10 Things to Do in Groningen Province That You Shouldn't Miss

July 29, 2017 Terina Blouin

Discover the best top things to do in Groningen Province, The Netherlands including Vesting Bourtange, Groninger Museum, Prinsenhof Gardens, Veenkoloniaal Museum, Vismarkt, Brouwerij Martinus, Martinitoren, Zeehondencentrum Pieterburen, Noordelijk Scheepvaartmuseum, Hoofdstation Groningen.
Restaurants in Groningen Province

1. Vesting Bourtange

W. Lodewijkstraat 33 | The Star Fort, 9545 PA Bourtange, The Netherlands +31 599 354 600
Excellent
48%
Good
43%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 222 reviews

Vesting Bourtange

Reviewed By Miggro - Groningen, The Netherlands

A bit outside of every thing,but surely the travel worth. The vesting is in a very good hape and has great facilties within the wall (restaurants). Especially nice when there is a re-enactment

2. Groninger Museum

Museumeiland 1 | (opposite the train station), 9711 ME Groningen, The Netherlands +31 50 366 6555
Excellent
48%
Good
39%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1 reviews

Groninger Museum

Reviewed By bas k - Amsterdam, The Netherlands

I enjoyed both the interesting permanent art collection of Groninger Museum and the temporary expo(until 6may 2018),a large exhibition on the Romantic School of painting(1800-1850).
The exhibition"De Romantiek in het Noorden" features works by famous 19th century artists like J.M.W Turner,John Constable,Caspar David Friedrich and Christian Dahl.
I also enjoyed the paintings by lesser known artists like Jens Juel,Andreas Achenbach,Barend Cornelis Koekoek andThomas Fearnly.
The Romantic period in fine arts was between 1800-1850 and was a reaction to the rationalistic period of the enlightment in the 18th century.
The masterpieces of the permanent collection include works by Van Gogh,Paul Gaugain,Mesdag,Rembrandt and painter of "De Ploeg"school of painting.
Finally there is an extensive collection of Oriental ceramics from the 17th and 18th century.

3. Prinsenhof Gardens

Prinsenhof, Groningen, The Netherlands +31 50 317 6555
Excellent
45%
Good
44%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 381 reviews

Prinsenhof Gardens

Reviewed By Hemipristis - Wijchen, The Netherlands

Formal garden, which you appreciate even better if you check it out on Google maps once you're there. Initials of our then-still-prince, WA, very nice hedges and rose garden, herbal garden, and quite corners with shaded benches. A bit hidden but worth a visit.

4. Veenkoloniaal Museum

Museumplein 5, 9641 AD Veendam, The Netherlands +31 598 364 224
Excellent
60%
Good
38%
Satisfactory
2%
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Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 77 reviews

Veenkoloniaal Museum

Veenkoloniaal Museum Veendam ( Amsterdam Peat Museum) is one of the most surprising museums in the province of Groningen. In the 17th century investors from Amsterdam invested their money in the enormous Bourtanger Moor. Peat (turf/veen) was brought by small vessels to city's like Amsterdam and Gouda.The museum not only tells about peatdigging, but also about the Golden Age of this region, the 19th century! The age when 60% of the Dutch fleet was located in little towns like Veendam, Wildervank and Pekela. They traded f.e.with the town of Riga. It also the century of Anthony Winkler Prins who wrote his encyclopaedia in Veendam and century of William Albert Scholten, the first multinational in the Netherlands. Succesfull in trading in potato starch, straw- and cardboard. Besides the (permanent) story of the region, the museum organizes interesting art and historical Exhibitions.

Reviewed By Hendrik_NL - Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Yes, there actually is peat ("veen" in Dutch) in this museum, and the history and origination of the peat material is explained, but there is more. The "Veenkoloniaal museum", situated in an abandoned heritage high school building (being inside brought also memories of my school...MoreThank you, Nearby the museum is also an beautiful old cemetery with 19th century historic gravestones of seamen .

9711 JB Groningen, The Netherlands
Excellent
52%
Good
41%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
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Terrible
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4.5 based on 81 reviews

Vismarkt

Reviewed By Simone194 - Groningen, The Netherlands

Groningen is a very ancient town, nearly 1000 years old. wooden houses burned in fires, but the stone houses are still one to a few centuries old. at groundlevel the shops have demolished a lot of old architecture, but look up towards the upperlevels and the roofs. then you will see many different and very interesting features, worthwhile to take pictures of.
the Grain Trade building, now a supermarket for the yuppies of our town, was in use till I was a kid. just take a free walk and again, look up! here farmers came on Tuesdays with their grain, the buying people, like graintraders, but also millers and bakers,inspected it, also tasted, then they negotiated about the price. Groningen had even many more canals in those days, so barges for freight could come right into town. the grainstoragehouses were built along the canals. so Delivery and storage of grains was easier this way. then when needed by customers for use, transporting it onto wagons and later into trucks to deliver it was also a jiffy.
now most grainstoragebuildings, after a few decades of delapidation, have been remodeled inot fancy departments for the yuppies of this town!
on the Fish Market square itself there are fresh produce markets- the best are on Tuesday and Saturday, but Wednesday and Friday also have a nice turnout of different stalls.
the other purpose we use it for are events! Concerts, demonstrations, celebrations, like when in 2015 in April we celebrated in a BIG way the liberation of Groningen by the Canadian allied troops after the German occupation of Groningen, and the Netherlands, in World War II. there was a lot of heavy fighting in town around April 14-17, due to the shoot outs big fires at the east side and north side of Great Marketplace destroyed all the old original buildings. but somehow the Fish Market was spared this ill fate.
it also is recommandable to book a walking excursion with Paulien Excursions! I have lived in this town for nearly 40 years now, but I immensely enjoy the guided tours. in normal life, while shopping and running around for errands, I do not often take time to stop for the old pretty buildings. also I find it useful and enlightening to dive into the ancient history of this pretty and charming town.

6. Brouwerij Martinus

Kostersgang 32-34, 9711 CX Groningen, The Netherlands +31 50 311 6310
Excellent
62%
Good
37%
Satisfactory
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4.5 based on 67 reviews

Brouwerij Martinus

Reviewed By Eva-Quirinius - Paradise

We did the tour with tasting on a Saturday afternoon.
Tour was given by the owner (who used to operate a printing facility in the location upto a few years ago), who was well into the brewing process. Quite a career change from printer to brewer.
He was very down to earth about it, and gave the impression is was a piece of cake (must be the Groningen descent).
They managed to revamp the building into a brewery/restaurant/rooftop bar in months, not to mention starting a completely new beer brand.
Less than a year after getting the brewing equipment in, the place is in full swing.
The 3 beers we got with the tour (blonde, pale and saison) were all 3 tasty yet different.
Overall a very accessible, nice and clear explanation of the brewing and packing process.

Martinikerkhof 1, 9712 JG Groningen, The Netherlands +31 50 311 1277
Excellent
34%
Good
51%
Satisfactory
14%
Poor
1%
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Overall Ratings

4 based on 562 reviews

Martinitoren

Reviewed By bonsi7 - Bardolino

Centrally located highest tower in Groningen. The climb to the top was a bit difficult, but the photos we took from the top made it worth our while.

8. Zeehondencentrum Pieterburen

Hoofdstraat 94a, 9968 AG Pieterburen, The Netherlands +31 595 526 526
Excellent
41%
Good
39%
Satisfactory
17%
Poor
2%
Terrible
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Overall Ratings

4 based on 200 reviews

Zeehondencentrum Pieterburen

Reviewed By Des H - Hull

This was one of those centres that ‘just growed’. It was started in the early 70’s as a simple crèche to rehabilitate sick and injured seals. It is now a professional scientific research-based seal hospital and is able to cater for various ages of sick animals. All seals are released into the wild after their rehabilitation period. There were not actually that many seals to see at the time of our visit and we didn’t really get the chance to see much in the way of feeding. We knew that feeding time was near, however, by the steadily increasing number of Seagulls gathering to pounce at the outdoor pools. Disappointing for us but we could see that it has attraction for school visits

9. Noordelijk Scheepvaartmuseum

Brugstraat 24-26, 9711 HZ Groningen, The Netherlands +31 50 312 2202
Excellent
37%
Good
50%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
1%
Terrible
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Overall Ratings

4 based on 116 reviews

Noordelijk Scheepvaartmuseum

The northern Maritime Museum is situated in two beautiful medieval buildings in Groningen. The museum shows the history of the ship transport in the north of the Netherlands and the history of Groningen. Additionally, you can visit changing art and history Exhibitions throughout the year in our museum. To know how Groningen looked like in the Middle Ages, you can view the special virtual reconstruction of medieval Groningen.

Reviewed By E8887TZmartinp - Brighton

No sure what to expect entering this type of museum in the middle of a city but it was brilliant. Covers city development related to canals, boats, art and people. Includes workshops relating to sails, masts, rope etc plus a display of early marine Diesel engines. Introduction guide on English, route guide to rooms which is also clearly marked in building. Only disappointment was each room summary was only in Dutch.

10. Hoofdstation Groningen

Stationsplein 2, 9726 AE Groningen, The Netherlands
Excellent
37%
Good
60%
Satisfactory
3%
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4.5 based on 51 reviews

Hoofdstation Groningen

Reviewed By bas k - Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Groningen Railway Station was designed in 1896 by architect Isaac Gosschalk and was recently renovated.The interesting interiors of the late 19th century waiting rooms are converted to a AH supermarket,Coffee cafe and gift shop but the cielings,wall,ceramic tiles and decorations are left intact.The main hall is large and impressive.

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