Holiday apartment in Groningen: museums, history and Hoornsemeer

Groningen combines unusual museum architecture with traces of history, inner-city green spaces and a diverse waterscape. The Groninger Museum building was designed by Alessandro Mendini together with Philippe Starck, Michele de Lucchi and Coop Himmelb(l)au. Its four pavilions host changing exhibitions and public programmes. The permanent exhibition includes historical objects relating to the history of Groningen, Asian ceramics and paintings by the Groningen artists’ group De Ploeg.

Culture

The Forum Groningen also brings together several cultural offerings. Storyworld is a museum about comics, animation and games. Fourteen interactive installations invite visitors to draw, animate and try out games themselves. The Forum also has five cinemas. The programme includes new releases, classics, arthouse films, documentaries and film festivals. Guided tours are offered at the Groningen Synagogue, starting every hour on the hour.

Wall House #2 is managed by the Groninger Museum. The building was constructed in 2001 in a residential area on Hoornsemeer in Groningen. Its distinctive wall is 18.5 metres wide and 14 metres high. Along the quays of Hoge der A and Lage der A there are 28 national monuments and 11 municipal monuments. This places various examples of architectural and urban history within a clearly defined spatial context.

History

The De Helper windmill was built in 1863 below Helpman on the eastern side of the Noord-Willemskanaal. In 1970–1971, De Helper was rebuilt on the eastern shore of Paterswoldsemeer. The Helperlinie, also known as Linie van Helpman, is likewise connected with the history of the city’s fortifications. It was an extension of the fortress around Groningen’s city centre and ran across the Hondsrug.

In the late 19th century, a park in the English landscape style was created on the former fortification embankments and along the former city moats of Noorderplantsoen. The moats were converted into ponds. Another historical site is located in the De Vork archaeological walking park, where, among other things, a reconstruction of an Iron Age farmstead stands. At the De Vork archaeological walking park in Haren, visitors can learn more about notable finds and how people used to live there.

Nature

Green spaces extend into the heart of Groningen. Stadspark is a green inner-city oasis with opportunities for walks and a petting zoo. Heemtuin Stadspark is a botanical garden with many special plants and flowers. It is divided into various areas, including a herb garden, a sandy area and a wooded section, and is freely accessible at all times.

Special plants from around the world grow in the Hortus Botanicus in Haren. The garden has a Chinese Ming garden, described as the only one of its kind in Europe. Haren also has a railway station where Sprinter trains between Groningen and Zwolle stop several times an hour.

In the Kardinge nature area, visitors can picnic, go for walks, run, inline skate and swim. The Beijumerbos in Kardinge has an accessible Beleefpad with paved and wide paths, making this natural area accessible to everyone. In the southern part of the city, the Prinsentuin adds to the range of green spaces: it can be entered free of charge during the day.

Water

Hoornsemeer is a recreational lake on the southern outskirts of Groningen and borders the district of the same name. It is an extension of Paterswoldsemeer. In 1981, the final separating strip of land was removed, and shortly afterwards Hoornsemeer was officially opened as a recreational lake. At Hoornseplas, there is a play and paddling pool for small children on the beach.

More local pages: Groningen, Haren, Zuidhorn, Delfzijl, Slochteren, Stadskanaal, Eemsmond, Loppersum

To the higher-level travel overview: Groningen.