Revisiting Groningen, Part 1

A few months ago we took a day trip to Deventer, one of several Hanseatic cities in the Netherlands.  During that trip, we saw signs in the train station for Groningen, another Hanseatic city and one we visited 17 years ago.  We were curious to see how things might have changed there after almost two decades, so we planned a two-day trip that took us by train from the southern most province of the Netherlands to the northern most…

We found Groningen to be just as lively and vibrant, maybe even more so, than we remembered.  Since it’s a university city there seems to be a lot going on, and it’s still packed with people riding bikes, which isn’t all that surprising since Groningen is considered to be ‘the world’s best city for cycling’.  Visitors can even take bicycle tours of the area. The city center is pleasantly auto-free, a result of restricting automobile traffic through ‘filtered permeability’,  and creating pedestrian and bike friendly zones.

Groningen is filled with historical sites and numerous points of interest.  These include:

Martinitoren – the centuries-old tower of Martinikerk (St Martin’s Church), Groningen’s highest church steeple.  The current tower replaces two previous towers and dates to the 15th century.

De Korenbeurs  the current building dates to the 1860s and has served as the city’s grain exchange until as recently as the 1980s.  De Korenbeurs now houses one of four locations within the city center of the Albert Heijn Supermarket.

University of Groningen – one of the largest and oldest universities in the Netherlands, founded in 1614.  The main building on campus is the elaborate Academiegebouw built in 1907 in the neo-Renaissance style.  The current building stands on the site of two previous structures, the first of which was the 13th century Vrouw Sywenconvent, a begijnhof or women’s convent, and the second was the ‘new’ Academiegebouw built in 1850.

Het Provinciehuis – ‘the Province House’, home to the provincial government of Groningen since 1602.  Renovated, reconstructed and expanded over the centuries, the current complex includes the ornate 1900s façade at Martinikerkhof, as well as the 15th century Sint Maartensschool (St Martin’s School), a former Latin School.   To the left of the entrance at Martinikerkhof, stands the Portierswoning or Caretaker’s House, also known as Cardinaalshuis, a reconstruction (using the original stones) of a 16th century residence belonging to a stockbroker named Klaas Cardinaal.

And…

The Groninger Museum of Art – possibly the city’s most colorful building, this post-modern structure seemingly floats on the Verbindingskanaal.  The museum, whose collection ranges from local and historical artifacts to works of modern and contemporary art, is situated on ‘Museum Island’ and features three pavilions, each designed by a different architect/designer. The silver cylindrically shaped pavilion is The Starck Pavilion, designed in part by French architect and designer Philippe Starck.

Though we don’t consider Groningen to be a destination city all on its own, it makes a pleasant change if you’re, say, in northern Germany and looking for something a bit different.


4 Comments

  1. I took my second trip to the Netherlands not long ago and was surprised to see people cycling in the (by then well-packed) snow. Now that’s talent!

  2. Mikestravelguide

    Not a day goes by, Jenna, that I’m not amazed by the talents of the Dutch on bikes. In the rain, with an umbrella in one hand and some with a cell phone in the other. Truly remarkable! I haven’t dared much to bike in the snow and ice, even though some of the bike paths get salted down before the sidewalks or the roadways 🙂
    Gayla~

  3. Don’t often hear about Groningen – don’t know why really, it’s a lovely city. I was there about 10 years ago, visiting friends at the uni there. Loved the quirky shops and cafes in the city centre.

    • Mikestravelguide

      Hi Sophie, Thanks for stopping by our site. You’re right, one doesn’t often hear about Groningen and it is a lovely city! We enjoyed the shops and cafes in the centre, and found the people to be very hospitable – and responsive to our posts, which we greatly appreciate 🙂 Hope you get to visit Groningen again some day!

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