Emmakanaal, Groningen, Netherlands
Emmakanaal, Groningen, Netherlands
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zonopemmakanaal.JPG
Author: MigGroningen
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Groningen is the most populous city in northern Netherlands. The capital of the province of the same name, Groningen covers 83.69 sq km (32.3 sq mi) and has a population of 190,000 (2011 estimate). It is a major university town, with a student population of 50,000.

Water tower, built in Groningen in 1910-11
Water tower, built in Groningen in 1910-11
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:100423_Watertoren_Hofstede_de_Grootkade_Groningen_NL.jpg
Author: Wutsje
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Groningen serves as the cultural and historical capital of northern Netherlands. Its written history goes back to 1040, though archaeological evidence pointed to human habitation going back to 3,950 BC, with the first permanent settlement dating to the 3rd century BC.

Groningen has developed into an important trading town in the 13th century. Its influence extended to language, with the Groningen dialect becoming the lingua franca of the region. Its university, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, founded in 1614, is the second oldest in the Netherlands after the University of Leiden.

Prinsenhof, Groningen
Prinsenhof, Groningen
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Groningen_Prinsentuin_april04.jpg
Author: Fruggo
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During World War II, many of the buildings in Groningen were badly damaged. A number of these are rebuilt. Today the old town has a number of museums illustrating its past as a merchantile town.

Visiting Groningen

From Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, you can take a direct train to Groningen. The journey should take about two hours.

Places of Interest in Groningen

  1. Gebouw van de Gasunie
    A modern high-rise building erected according to organic principles, right down to the choice of furnishing.

  2. Groninger Museum
    Museum on an island in the Verbindingskanaal was opened in 1994 to showcase archaeology and history.

  3. Het Noordelijk Scheepvaartmuseum (Northern Museum of Water Transport)
    Maritime museum celebrating the history of navigation and the usage of the canals for water transport.

  4. Hortus Haren
    Park in the suburb of Haren. The park was created in 1642. The 20-hectare park has several greenhouses for plants from different climatic zones.

  5. Martinikerk (St Martin's Church)
    This church dates from the 13th century. Although extended in the 15th century, it still bears traces of the original building.

  6. Martinitoren (St Martin's Tower)
    Remnant of the medieval tower that was damaged during the war.

  7. Tabaksmuseum
    Museum into the history of tobacco, located within the same building as Het Noordelijk Scheepvaartmuseum.

  8. Prinsenhof
    Historical building that originally housed a monastery, then the seat of the first Bishop of Groningen and the residence of the stadholder. It has a landscaped garden, Prinsenhoftuin, with a herb garden and rose garden.

Groningen is on the map of the Netherlands

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Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.

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