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GRONINGEN Tourist Information
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Groningen is the name of the capital as well as of the province. The city itself is a busy commercial centre and a university town. The population amounts to around 170.000 people. Groningen has a youthful population. Some 20.000 students live in the town together with another 25.000 people under the age of thirty, making the city the "Amsterdam of the North".

Groningen became more important in the 15th century when the city cut itself loose from the influence of the Bishop of Utrecht and started to exercise its power over the surrounding area. The "Groninger Academie" (Academy of Groningen) was founded in 1614. This predecessor of the Rijksuniversiteit (University of Groningen) turned Groningen into a centre of science for the North of The Netherlands.

Tourism is not as developed as in the major Dutch cities like Delft, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, etc..... but Groningen is certainly worth a visit. The city has a rich history and....a lively pub scene. Like other cities, the centre of Groningen is encircled by a canal with further bisecting canals. One of the main monuments is the Martinikerk (Martini Church), the gothic construction that overlooks the main market square. Of course, Groningen is home to many other interesting and beautiful historical buildings. The main museums are : the Noordelijk Scheepvaartmuseum (the Navigation Museum) and the Groninger Museum, which has a fine display of local paintings including works of the Groningen School of Expressionism.

 

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