Life
Groningen city life
Groningen is a city where you shall not interfere with traffic jams or pollution. Almost half of the residents and visitors use bicycles for transport. The city has been optimized in that direction and now some streets are bicycle-exclusives. This atmosphere is one of the reasons why international students enjoy taking walks in summer or ice-skate on the city canals.
The city’s indoor sites are the modern Groninger Museum, Noordelijk Scheepvaartmuseum and the Netherlands Stripmuseum. The city’s history is also present when you admire structures such as the Martinitoren, the Town Hall or the Academia (the main university building). If you strive for relaxation, you can decide upon visiting Grote Markt and the gardens of Prinsetuin.
The Stadsschouwburg city theatre, Martini Plaza concert hall, Oosterpoort cultural venue are some of the places where you can spend an entertaining evening. You may also listen to young students play jazz in cafes or discover the 3D Dome theatre.
Nightlife is almost exclusively dedicated to international students, who enjoy the bars, pubs and other venues. The city hosts the annual festival of Eurosonic Noorderslag, which brings bands and tourists from the entire Europe.
International atmosphere in Groningen
More than half of the city’s population consists of international students who applied for a degree abroad. Therefore, almost half of its residents have under 35 years. Since a significant part of the city’s inhabitants is dynamic, you will not have a problem socializing with locals or foreigners.
In Groningen you will also find a relaxed vibe, that comes from locals’ and visitors’ attraction to riding bicycles.
Weather Groningen
Groningen’s climate is cool, but pleasant most of the time. Winter means colder temperatures and occasional frosts and snowfalls, while in summer weather is warm and humid. Some rainfalls appear during spring and autumn. Temperatures usually range from 4.7°C (40.5°F) in January and 22.2°C (72°F) in July.