A day out in Groningen? 15 local things to do in Groningen

Wat te doen in Groningen

Things to do in Groningen on a Day outTravel to the north of the Netherlands and enjoy a trip to Groningen and the surrounding area. Groningen is a pleasant city with enough to do for example when it comes to bars and restaurants especially around the Grote Markt (Great Market).

Also the beautiful landscape is worth the experience as it gives you the impression to be far away from any populated area. However, with all the museums and a lot of history that is definitely not the case.

Thanks to the active student life (present since the initiation of the university in 1614) you can safely assume that also the nightlife in Groningen is worth it. Did you know that a quarter of the inhabitants of the city are students?

Sightseeing Squares Parks Museums Nearby Events

Sightseeing in Groningen city center

The city centre of Groningen is largely free of cars which makes it a nice place to explore either by foot or by bike.

Next to that the city centre has managed to hold on to its small town characteristics thanks to the many small streets, the large central market (hence the name Grote Markt, Large Market) and the cosy terraces. In case you’re bored there are obviously plenty of ways that a trip to Groningen can make your day!

Hoge and Lage der A

Make a monumental walk past the Hoge and Lage der A A picturesque place in Groningen is the canal area. Especially the street Hoge der A with many historical buildings and large old boats. It seems as if time stood still here and they still unload the ships on the Hoge der A at high tide [...] Continue reading about Hoge and Lage der A.

Korenbeurs

History and shopping combined in the Korenbeurs in Groningen It's no surprise that this impressive building from 1865 is one of the Top 100 UNESCO World Heritage sites in the Netherlands. Situated at the Vismarkt, the Korenbeurs (Corn Exchange) has in fact served for years as an exchange when the corn trade was flourishing [...] Continue reading about Korenbeurs.

Martinikerkhof

Martinikerkhof in Groningen The carfree square, the Martinikerkhof (Martini Cemetery) offers you the opportunity to completely relax during your trip to Groningen. Surrounded by the monumental buildings you'll discover a variety of monuments, statues and artwork. Each of which shed some light on the right history of the [...] Continue reading about Martinikerkhof.

Martinitoren

Enjoy the view from the Martinitoren in Groningen Just like you can recognize Utrecht by the Domtoren, you're sure to remember Groningen by the Martinitoren. This 15th century tower is call d'Olle Grieze (Old Grey) by the inhabitants of the city, which obviously refers to the grey color. On your trip to Groningen, [...] Continue reading about Martinitoren.

Groningen hotspots from the Grote Markt to the Vismarkt

Markets, events and the nightlife in Groningen wouldn’t be the same without the squares that can be found in Groningen.

Grote Markt

A great place to relax, the Grote Markt in Groningen The Grote Markt is still a place where actual weekly markets are organized. From the general market on Tuesday to the non-food market on Thursday, not to mention the goods on offer in the weekend. Surrounding the Grote Markt you find a variety of bars [...] Continue reading about Grote Markt.

Vismarkt

The Vismarkt with the Korenbeurs The name of the Vismarkt (Fish Market) says it, fish lovers will definitely enjoy a trip down this square. But that's not the only thing to see at the Vismarkt. Take for example the Korenbeurs that nowadays houses the Albert Heijn and oversees everything going [...] Continue reading about Vismarkt.

Enjoy a relaxing afternoon in the parks in Groningen

Besides a fun city center, thanks to the small streets and nice squares, Groningen also has a lot to offer when it comes to green areas. Nicely relaxing during your trip to one of the city parks is definitely an option.

Noorderplantsoen

Relax in the city park Noorderplantsoen in Groningen Perhaps you've heard the name before as the Noorderplantsoen is the location of the Noorderzon Performing Arts Festival that is organized in Groningen every year. The long and small city park is very well suited for this as it allows for the performances to be [...] Continue reading about Noorderplantsoen.

Prinsentuin

Stroll through the Prinsentuin in Groningen Including the impressive sundial from 1731 at the Turfsingel, the Prinsentuin (Prince's garden) is a pearl in the city center of Groningen. The reason that the sundial is impressive, is that it, besides the local time, also tells the duration of the day in sun [...] Continue reading about Prinsentuin.

Stadspark Groningen

Stadspark Groningen Visiting Groningen during a day out and looking for a place for the kids to play around? Then the Stadspark Groningen (City Park Groningen) is a great place to go. Also for a picnic or to play with the kids in the petting zoo make [...] Continue reading about Stadspark Groningen.

An abundance of science and art at museums in Groningen

To turn your visit to Groningen into a cultural trip, you have a number of museums at your disposal. Discover the history of Groningen, comic books and modern art.

GRID

Graphic ideas come to life in the GRID in Groningen The GRID in Groningen is the museum for realizing GRaphic IDeas, formarly known as the Grafisch Museum Groningen. The collection of the museum consists of a variety of interesting objects from graphic art and design. From printing presses to image setters and even a book [...] Continue reading about GRID.

Groninger Museum

Groninger Museum with contemporary art The building that houses the Groninger Museum in Groningen has an attractive design and modern look (existing in its current shape since 1994). Hour after hour you can enjoy a variety of exhibitions, from photography to paintings and contemporary art, fashion and design. Be sure [...] Continue reading about Groninger Museum.

Nederlands Stripmuseum

Discover comics in the Nederlands Stripmuseum in Groningen The Nederlands Stripmuseum (Dutch Comic Museum) in Groningen was opened in 2004 and welcomes everybody who loves comics, young and old. From the adventures of Donald Duck to unique Japanese comic styles are exhibited, even to the point of looking over the shoulder of a [...] Continue reading about Nederlands Stripmuseum.

Noordelijk Scheepvaartmuseum

Discover Dutch maritime history in the Noordelijk Scheepvaartmuseum Always wanted to know more about the history of maritime life and shipbuilding? Visit the Noordelijk Scheepvaartmuseum (Northern Maritime Museum) in Groningen! What to expect? With an extensive collection of pictures, archives, ship models and parts really anything that can be related to ships and [...] Continue reading about Noordelijk Scheepvaartmuseum.

Universiteitsmuseum

Discover the history of science in the Universiteitsmuseum in Groningen The Universiteitsmuseum (University Museum) in Groningen takes you through the history of the sciences with anything ranging from instruments to photos and objects that were donated to museum over time. From the history of Veterinary Medicine to Human Medicine are at display at the museum. [...] Continue reading about Universiteitsmuseum.

Day trips from Groningen

Another great benefit of travelling to Groningen in the north of the Netherlands is that you’ll be surrounded by nature. Discover nearby parks and nature reserves during a relaxing field trip.

Day trips from Groningen continue reading

Upcoming events and activities in Groningen

Besides all the fun and interesting things to do in Groningen, also the event calendar is worth a peek. Discover the upcoming events below.

No events