A Compact Cultural Centre
Groningen does not have an official museum quarter, but its main museums and landmarks lie within a 15-minute walk of each other, between the central station and the Grote Markt. That makes it easy to combine contemporary art, architecture and history in a single day. The route below starts at the station and works north into the old centre.
The Groninger Museum
The Groninger Museum stands on its own island in the canal directly opposite Groningen's central station, linked to it by a footbridge. Its building, completed in 1994, is one of the best-known postmodern buildings in the Netherlands. The Italian designer Alessandro Mendini was chief architect, and separate pavilions were designed by Philippe Starck, Michele de Lucchi and the Austrian practice Coop Himmelb(l)au. The result is a deliberate clash of shapes and colours: a gold-coloured tower, a pastel brick pavilion and a deconstructed, angular steel-and-glass section.
Inside, the museum mixes contemporary art, design and fashion with older collections, including Chinese and Japanese porcelain and the work of De Ploeg, a Groningen artists' group active in the early 20th century. Temporary exhibitions change regularly. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00, plus some Mondays in school holidays and on public holidays. Allow two to three hours.
Small Pavilions with Big Names
Just south of the station area, on the Hereplein, stands a small tilted glass pavilion designed by Bernard Tschumi. It is one of five video pavilions commissioned for the 1990 event "What a Wonderful World", organised by the Groninger Museum. Only two survive: Tschumi's, and a bus shelter by Rem Koolhaas on the Emmaplein. The Tschumi pavilion leans sharply, rising two metres above the ground on one side, and is now used for contemporary art projects. Both are free to look at from outside and take only a few minutes' detour.
Forum Groningen
Walk north into the centre to reach Forum Groningen, the large angular cultural building beside the Grote Markt, designed by NL Architects and opened in 2019. It houses the city library, a cinema, exhibition spaces and Storyworld, devoted to comics, animation and games, along with cafés. The highlight for most visitors is the roof terrace at the top, reached by long escalators through the atrium, with views over the old city and the Martinitoren. Access to the building and the roof terrace is free.
The Martinitoren and Grote Markt
The Martinitoren, the tower of the Martinikerk, has been Groningen's landmark for centuries and stands close to the Grote Markt. It can be climbed for views over the city and surrounding flat countryside; check opening times and whether tickets are needed in advance. The Martinikerk itself, one of the largest medieval churches in the north, is open for visits on many days.
The Grote Markt has been heavily redeveloped in recent years, with the Forum on one side.
University Museum and Prinsenhof Garden
The Universiteitsmuseum, on the Oude Kijk in 't Jatstraat, covers four centuries of the University of Groningen, founded in 1614, with scientific instruments, anatomical collections and university history. It is small and rarely crowded.
A short walk east, the Prinsenhoftuin is a walled 17th-century garden with rose and herb beds and a sundial gate. It is free and a quiet place to rest, though it closes in the winter months.
The former Noordelijk Scheepvaartmuseum (northern maritime museum) is being reinvented as Museum aan de A, with a wider focus on the city and province, and has been closed for renovation. Check its website for the current status before planning a visit.
Practical Tips for a Museum Day
- Order of visits: Start at the Groninger Museum when it opens, see the Tschumi pavilion, then walk to the Forum for lunch and the roof terrace, finishing with the Martinitoren and the University Museum.
- Museumkaart: The Groninger Museum and the University Museum accept the Museumkaart.
- Mondays: Several museums close on Mondays outside school holidays.
- By bike: Groningen is one of the most bicycle-oriented cities in the Netherlands, and rental shops near the station make it easy to cycle between sights.
- Getting there: Direct trains run from Amsterdam and Utrecht in a little over two hours.
