Groningen is a city in the northern Netherlands. The province of Groningen is an original destination for a long weekend away. When you think of a holiday in the Netherlands, this may not be the first province that comes to mind, while there is more than enough to see and do. I myself stayed in Groningen for a weekend and enjoyed the nature, the city(s) and the good food. In this article I will give you my tips for traveling in Groningen.
‘t Roegwold
‘t Roegwold is a nature reserve under development. In this region of Groningen, nature has become extremely fragmented in recent decades and for a few years now, hard work has been done to reunite all these separate areas. In this way agricultural land is bought up and nature is given all the space to grow and flourish again. The center of ‘t Roegwold is the Schildmeer, one of the largest lakes in Groningen. A wooden jetty runs across the water from one side to the other and it is wonderful to walk on it at your leisure. There are 3 marked hiking trails in ‘t Roegwold.
Roompot Villapark Schildmeer is located on the lake. An ideal place to stay if you want to marvel at all the beauty in this nature reserve at sunset or sunrise. I myself stayed in a village just outside ‘t Roegwold and drove back in the evening before sunset. I promise you this is really worth it.
t Roegwold
Appingedam
Appingedam is such a village where you can easily walk around all afternoon without really having a goal in mind. The history of Appingedam goes back to the 11th century, when it naturally became a trading place due to its central location with a connection to the open sea. Most of the buildings in the current center date from the 17th century, when Appingedam once again played an important role in Dutch trade.
The historic city center breathes history and the streets invite you to little wanderings. I say ‘small’ on purpose, because the center is not exactly big. The main attraction of Appingedam is without a doubt the Hanging Kitchens. These kitchens were born out of necessity: due to a lack of space, the residents built their kitchens above the Damsterdiep. A crazy face and secretly also a bit scary. I don’t know if I would feel comfortable in such a hanging kitchen myself. In any case, it is certainly special!
Restaurant de Basiliek
Restaurant de Basiliek is located in the Sint Nicolaaskerk in Appingedam. This really is a picture of a place and I really recommend you to eat here or just have a cup of coffee. I promise you won’t regret it. I myself was already in Appingedam in the morning, so I only stuck to a cappuccino, but if I look at the menu like this, lunch or dinner is also worth it.
New Statenzijl
In the furthest corner of Groningen, on the border with Germany, is Nieuwe Statenzijl. It is a hamlet with only 6 houses and you understand that you do not have to go here for the beautiful city center. However, it is worth driving to Nieuwe Statenzijl for nature. This area is very attractive to bird watchers. You spot countless species here. From the Marsh Harrier to the Black Rider and from the Montagu’s Harrier to the Water Rail. The Kiekkaaste is the only bird hide outside the dike in the Netherlands and from here you have a beautiful view over the salt marshes. I loved the peace and space in Nieuwe Statenzijl and I can completely imagine that as a bird watcher you will have the time of your life here. If you’ve had enough, you can still get a cup of coffee and a piece of cake from the small coffee truck behind the locks.
Fraeylemaborg Estate
During our visit to Groningen we will stay in the village of Slochteren. There is not much to do here and that is exactly what we are looking for. No crowds, just peace around us. There is, however, one attraction that you should not miss, even if you are not staying in Slochteren. Landgoed Fraeylemaborg is a beautiful piece of land of no less than 23 hectares where you can enjoy walking. The farmlands have been laid out after the English example and the treasure house at the front of the estate is now used as a restaurant. The terrace has sun until late in the afternoon, which makes it a wonderful place for a drink. It is not possible to eat there every evening: I advise you to always call in advance. Lunch is possible from Sunday to Wednesday. Opposite the treasure house is the coach house. This is now a museum and small shop.
On the estate itself is a large forest where you cannot get lost. Because of the clear, straight paths you actually walk from front to back and back via another path. Useful! Along the way you walk past a lot of art objects, something that makes the walk even more fun. We came across an old bus, an enormous hazelnut and a kind of bunker. Very funny to always discover something new. I can imagine that this is also very nice with children. There is also a barefoot path through the forest.
Bourtange
What an exotic name for a town in Groningen, isn’t it? Bourtange is a fortified village laid out in the shape of a star. This special shape originated in the 16th century and was further strengthened in the following years. The village of Bourtange was founded in 1742 and it is now a protected townscape.
To be honest I had never heard of Bourtange but when we arrived it seemed like I was the only one in the Netherlands who didn’t know this village. The parking lot in front of the village center was packed and inside the ramparts it was quite busy. Not surprising, because it is really beautiful to see. The terraces on the central square have taken over the space and it is very full there when the weather is nice. Personally, I found it more fun to walk through the small streets and over the ramparts and enjoy the beautiful facades and many flowers.
Coffee at Gasterij Natural Smeerling
Bourtange is a beautiful place to see but also very touristy and crowded. If you want to enjoy the peace and quiet afterwards, Gasterij Naturally is a must. From Bourtange you can drive to this guest house in 15 minutes, where they serve local beers and delicacies. Inside you are in a converted barn, outside is a large terrace overlooking the meadow with goats. A very nice place to have a drink before continuing on to your next destination! Tip: order a Westerwolder beer. Brewed at a local brewery and deliciously refreshing in taste.
Groningen city
This overview with tips to do in Groningen is of course not complete without the capital. Admittedly, I really came to the province for nature and tranquility so I only spent an afternoon in Groningen city. This was certainly sufficient for a good first impression: Groningen is lively and vibrant and there is plenty to do. Of course you have the Martinitoren and the Vismarkt (the central square in the city) but I probably don’t have to give you those tips. I am happy to tell you about the Prinsentuin, a fantastic piece of nature in the middle of the center. The garden is a real Renaissance garden and you can see from everything that this is an important place for the city. If you are lucky, and I was, the rose garden will be in full bloom during your visit. What a beautiful view! Definitely worth a walk here if you are in Groningen in June or July.
I can heartily recommend Salmagundi for lunch in Groningen. This place is a bit outside the center but it’s worth the detour. The menu consists mainly of vegetarian dishes, although they also serve fish or meat. I went for caramelized red onion with goat cheese and pumpkin spread on a flatbread and it tasted great. Recommended!
Stay in Groningen
If you want to stay in a central but quiet place in Groningen, B&B Het Receivershuis is a great choice. We stayed with Annemarie for 2 nights and would have liked to have added a few more nights. You have your own entrance with private bathroom and toilet. There are 2 rooms for rent in Het Receivershuis, but Annemarie will not rent the second room if the first is booked. This way you are assured of more privacy during your stay.
The breakfast deserves a special mention, because gosh, what a feast that is. You have breakfast in ‘the café at home’ (not a real café, but fully furnished as such) and the table is packed full of delicacies. There is a good chance that you will also find home-baked things among them. We enjoyed real Groningse Poffert on the first morning, and on the second morning we were served home-baked savory quiche and sweet pancakes. Great to start your day like this!
Groningen is also ideal for touring with a camper. So you can go where you want and spend the night in the middle of beautiful Groningen nature. Don’t have your own motorhome? Then you can easily rent a camper in the Netherlands through Goboony. Through this platform you rent motorhomes from private individuals and you choose which motorhome you would like to go out with. An original and fun way to discover the Netherlands!
A holiday to Groningen is a very nice option if you would like to stay in the Netherlands. There is so much to see and do in Groningen that you can easily enjoy yourself for a whole holiday. With these tips I will help you a long way.
