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From Wikitravel

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

Groningen[1] is a city in The Netherlands with 185.000 inhabitants and is the capital of Groningen. Groningen city was founded around 1100 A.D. and has a rich history, which can clearly be seen from the old medieval buildings in the down town area. The city is a university town with a high student population, and has had a university since 1614.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By train

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 Schiphol airport, Utrecht and Rotterdam to Groningen (2-2.5 hours) and Amsterdam Centraal can be reached with one change. There is an international connection that terminates in Leer Bahnhof (Germany) and runs every 2 hours. Once over the border, you can change line to reach Bremen, Hamburg and Hannover.

[edit] By bus

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

There is a direct buslink to Bremen (€19, one-way) and Oldenburg [2].

Also the direct bus to Lelystad, via Herenveen, Lemmer and Emmeloord leaves there.

[edit] By car

Driving in the old city, particularly within the central canal ring, is not the best option; 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 a euro a regular bus service takes you right to (and from) the Grote Markt, the heart of the city.

[edit] Get around

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.

[edit] By bike

Getting from any place in Groningen to the centre will take at most 20 minutes by bike. 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.

Bicycles are available for rent at a number of places around town, including a facility in the Central Station.

[edit] 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 €1.50) or see the strippenkaart section on the Netherlands page for more information on how to pay for the bus.

• Line 3 runs from Vinkhuizen to Lewenborg via Kraneweg, Westerhaven, the Aa-Kerk, the Central Station, the Grote Markt and Kardinge
• Line 6 runs from Hoornsemeer to Beijum via the Martini hospital, Paterswoldseweg, the Central Station, the Grote Markt and Kardinge
• Line 11 runs from Central Station to Zernike via Grote Markt, the northern train station (Station Noord) and Paddepoel
• Line 15 runs from the Central Station to Zernike via the Aa-Kerk and the Noorderplantsoen.
• Line 20 runs from the Central Station to Europapark (and Stadium Euroborg, the Groningen FC soccer stadium)

[edit][add listing] See

Like most cities in The Netherlands, Groningen's city center is surrounded by a canal.

• The Groninger Museum[3]. Just opposite train/bus station. Spectacular architecture. Hosts state of the art of contemporary art in the world. One of the five most progressive modern/contemporary art collections in the world.
• Het Noordelijk Scheepvaartmuseum [4]. The northern museum of water transport. Shows the history and role of transport over water until the 1970's
• Synagogue. [5] 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 Tabaksmuseum [6] Tobacco museum, 'roommate' of the scheepvaartmuseum. Collections moderately interesting, but housed in very beautiful, old, authentic warehouses.
• The Aa-kerk[7] Beautiful church built in the middle ages.
• The Rijksuniversiteit Groningen [8], 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.
• The Grote Markt (great market) and the Vismarkt (fish market) are two large market squares in the center of the city.

[edit][add listing] Do

• Take a guided bike tour [9]: the best way to discover Groningen.

• Climb the Martini tower [10] 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 Martinus. 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 [11] [12]around the historical center.

• As 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, Oosterbrug (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), ☎ 050-3130661, [13]. 11:00 - 19:00. € 8 - 20.  edit - GPS: N53° 12' 49.4274" E 6° 34' 25.215"

• Walk in het Noorderplantsoen [14] 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 [15] in the second half of August, art, comedy, dance and theatre in the Noorderplantsoen.

• See a band at Vera underground pop club [16], where Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Sonic Youth, the White Stripes and many others performed.

• Visit the annual Eurosonic [17] and/or Noorderslag [18] music festivals, where dozens of bands from all over the world perform on various stages spread throughout the city.

• The Dutch cartoon museum or 'Het Nederlands Stripmuseum' as it is called in Dutch (funny fact: strip = cartoon) has opened in 2004 and shows many cartoons made by Dutch cartoonists. It's also suitable to visit with children (not only because there's a world-famous fast food restaurant next-door with playing possibilities), but also because they can learn how to draw cartoons by themselves. Het Nederlands Stripmuseum, Westerhaven 71, ☎ 050-3178470 (receptie@stripmuseumgroningen.nl), [19]. +/- € 7.-. (N 53° 12' 57.351,E 6° 33' 24.015) edit

• Friday Fun Skate, (the start and finish of the tour are always at the oval pool in the Noorderplantsoen park), [20]. 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. Lenght: 18 - 23 km. GPS: N 53° 13' 25.1364" E 6° 33' 19.6128" costs: free.  edit

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

[edit][add listing] Buy

• The Herestraat, the city's pedestrian street runs off of the Grote Markt and contains most of the city's everyday shopping needs and 'standard' Dutch cloth stores and chains.

• Other shopping streets (Gelkingestraat, Oosterstraat) extend out from the Grote Markt and the Vismarkt. All streets within the central canal ring are low traffic due to restrictions.

• 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 ranging from a great coffee and tea chain, the best home made chocolate shop in town, and a few 2nd Hand furniture and cloths shops.

[edit][add listing] 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.

• De Balk, Thomassen Thuessinklaan 7. Got a prize for "Best Eetcafe".

• De Zevende Hemel (Seventh Heaven), Zuiderkerkstraat 7 (north of the centre, near the Nieuwe Kerk). Excellent food and wine but quite pricey; a good place to go treat yourself.  edit

• Eeterie De Globe, A-Kerkhof 22, 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.

• Eetcafé 't Koetshuys, Blekerstraat 22-24, ☎ +31(0)50 310511, [21]. 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 special of the day to €15 for the house specialty, Moroccan style marinated tenderloin. Main courses come with fries, a salad and depending on your dish, warm veggies.  edit

• Humphrey's, Vismarkt 42, [22]. avg. price 3 courses à la carte €18.

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

• PUUR! (Natural Food), Folkingestraat 13, ☎ 050-3116175 (info@puurfood.nl), [23]. 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.  edit

• Spring's, Grote Markt 30/33, [24]. avg. price 3 courses à la carte €15.

• 't Feithhuis, Martinikerkhof 10, ☎ +31(0)50-313-5335, [25]. 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.  edit

• Ugly Duck, Zwanestraat 28, [26]. Main courses including bowl of salad, baked potatoes, vegetables from €1050. Really good!

• Vroom & Dreesmann department store , Grote Markt 21, has a cafeteria "La Place" on the top floor with an outdoor terrace.

[edit][add listing] Drink

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.

• De Pintelier, traditional Belgian pub serving a plethora of kinds of beer. Located at the Kleine Kromme Elleboog 9.
• 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.
• 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, [27]. Possibly the largest bar in the Netherlands as well as in Europe. Many bars connected in a mazelike fashion; has several facades 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, [28]. Family style. Nice terrace in summertime.
• Paard van Troje (Trojan Horse). Kleine Kromme Elleboog 5. Small pub with Belgian beers. Popular with the local history students.
• Wolthoorn & Co. Turftorenstraat 6. Voted best pub in the Netherlands for several years.
• Het Feithhuis, next to the Martini Tower, [29]. "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 [30]. Nirvana played here before they were big, still the pride of Groningen. Local high school crowd doesn't bother to turn up until 3 AM 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. Again, check their website [31] 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 Peperstraat 19.
• The Palace, Gelkingestraat (Corner of the Grote Markt), [32]. One of the biggest clubs in Groningen. On Thursday's it's packed with students (beers just for €1). Plays great dance music in weekends.  edit

[edit] Coffeeshops

Groningen also has a few excellent coffeeshops, where you can buy and smoke cannabis products at a reasonable price.

• The Glory, just off Zuiderdiep at the end of the Steentilstraat, is popular with lots of foreign students, and close to all major busstops on the Zuiderdiep.
• Dees, Donkergang, [33]. Above which is a cool bar, de Zolder (where you can smoke).
• Metamophose, Oude Boteringestraat. Nice and little alternative shop, with mostly biological stuff. They serve a large variety of fresh tea.
• Driemaster, [34], Nieuweweg. Has the same owner as Dees,
• Dr. Anders, Gelkingestraat.
• Upper 10, Steentilstraat. you can get very nice stuff here!
• Oasis, on Meeuwwerderweg (only open till 7PM and not on Sundays) - which has good marijuana but is quite expensive.
• de Vliegende Hollander,Great stuff on Zuiderdiep opposite the Pathé cinema, [35]. Alcohol is not served in any of the coffeeshops.
• Da 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 €2,50 also many kinds of hash (maroc, afgan..)for about €4-€5 & weed/wiet (schneewitje..) for a reasonable price also some better quality stuff*  edit

• The Clown another coffee shop.. didn´t have a very good first impression..at least the customers were some local Hooligans and rude Germans inside.. The weed was alright even though not the best in town in my opinion'

[edit][add listing] Sleep

• Camping Stadspark. A camping ground in the Stadspark, a large, wooded park just outside the ring road.  edit
• Hotel de Doelen, Grote Markt.  edit
• NH Hotel De Ville****, Oude Boteringestraat 43, ☎ +31 (0)50 3181222 (nhhoteldeville@nh-hotels.com, fax: +31 (0)50 3181777), [36]. Expensive.  edit
• Simplon Youth Hotel, Boterdiep, [37]. Bunk-beds.  edit
• Het Hoendiephuis Verry cheap, only 4.50,- for a bed,shower and breakfast. for more info call; 050-3187775

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!