Groningen, Netherlands Attractions

Beyond the Corn Exchange is the A- Kerk, formerly called the Dra-Kerk. Originally a Romanesque church (1247) dedicated to the Virgin and All Saints, it was rebuilt in Gothic style in the 15th century, with a very beautiful interior. A tower was added in the 18th century but twice collapsed. The church was restored from 1975 onwards.

The Film Museum at Gedempte Zuiderdiep 139 illustrates the development of films from the early shadow plays of Java and China to the present day. There is a collection of film projectors, and a small cinema for the showing of films.

To the west of the Grote Markt is the Vismarkt (Fishmarket), now a flower market. On the west side is the Corn Exchange (Korenbeurs) of 1865, in which corn is still sold every Tuesday. On the facade are figures of Ceres (the earth goddess), Mercury (god of traders and thieves) and Neptune (god of the sea and seafaring).

Groningen Flower Market.
During the spring the flower market is filled with color and fresh scents and is one of the highlights of the town.

ATTRACTION IS CLOSED.
At Nieuwe Kijk in 't Jatstraat 104, is the Gerardus van der Leeuw Museum of Ethnology, with a collection of extra-European artifacts.

Somewhat east of the Spilsluizen is the Guyotplein, named after Pastor H. D. Guyot, who in 1790 founded the first institution for deaf and mute people in the Netherlands (in this square).

Near the Academiegebouw, at the corner of Oude Kijk in 't Jatstraat and Uurwerkersgang, can be seen a building called Harmonie, originally a club (1840), which served for many years as the Municipal Theater.

Beside the Provinciehuis is the Huis Cardinaal, with a Renaissance facade (1559) and a tower between its two wings. The medallions of Alexander the Great, King David and Charlemagne on the gable give the building its other name, "House of the Three Kings".

At the end of Oude Boteringestraat is the old Guard House (1634): the name of the street is a corruption of Corps de Garde. The officers' quarters were on the heated second floor of the building, while the other ranks had the draughty arcaded gallery.

The Groningen Museum (Groninger Museum voor Stad en Land),is a museum of antiquities and applied art. The collection includes examples of Chinese and Japanese porcelain and pictures, including works by the Groningen-born painters Jozef Israëls (1824-1911) and Hendrik Willem Message (1831-1915).

Adjoining the Prinsenhof is the Natural History Museum, founded in 1929 by the Royal Dutch Natural History Association. It is notable particularly for its collection of native Dutch animals, displayed in their natural surroundings.

To the north of Guyotplein is the Nieuwe Kerk or Noorderkerk (1660-65), which was modeled on the church of the same name in Amsterdam.

In northwestern Groningen lies a beautiful park, the Noorderplantsoen, laid out on the site of the town's former fortifications.
The park is often the site of several events.

At Brugstraat 24-26, to the west of the A-Kerkhof, is the Northern Shipping Museum (Noordelijk Scheepvaartmuseum), housed in two medieval buildings, the Gotisch Huis and Canterhuis (the latter with a 19th century extension). The collection illustrates the history of inland and coastal shipping and fishing since Roman times, with ship models, pictures, parts of ships and navigational instruments; there is also a new section devoted to motor-powered boats.

On the north side of the Spilsluizen is the Ossenmarkt, with two attractive old gabled houses, one dating from 1624 and the other built in the 18th century by a merchant named J. A. Sichterman. A cattle market was held in the square until 1892.

The Prinsenhof was originally a monastery (15th C.), in which Princes Maurice and Willem Lodewijk stayed in 1594. Later it successively became the residence of the Stadholder of Friesland, a school and a military hospital. It is now the offices of the regional broadcasting corporation, Omroep Noord.

Behind the Prinsenhof (entrance from Kattenhage or Turfsingel) is the Prinsenhoftuin, a 17th century rose and herb garden.

To the east of St Martinikerk, in St Jansstraat, is the neo-Renaissance Provinciehuis, the seat of the provincial government. In the mid 16th century it was the headquarters of the marksmen's guild. It was restored in 1917 in the style of the 17th century. Notable features of the interior are the Hall of the States (Statenzaal), with portraits of members of the Orange family (17th C.), and the wood paneling and timber vaulting of 1697.

To the right of Kortegaard is the Spilsluizen gracht or canal, at the end of the town's open link with the sea. The quay is therefore on two levels, one for high tide and the other for low tide.

On the Zonnewijzerpoort on Turfsingel is a sundial of 1731 with a Latin motto and the letters W and A, referring to Stadholder William Frederick and his wife Albertina Agnes.

East of the Film Museum along the Gedempte Zuiderdiep is the Synagogue (1906), in neo-Oriental style. The building was restored in 1981-82 and is used for concerts and exhibitions as well as for Jewish worship.

In the same building as the Northern Shipping Museum is the Tobacco Museum (Tabacologisch Museum) of the Niemeyer company, with a unique collection of material on the history of tobacco-smoking ranging from 3,000- year-old American Indian pipes to the present day, illustrating the manufacture of pipes and displaying pipes, snuff-boxes, spittoons and tobacco jars of porcelain, silver, meerschaum, crystal and ivory.

Situated 15km/9mi west of Groningen on the Heerenveen road is the village of Midwolde. In the little 13th century church is a fine marble tomb by Rombout Verhulst (1646).

At Haren, 5km/3mi south of Groningen, is the new (De Wolf) Botanic Garden of Groningen University, established in 1917. It has various hothouses, a herb garden and a wild garden in which large numbers of Dutch plants grow in their natural setting (heath, meadows, woodland).
This is the largest botanical garden in The Netherlands.

Just south of Midwolde at the village of Leek is Huis Nienoord, with an interesting coach museum.
The grounds feature a recreational park with a beautiful shell grotto.

The Museum Wierdenland deals with the natural and cultural history of the coastal region of Groningen.

To the southwest of Groningen is the large Stadspark, with a race track, restaurant, various sports facilities and a large camping site.

In the south of Groningen is the Sterrebos, a small wooded park with a garden restaurant.

About 10km/6mi south of Groningen on A 28, at Tynaarlo station, can be seen a well preserved hunebed (megalithic tomb).

The museum leads you through the history of the Groninger peat district.

This annual week-long festival takes place in mid-June and includes troupes from all over the world. Since its inception in 1966, the festival has also included an arts exhibition and a food and crafts market.