Travel Groningen Guide

The city of Groningen in the Netherlands is believed to have been populated since the third Century. With a population of nearly 2 million, it is one of the largest cities in Holland. Once home to the tallest building in Europe, Groningen has had moments of great historical power and prosperity, and times of severe decline. Today, Groningen is known for its large student population; an old city with a young feel.

The most famous building in Groningen is the Martini Tower. This church is the tallest building in Groningen and, at the time that it was built, was the tallest building in all of Europe. Visitors can climb the tower for a great view of the city and merely gazing up into the ornately decorated ceiling may be satisfying enough. Above the entrance to the church are paintings of the three men most closely associated with the church; the blind man Bernlef, Saint Martinus and Rudolf Agricola.

The main shopping district in Groningen is the Herestraat, a wide street which is closed to traffic. The shops on Herestraat itself consist of many chains and big name stores, while the smaller shops in the surrounding areas have a more rustic appeal and sell artisan goods and crafts. Most of the shops are open late throughout the week, and closed on Sundays. During Christmas shopping season the stores hold longer hours.

Groningen's city theater, the Stadsschouwburg, is a light pink painted neo-Renaissance building unlike any other. While the color is the most notable of its properties, the interior of the building is host to a fascinating collection of paintings and an ornate style which visitors often find distracts them from the show in progress. Built in the late 19th Century, this building has been a constant staple of Groningen culture.

Art is everywhere you turn in Groningen, and the train station is a perfect example of this phenomenon. With towering stained glass windows and a huge domed doorway; the light inside of the Groningen train station is enchanting. This large, echoing building creates a stunningly appropriate entrance way into this artistic city.

Groningen is the perfect amalgamation of old and new and the art, culture and history make it one of the Netherland's most fascinating cities; not to be missed by any modern traveler.