A Young City in the North
Groningen is the largest city in the northern Netherlands, with about 245,000 residents in the municipality. It is the country's youngest city by population: students make up around a quarter of residents, drawn by the University of Groningen, founded in 1614 and the second-oldest university in the Netherlands, and the Hanze University of Applied Sciences, with more than 28,000 students.
That mix gives Groningen a lively centre for a city of its size, with cafés, bookshops and late-night bars, alongside a historic core built on centuries of trade in the surrounding farmland. For visitors, it is a compact city that is easy to see on foot or by bike in one or two days.
The Historic Centre
The centre is ringed by a canal, the Diepenring, and almost everything of interest lies inside it.
- Grote Markt: the main square. Much of it was destroyed in the Battle of Groningen in April 1945, but the city hall, the Goudkantoor (a 17th-century former tax office) and the Martinitoren survived.
- Martinitoren: the late 15th-century tower of the Martinikerk, nearly 97 metres tall and the city's landmark. It can be climbed for views over the city and the flat countryside; check opening times and tickets on the tower's website.
- Vismarkt: the second large square, with the Aa-kerk and the former Korenbeurs (grain exchange). Markets are held on the Grote Markt and Vismarkt on several days a week.
- Prinsenhof garden: a small walled garden behind the former Prinsenhof, with rose and herb beds, open to the public in season.
Museums and Culture
The Groninger Museum is the building most visitors remember. Designed by Alessandro Mendini with contributions from other architects and opened in 1994, it stands on an island in the canal opposite the station in a collage of colours and shapes. Its collections range from local art, including the early 20th-century De Ploeg group, to design and contemporary exhibitions.
The Forum Groningen, opened in 2019 next to the Grote Markt, is a large cultural building with a library, an art-house cinema, exhibitions and a rooftop terrace with views over the old centre. The roof is a good alternative to the Martinitoren for a view of the city.
The University Museum and the Northern Maritime Museum add smaller collections on science and on the region's shipping history.
Cycling City
Groningen is known internationally for its cycling. In 1977 the city introduced a traffic circulation plan that divided the centre into sectors cars cannot drive directly between, so drivers must use the ring road while bikes and buses can cut straight across. Today a majority of residents cycle regularly, and the city was named the Netherlands' Fietsstad (cycling city) in 2002.
For visitors this means two things: renting a bike is the best way to get around, and you should pay close attention to bike traffic when walking. Rental and OV-fiets bikes are available at Groningen station.
Parks and Festivals
The Noorderplantsoen, just north of the centre, is the city's favourite park, built on the line of the old fortifications. Every August it hosts the Noorderzon festival of theatre, music and performance. In January, the city hosts Eurosonic Noorderslag, a showcase where emerging European bands play to festival organisers and fans across many venues.
Student Nightlife
The area around the Peperstraat, Poelestraat and the two main squares holds most of the bars and clubs. Groningen has no fixed closing time for bars in the city centre, so nights can run very late, especially on Thursdays when many students stay in town before going home for the weekend. Outside term time, particularly in summer, the city is calmer.
Getting There and Planning
Direct intercity trains run between Amsterdam and Groningen in about two hours, and there are also direct services from Utrecht and Zwolle. The station is a short walk south of the centre, opposite the Groninger Museum.
One full day covers the Grote Markt, the Martinitoren, the Groninger Museum and a walk through the Noorderplantsoen. A second day lets you add the Forum, a bike ride into the surrounding countryside, or a trip north to the Wadden coast, where the village of Pieterburen is a starting point for guided mudflat walks in summer.
