The city of Groningen is the capital of the province of Groningen and the sixth largest city in the Netherlands. It’s a young and vibrant city with 205.000 inhabitants, of which 60.000 are students! The average age of the population of Groningen is 36, which makes it the youngest of all Dutch cities. As a diverse and welcoming city, it is home to individuals of more than 120 different nationalities.  

There's always something going on, whether it’s hidden between the medieval buildings or beautiful courtyards. A new exhibition at the Groninger Museum, a festival at Suikeruniterrein or a farmers market on the Vismarkt. Groningen has plenty of nice cafe’s, bars, shops and clubs. Want to have dinner at a cozy neighborhood pub or dine at upscale eateries? No problem, Groningen has it all, various cuisines included! 

With so much to offer, Groningen is surprisingly small. The cozy scale of the city renders everything relatively close. The city is made for people to walk and bike around. Even though cars are allowed, most people chose to walk or bike for the quickest routes. 

To be able to not miss any activities or hotspots in Groningen, visit “VISIT Groningen”  to stay up to date: Discover the city of Groningen

Surrounding the city of Groningen is the province of Groningen. A total of 596,000 people live in the province of Groningen, divided over 10 municipalities. The average age of the population in the Province of Groningen is 42 years, a very standard age in The Netherlands. The province offers lush countryside; you can see for miles along while driving, biking or walking to your next adventure. In the countryside you will find many small towns with centuries-old church towers or stately homes with beautiful gardens. 

Besides iconic buildings, the surrounding countryside also offers plenty of beautiful nature. Head out with binoculars to Lauwersmeer National Park or put on your sturdy footwear and take a walk through the unspoiled nature of Westerwolde. Groningen also borders the UNESCO World Heritage Site the Waddenzee. A landscape perfect to go mudflat hiking, spot seals or travel on to the Waddenisland Schiermonnikoog. Wether you chose to head east or south of the province, each region has its own character. An comforting bonus of the province of Groningen is the air you breathe, it is the cleanest air in The Netherlands! 

While living in the present has its perks here in Groningen, many of its people are busy building the future of tomorrow’s world. Groningen is a province of innovators and inventors. In doing so, the province is taking a leading role in the energy transition and the growth of both the digital and bio-based sectors.

To not miss any activities or hotspots in Groningen, visit “VISIT Groningen”  to stay up to date: Discover the province of Groningen

When living in a new city, it can be hard to discover which store sells what. To get a general introduction about where to buy what in Groningen, have a look at this article from GroningenLife or if you are on a budget, read this article.

The shops and supermarkets in Groningen city and province might have different opening hours than you might expect. Read more about the opening hours in Groningen, to make sure that the shops are open when you are ready for a trip.