Situated amid beautiful greenery and segmented by waterways, the city shot into prominence during the late Middle Ages due to trading activities. Built during that period, the Martini Tower, Groningen's premier landmark, stands tall in the city center, reminiscent of the city's historic past. The tower has a finely balanced profile and is nearly 100 meters tall. Incidentally, the center of this city was elected the best in the Netherlands (de Beste Binnenstad) in 2005.
The Groninger Museum, built in a canal opposite the train station, is an oddly shaped museum consisting of three disparate, separate units conceived by three different architects. It draws contrasting opinions from the viewers. Its vast collection, ranging from Golden Age paintings to applied art, makes the museum worth visiting. The Noordelijk Scheepvaart Museum, showing the history of shipbuilding and shipping from the Middle Ages to the present day, is another unique attraction of the city.
For food-lovers and hedonists, the city has a lot to offer in the form of cozy restaurants, trendy bars and clubs. As a result of the large student community, it has an active nightlife that goes on until the crack of dawn.
Spend a couple of days and explore Groningen - the city will grow on you. More information in Dutch, German and English can be found on the website: http://portal.groningen.nl/en/startpagina.
