Back in December, I went to visit the beautiful city of Groningen. Now, I live in the south of the Netherlands, so Groningen may not seem the most obvious choice for a day trip, however, my mother was visiting and she said something like "I would like to visit the North"... Well, I guess Groningen would be a good option.
Therefore, in today's post, I'm sharing with you some information and sights I visited during this day-trip to Groningen.
How to spend a day in Groningen, NL
Location
Groningen is the capital of the province Groning in the northeast of the Netherlands, being one of the most important cities in the whole country.
For reference, Groningen is located about 184km from Amsterdam, 252km from Eindhoven and 335km from Maastricht.
Yep, I live very far away from Groningen, yet, it seemed a nice idea to go spend a day there... 😊
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| Vismarkt, Groningen |
How to get there
By car
Most roads in the Netherlands are in very good condition and there are no tolls, so driving there can be a good option, especially if you are a resident and live very far away (like myself) or if you are on a road trip.
Just be aware that speed control is a fact on Dutch roads and can be an expensive unpleasant surprise.
By train
Going to Groningen by train is a very good idea, especially if you are located less than 3 hours away, I would say.
Tickets are not super expensive and Dutch train services are of high quality, even though many Dutch people will disagree with my statement. But that's because they are not familiar with Portuguese train services 😂
For schedules, ticket price and planning please consult NS.nl
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| Train Station, Groningen |
By plane
Technically, you can reach Groningen by plane, since they have a small international airport, just a few kilometers away from the city.
I never flew there, but I think they have seasonal flights.
According to their website, they fly to Spain, the United Kingdom, Turkey, and Greece.
For more information please consult the Groningen Airport website.
My recommendation:
I would recommend going by train.
It's a good and relaxing way to reach the city and many connections are going to Groning from almost anywhere in the Netherlands.
Interesting Facts
Groningen is known for its large student community, thanks to the renowned University of Groningen.
Founded back in 1614, the University of Groningen is one of the most prestigious ones in the Netherlands with a long tradition in education, research, and innovation. I remember that when I was applying for Erasmus, I even tried to go study there, but unfortunately, they did not have many options for me (but hey, this was in 2009-2010! haha).
Nowadays, this University has a large number of international students, and that translates to the city, where you easily hear other languages besides Dutch and where most people speak English.
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| Der Aa-Kerk, Groningen. |
Since many students are living in Groningen, you can expect an active nightlife and many cultural activities.
I know for example they have a very nice a quite big concert hall over there! Always nice, in my opinion.
Highlights to visit
Like most Dutch cities, Groningen has a lovely city center with many shops and markets, with trendy and antique stores, and it can be a great destination for those who like a shopping dayBut if you know me a bit by now, that is not why I go visit places.
For me, I find Groningen to be a city with many traditional Dutch sights, beautiful squares, modern buildings (their new community center-library is just mindblowing!), and it also has a canal going around the most inner part of the city center.
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| Inside the Forum Bibliotheek, Groningen. |
So, long story short, there is plenty to see!
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I hope you liked today's post about the beautiful city of Groningen.
Next week, part 2 will be up with some more information.
Now tell me:
Have you been to Groningen?
Let me know in the comments.
See you next week!
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