Holiday in Groningen

What makes Groningen special as a destination?

Groningen is the liveliest student city in the Netherlands and an underrated gem in the far north of the country, surprising visitors with a youthful energy that one does not expect in a city of this size. Of the 230,000 inhabitants, around 60,000 are students – making Groningen the youngest city in the Netherlands and creating a café, bar, and cultural scene that rivals Amsterdam, at a fraction of the prices. The Martinitoren, the 97-meter-high tower of the Martinikerk, is the city's landmark and offers a view over the flat Groninger landscape to the Wadden Sea after 260 steps. The Grote Markt and Vismarkt together form one of the largest marketplaces in the Netherlands and are the vibrant heart of the city. Here, students, market visitors, and café guests meet outdoors. The Groninger Museum, a postmodern building of colorful geometric shapes on an island in the city canal, is architecturally so bold that it polarizes – but this very audacity fits Groningen perfectly. Groningen is the bicycle capital of the world. Over 60 percent of the journeys in the city center are made by bike, and the cycling infrastructure is so well developed that driving in the center is practically impossible and unnecessary. For German visitors, Groningen is the closest Dutch city: less than two hours from the North Sea coast and East Frisia, about three hours from Hamburg. The city is an excellent starting point for the UNESCO-protected Wadden Islands of Schiermonnikoog and Borkum, the Bourtange fortress, and the endless expanses of the Groninger land. In December, the Noorderzon Festival takes place, one of the best performing arts festivals in Europe.