region, old paintings and decorative arts, Asian ceramics, and modern and contemporary art. The museum also has a strong interest in photography, fashion and design, and it organises temporary exhibitions that often draw people from across the country and abroad. The shows change several times a year, so a second visit can feel like a new museum. The approach is accessible, with clear information and a good deal for families and children.

Groningen is a university city with a young population, and the museum sits in a lively setting. The old centre, with the Martinitoren tower and the market squares, is a short walk away, and the Forum, a modern cultural building, adds another striking piece of architecture. Cafes and canalside terraces make it easy to spend a whole day in the city.

The museum suits art and design lovers, architecture fans and families. Allow two hours or more. Opening hours and ticket prices vary and museum cards may give access, so check the museum's own information before you go, and consider booking ahead for special exhibitions.