The province of Groningen is an original destination for a long weekend away. When you think of a holiday in your own country, this may not be the first province that comes to mind, although there is more than enough to see and do. I spent a weekend in Groningen and enjoyed the nature, the city(s) and the delicious food. In this article I will give you my tips for Groningen.

't Roegwold

't Roegwold is a nature reserve in development. In this region of Groningen, nature has become extremely fragmented in recent decades and in recent years we have been working hard to merge all these separate areas again. In this way, agricultural land is bought up and nature is given space to grow and flourish again. The center of 't Roegwold is the Schildmeer, one of the largest lakes in Groningen. A wooden jetty runs across the water from one side to the other and it is wonderful to stroll across it at your leisure. There are 3 marked hiking trails in 't Roegwold. Check the Staatsbosbeheer website for a map.

Villapark Schildmeer is located on the lake. An ideal place to stay if you want to marvel at all the beauty in this nature reserve at sunset or sunrise. I myself stayed in a village just outside 't Roegwold and drove back in the evening before sunset. I promise you this is really worth it.

Appingedam

Appingedam is one of those villages where you can easily walk around all afternoon without really having a goal in mind. The history of Appingedam dates back to the 11th century, when its central location with a connection to the open sea naturally made it a trading place. Most of the buildings in the current center date from the 17th century, when Appingedam again played an important role in Dutch trade.

The historic city center breathes history and the streets invite you to take a short stroll. I say 'small' on purpose, because the center cannot exactly be called large. The main attraction of Appingedam is without a doubt the Hanging Kitchens. These kitchens were born out of necessity: due to a lack of space, the residents expanded their kitchens above the Damsterdiep. A strange sight and secretly a bit scary. I don't know if I would feel comfortable in such a hanging kitchen. In any case, it is certainly special!

Restaurant de Basiliek

Restaurant de Basiliek is located in the Sint Nicolaaskerk in Appingedam. This is really a picture of a place and I really recommend that you eat here or just have a cup of coffee. I promise you won't regret it. I was already in Appingedam in the morning, so I only had a cappuccino, but when I look at the menu, lunch or dinner is also worthwhile. Curious? View the menu here.

New Statenzijl

Nieuwe Statenzijl is located in the furthest corner of Groningen, on the border with Germany. It is a hamlet with only 6 houses and you understand that you do not have to go here for the beautiful city center. It is worth driving to Nieuwe Statenzijl for the nature. This area is very attractive to bird watchers. You can spot countless species here. From the Marsh Harrier to the Black Redshank and from the Montagu's Harrier to the Water Rail. The Kiekkaaste is the only bird watching hut outside the dike in the Netherlands and from here you have a beautiful view over the salt marshes. I loved the peace and space in Nieuwe Statenzijl and I can totally imagine that as a birdwatcher you will have the time of your life here. If you are tired, you can get a cup of coffee and a piece of cake from the small coffee cart behind the locks.

Fraeylemaborg estate

During our visit to Groningen we will stay in the village of Slochteren. There is not much to do here and that is exactly what we are looking for. No hustle and bustle, just peace and quiet around us. There is one attraction that you should not miss, even if you are not staying in Slochteren. Fraeylemaborg Estate is a beautiful piece of land of no less than 23 hectares where you can enjoy walking. The lands are laid out according to English examples and the treasure house at the front of the estate is now used as a restaurant. The terrace has sun until late in the afternoon, which makes it a wonderful place for a drink. Eating is not possible every evening: I recommend that you always call in advance. You can have lunch from Sunday to Wednesday. More information can be found here. The coach house is opposite the treasure house. This is now a museum and small shop.

There is a large forest on the estate itself where you cannot get lost. Due to the clear, straight paths you actually walk from front to back and back via another path. Handy! Along the way you will pass quite a few art objects, which makes the walk even more fun. We came across an old bus, a huge hazelnut and a kind of bunker. Very funny to always discover something new. I can imagine that this is also great fun with children. There is also a barefoot path through the forest.

Bourtange

What an exotic name for a town in Groningen, eh? Bourtange is a fortified village in the shape of a star. This special shape dates back to the 16th century and was further strengthened in subsequent years. The village of Bourtange was founded in 1742 and it is now a protected villagescape.

To be honest, I had never heard of Bourtange, but when we arrived it seemed as if I was the only one in the whole of the Netherlands who did not know this village. The parking lot in front of the village center was packed and inside the ramparts it was quite busy. Not surprising, because it is really beautiful to see. The terraces have taken over the space on the central square and it is very full when the weather is nice. Personally, I enjoyed walking through the small streets and along the ramparts and enjoying the beautiful facades and many flowers.

Coffee at Gasterij Natural Smeerling

Bourtange is a beautiful place to see, but also very touristy and crowded. If you want to enjoy some peace and quiet afterwards, Gasterij Naturally is recommended. From Bourtange you can drive in about fifteen minutes to this restaurant where they serve local beers and delicacies. Inside you sit in a converted barn, outside there is a large terrace with a view of the meadow with goats. A very nice place to have a drink before you continue to your next destination! Tip: order a Westerwolder beer. Brewed by a local beer brewer and wonderfully refreshing in taste.

Groningen city

This overview of tips for things to do in Groningen is of course not complete without the capital. Admittedly, I really came to the province for the nature and tranquility, so I only spent an afternoon in Groningen city. This was certainly enough for a good first impression: Groningen is lively and vibrant and there is plenty to do. Of course you have the Martini Tower and the Vismarkt (the central square in the city), but I probably don't have to give you those tips. I would like to tell you about the Prinsentuin, a fantastic piece of nature in the middle of the center. The garden is a real Renaissance garden and you can see from everything that this is an important place for the city. If you are lucky, and I was, the rose garden will be in full bloom during your visit. What a beautiful view! Definitely worth taking a walk here if you are in Groningen in June or July.

I can highly recommend Salmagundi for lunch in Groningen. This shop is a bit outside the center, but it is worth the detour. The menu consists of mainly vegetarian dishes, although they also serve fish or meat. I personally went for caramelized red onion with goat cheese and pumpkin spread on a flatbread and it tasted great. Highly recommended!

Stay in Groningen

If you want to stay in a central but quiet place in Groningen, B&B Het Receptorshuis is a great choice. We stayed 2 nights at Annemarie's and would have liked to add a few more nights. You have your own entrance with your own bathroom and toilet. There are 2 rooms available for rental in Het Receptorshuis, but Annemarie does not rent out the second room if the first has been booked. This way you are assured of more privacy during your stay.

Breakfast deserves a special mention, because boy, what a treat it is. You have breakfast in 'the café at home' (not a real café, but fully equipped) and the table is packed with delicacies. There is a good chance that you will also find home-baked things there. For example, we enjoyed real Groningen Poffert on the first morning and were served home-baked savory quiche and sweet pancakes on the second morning. Wonderful to start your day like this!

Groningen is also ideal for traveling around with a camper. This way you can go wherever you want and spend the night in the middle of the beautiful Groningen nature. Don't have your own camper? Then you can easily rent a camper in the Netherlands via Goboony. You can rent campers from private individuals via this platform and choose which camper you would like to travel with. An original and cool way to discover the Netherlands!

A holiday to Groningen is a great option if you want to stay in the Netherlands. There is so much to see and do in Groningen that you can easily spend a holiday there. With these tips I will help you on your way.