Groningen is one of the larger cities in the Netherlands and was founded some 950 years ago. It hosts a 400 years old University. The city centre of Groningen is lively with multiple cosy restaurants, cafes and pubs, marketplaces, large stores and small boutiques.

Musicals and concerts are organised in the large Martiniplaza theatre. The smaller Oosterpoort theatre offers classical music and jazz concerts (April 15: Aurelio Martinez and April 16: North Netherlands Orchestra with Charlotte Margiono and Mary Gauthier). Ballet performances and plays are shown in the classic Stadsschouwburg theatre (April 15: Conny Jansen ballet group and cello octet Amsterdam).

There are multiple museums in the centre, ranging from the modern art Groninger museum to the Nautic museum and the Dutch Comic strip museum. The architecture offers a mixture of old and modern buildings.

The province

Groningen city is located in the most northern agricultural and rather sparsely populated province of Groningen ( approximately 185.000 inhabitants). Canals and lakes are found throughout the province. Miles of cycling and walking paths cross the open fields in the countryside. Beautiful large mansions, called 'borgen', and the historic town of Bourtange are definitely worth a visit. And cycling across the Wadden island Schiermonnikoog will give you a lasting feeling of vacation. The province borders on Germany in the east, the Waddensea in the north and the provinces of Friesland in the east and Drenthe in the south.

Extend your stay?

Why not pay a visit to the nearby old towns of Leeuwarden and Harlingen in the neighbouring province of Friesland or rent a car and visit the ancient Hunnebeds in the province of Drenthe. Maybe you prefer to return to Amsterdam and visit the world renowned Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum. Utrecht, in the centre of the Netherlands, is also definitely worth a visit. Enjoy the old centre with the Central museum of Modern Art in an old cloister, the University Museum and the Museum from Musicbox to Roomsize organ, situated in an old church.