The city of Groningen is often referred to as the capital of the Northern Netherlands. It fulfils a central role in the northern provinces in almost all fields. Whether it’s about culture, education, employment, living or shopping, Groningen has it all.
Groningen is a sociable city. Full of brown cafés, brassieres, terraces, lunchrooms, bistros, pubs and other locations offering you a quiet or perhaps a less quiet sit down! Groningen’s cultural scene is vibrant. The Groningen Museum is an eye-catcher, with its frequent international exhibitions.
The city is easily accessible, there being hardly any traffic queues in the north of the Netherlands. Public transport facilities are excellent. There are also good park-and-ride facilities: a well-devised network of city busses runs from all points of the compass to the very heart of the city.
Groningen was voted Best Inner City in the Netherlands in 2005. Groningen’s city centre is admired for its versatility, high quality of city planning and design, good accessibility, hospitality and safety. The jury also praised the service level of the retail sector, the quality of the public spaces, the safety and the camera supervision.
Province of Groningen
Outside the city, in the province of Groningen, the scenery is one of huge skies, quiet meadowland, green fields and birds. Old and undiscovered villages. Much of the province retains its authenticity. There are countless gems to be explored: mediaeval churches, ‘wierden’ and ‘terpen’ (artificial dwelling hills), and borgen (old fortified house); as well as delightful country pubs, century-old windmills and estates. Wonderful views, narrow village streets and roads, untouched living areas. Whatever direction you take the province of Groningen will always surprise you. Rest and activity, water and land, vastness and snugness.
The city in figures
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182,772 inhabitants
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10 museums
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8 theatres
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199 cafés
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8 discotheques
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2743 terrace seats
