Welcome to Groningen for the CAOS 2024. If you have a session that is unrelated to your work or just want to explore our wonderfull city. Here is a quick selection of tips of where to go to! Or ask the locals, we’re happy to help! There are >300 restaurants and bars in the center so every need can be met!
Groningen is a lively student city in the Northern Netherlands. It is the capital of a province with the same name and home to about 217,000 inhabitants (2023), making it the largest city in the north. A university town with some 50,000 students gives the city its famous vibe; a pleasant youthful atmosphere, some fine historic heritage and with plenty of things to do.
Museums & Art
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Groninger Museum, Museumeiland 1, ☏ +31 50 366 6555. Tu-Su 10:00-17:00. Opposite train/bus station. Spectacular architecture. Hosts state-of-the-art contemporary art in the world. Named one of the five most progressive modern/contemporary art collections in the world, this museum’s changing exhibitions regularly attract visitors from all over the country. Adult €15, students €10
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Noordelijk Scheepvaartmuseum (Northern Maritime Museum), Brugstraat 24, ☏ +31 50 312 2202. Tu-Sa 10:00-17:00, Su 13:00-17:00. The northern museum of water transport. Shows the history and role of transport over water until the 1970s. The museum is situated in the oldest residential building remaining in the city. Not accessible with a wheelchair or rollator. Adults €6
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Universiteitsmuseum (University Museum), Oude Kijk in 't Jatstraat 7A, ☏ +31 50 363 5083, universiteitsmuseum@rug.nl. Tu-Su 12:00-17:00. A strange and wonderful little museum located just off Oude Kijk in 't Jatstraat. Temporary exhibitions, often of a technological bent, are held on the first floor; upstairs (past an elaborate stained-glass window in the stairwell) is an eclectic collection in the Victorian style, with everything from anatomical specimens and taxidermied animals to early scientific instruments. Adults €5
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Storyworld, Nieuwe Markt 1, ☏ +31 50-36836 83, info@storyworld.nl. Tu-F 12:30-17:00, Sa Su 10:00-17:00. Museum of visual storytelling (comics, video games, animated film), located in the Forum complex. Houses the collection of the former Nederlands Stripmuseum. Adult €9
Sightseeing
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Martini tower. Climb the massive tower in the city center and get a great view of the city
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Lower Aa. Most beautifull part of the inner city
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Reitdiep colourful houses. You may know these Scandinavian looking colourful terraced houses from Pinterest or Instagram. Built at the waterside they create a wonderful composition. Take Q-Link 11 to bus stop P+R Reitdiep.
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6 Forum Groningen, Nieuwe Markt 1, ☏ +31 50 3683683, info@forum.nl. Large cultural complex, opened in 2019. Contains the main public library of the city, two restaurants, cinema (5 screens, mostly arthouse films), exhibition spaces, the Storyworld museum (see Museums below), rooftop bar and more. The rooftop is freely accessible, with great views of the surrounding landscape. Hosts various events throughout the year, some aimed at children
Food
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De Uurwerker, Uurwerkersplein 1. Vibrant restaurant and bar, nice interior and tasteful pizzas. The square in front is shared with De Pintelier bar and crowded on warm nights. €12-25
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Mr. Mofongo’s, Oude Boteringestraat 26, ☏ +31 50 3144266. 11:00-22:00. Fusion-style restaurant with very good dishes for a reasonable price. May get crowded in the summer and during midterms and endterms since the University’s library is around the corner. Also a nice place to have drink later at night.
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Betere Tijden. Very good food, gastronomics, for a fair price. https://www.debeteretijden.nl/
Drinks
- DOT: beach vibes in Groningen
- The Uurwerker: also good food, student bar with pitchers of blond dutch beers. Tables and hangout in the courtyard outside of the restaurant.
- The Pintelier: Belgian beer cafe with >100 beers available
- Der Witz, Grote Markt 47. A ‘Brown Café’ located on the Grote Markt in a very small building. Serving many kinds of beer
- Mr. Mofongo, Oude Boteringestraat 26. Next to dining a bar which brings the Groningen drinking scene into the 21st century. Mr. Mofongo introduced the gin wall and gin robot storing its own distilled spirits. On the roof is a greenhouse bar for street food and there is wine bar. Absolute hotspot
More tips here: Groningen – Travel guide at Wikivoyage
or here: Visit Groningen | Holidays to Groningen, The Netherlands | Visit Groningen