'''Groningen'''[http://www.groningen.nl] is a city in The Netherlands with 180.000 inhabitants and is the capital of Groningen. Since 1614 the city has its university: the `Rijksuniversiteit Groningen'. The city Groningen was founded around 1100 A.D. and has a rich history, which can clearly be told from the old medieval buildings in the down town area.
Get in
By train
Groningen has three train stations, the Central Station, the Southern Station (Groningen Europapark) and the Northern Station (Groningen Noord). All trains eventually arrive at the Central Station. There is a direct connection from Schiphol airport, and from Utrecht to Groningen (2-2,5 hrs. ride). There is an international connection with Leer Bahnhof (Germany) that runs every 2 hours.
By bus
All buses going to the city of Groningen eventually arrive at the Central Station.
By car
Driving in the old city is not the best option; parking is not always easy to find, none of it free.
There is a Park & Ride facility to the east of the city, 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, within a couple of minutes.
Get around
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 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.
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 (cost ?1) 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, Der Aa-church, Central station, Grote Markt and Kardinge
'''Line 6''' runs from Hoornsemeer to Beijum via Martini-hospital, Paterswoldseweg, Central Station, Grote Markt and Kardinge
'''Line 11''' runs from Central Station to Zernike via Grote Markt, Northern Station (Station Noord) and Paddepoel
'''Line 15''' runs from Central Station to Zernike via Der Aa-church and Noorderplantsoen.
'''Line 20''' runs from Central Station to Europapark (and Stadium Euroborg)
See
Like most cities in The Netherlands, Groningen's city center is surrounded by a canal.
'''Groninger Museum'''[http://www.groningermuseum.nl/]. 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''' [http://www.noordelijkscheepvaartmuseum.nl/]. The northern museum of water transport. Shows the history and role of transport over water until the 1970's
'''Syagogue'''. [http://synagogegroningen.nl/index.php?pid=1] 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.
'''Tabaksmuseum''' [http://www.noordelijkscheepvaartmuseum.nl/] 'Roommate' of the scheepvaartmuseum. Collections moderately interesting, but housed in very beautiful, old, authentic ware-houses.
'''Der Aa-kerk'''[http://www.aakerk.nl/] Beautiful church built in the middle ages.
'''The University of Groningen''' [http://www.rug.nl/] is the second-oldest university of Holland and one of three State Universities of the Netherlands. It was established in 1614. Some university buildings are located on a campus on the outskirts of the city.
'''De Grote Markt''' and '''De Vismarkt''' are two large market squares in the center of the city.
Do
'''Take a guided bike tour''' [http://www.fietsstadgroningen.nl/]: the best way to discover Groningen.
'''Climb the Martini tower''' [http://www.martinistad.nl/martinikerk/] for a nice view over the city.
'''Take a canal cruise''' [http://www.rondvaartbedrijfkool.nl/] around the historical center.
'''Walk in het Noorderplantsoen''' [http://www.noorderplantsoen.nl/] 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''' [http://noorderzon.nl/] in the second half of August, art, comedy, dance and theatre in the Noorderplantsoen.
'''See a band at Vera underground pop club''' [http://www.vera-groningen.nl/], where Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Sonic Youth, the White Stripes and many others performed.
'''Visit the annual Eurosonic [http://www.eurosonic.nl/] and/or Noorderslag [http://www.noorderslag.nl/] festivals''', where dozens of bands from all over the world perform on various stages spread throughout the city.
'''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.
Buy
The city's '''pedestrian street''' runs off of De Grote Markt and contains most of the city's everyday shopping needs, including department stores.
The most picturesque shopping street is called de Folkingestraat. It has a lot of little shops full of firsthand and secondhand little gifts, intercultural foods and great books.
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.
'''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.
'''Ugly Duck''', Zwanestraat 28, [http://www.ugly-duck.eu]. Main courses including bowl of salad, baked potatoes, vegetables from €10,50. Really good!
'''Land van Kokanje''' on Oude Boteringestraat for big and great lunch-salads (less than €10).
'''Humphrey's''', Vismarkt 42, [http://www.humphreys.nl/wm.cgi?keywords=;id=17]. avg. price 3 courses a la carte ?18.
''' Spring's''', Grote Markt 30/33, [http://www.springs.nl/content/br/]. avg. price 3 courses a la carte ?15.
'''De Balk''', Thomassen Thuessinklaan 7. Got a prize for "Best Eetcafe".
'''Vroom & Dreesmann''' department store [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vroom_%26_Dreesmann], Grote Markt 21, has a cafeteria "La Place" on the top floor with an outdoor terrace.
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.
'''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, [http://www.driegezusters.net/]. Maybe the largest bar in the Netherlands, used to be THE place. Lousy coffee!!
'''De Kosterij''', in a corner of the Grote Markt, next to the Martinitoren, [http://www.kroegpagina.nl/kosterij/]. 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, [http://www.feithhuis.nl/]. "Liberal" atmosphere. An 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 [http://www.vera-groningen.nl/]. 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 [http://www.simplon.nl/] on what's happening.
'''O'cealleighs''', an irish pub on Kattendiep. Small pub, but good atmosphere
'''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. Has a tendancy to be either empty or completely crowded.
'''Shadrak''' Peperstraat 19.
The Palace. elkingestraat . orner of the Grote Markt. ttp://www.thepalace.nl. 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.
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, [http://www.cafedees.nl/]. 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''', [http://www.cafededriemaster.nl/]''', 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''', on Zuiderdiep ''opposite the Pathe cinema'', [http://www.de-vliegende-hollander.nl/]. Alcohol is not served in any of the coffeeshops.
<listing name="Da Medley" alt="" directions="on Zuiderdiep next to Pathe cinema just opposite to vliegende hollander" address="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">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_Lt smoke inside or stay there but it_Ls 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*</listing>
'''The Clown''' another coffee shop.. didn_Lt have a very good first impression..at least the customers were some local racists and rude germans inside.. The weed was alright even though not the best in town in my opinion'
Sleep
Camping Stadspark. A camping ground in the Stadspark.
Simplon Youth Hotel. oterdiep. ttp://www.simplon-jongerenhotel.nl. Bunk-beds.
Hotel de Doelen. rote Markt.
NH Hotel De Ville****. ude Boteringestraat 43. 31 (0)50 3181222. hhoteldeville@nh-hotels.com. 31 (0)50 3181777. ttp://www.deville.nl. Expensive.